United Kingdom Visa RequirementsFor Portugal passport holders
Portuguese passport holders can visit the UK visa-free for up to 6 months. However, from January 2025, Portuguese citizens must obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costing GBP 16 before arrival.
Great news! Portugal passport holders can enter United Kingdom without a visa for tourism or business purposes. You can stay up to 180 days.
Since January 2025, Portuguese citizens must apply for the UK ETA before traveling. Apply at eta.homeoffice.gov.uk or via the UK ETA app. Cost: GBP 16. The ETA is valid for multiple trips over 2 years (or until passport expiry, whichever is first), with each visit up to 6 months. Processing takes up to 3 working days; most are approved faster. The ETA is electronically linked to your passport; no physical document is issued. On arrival, present your Portuguese passport at UK Border Force. Standard entry requirements: proof of onward travel, accommodation, and sufficient funds may be checked. Portuguese citizens no longer have automatic right to live or work in the UK post-Brexit.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Portugal to United Kingdom: What You Need to Know
The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020, meaning EU free movement rights no longer apply to the UK. Portuguese citizens lost the right to live and work freely in the UK post-Brexit. For tourism and short visits, Portuguese passport holders can visit the UK without a visa for stays of up to 6 months, but since January 8, 2025, must obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance. The ETA costs GBP 16 and is linked electronically to the passport. The UK remains one of the most important destinations for Portuguese nationals: there is a large Portuguese community in London, particularly in the Stockwell and Vauxhall areas (known as "Little Portugal"), and strong cultural, historical, and family ties exist. London is also a major hub airport for Portuguese travelers connecting onward. Flights from Lisbon to London Heathrow or Gatwick take approximately 2 hours 20 minutes; from Porto to London is around 2 hours 15 minutes.
How to Get There
From London, Eurostar trains to Paris take 2 hours 15 minutes, to Brussels 2 hours. Edinburgh and Manchester are 4-5 hours by train from London. Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet) connect numerous UK regional airports. The Scottish Highlands, Lake District, Cotswolds, and Cornwall are outstanding UK destinations beyond London. From Lisbon and Porto, TAP, easyJet, Ryanair, and British Airways serve multiple UK airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
Money & Banking
The UK uses the pound sterling (GBP). Cards are accepted virtually everywhere; the UK is highly cashless. ATMs are plentiful. London is expensive: a pub meal costs GBP 15-25, a restaurant dinner GBP 25-50. Outside London, costs are lower. Scotland, Wales, and northern England offer excellent value relative to London.
Practical Tips
London has excellent public transport; buy an Oyster card or use a contactless bank card on the Tube, buses, and Elizabeth line. The Heathrow Express connects Heathrow to Paddington in 15 minutes. UK uses 230V Type G plugs (different from Portugal; bring an adapter). Tipping in restaurants is 10-15 percent or a service charge is often already added. Driving is on the left. NHS 111 for non-emergency health advice; 999 for emergencies. Portugal-UK time difference: UK is 1 hour behind Portugal in winter, same time in summer (British Summer Time).