Portugal - Country Information

Film Commissions

Algarve Film Commission
Tel: 2 89 09 82 08 Fax: 2 89 86 24 29
E-mail: info@algarvefilm.com
Website: www.algarvefilm.com
Film Commissioner: Jose Manuel de S. Lopes

Permits/visas
There is no special permit required except the one demanded by the owner (or responsible entity) of the location. Nevertheless, the producer or the executive producer must inform ICAM/PFC of his/hers intentions, so that the Institute may issue a filming permit. Besides providing filming permits, PFC tries to facilitate in-house shootings, by connecting the filming crew with the respective entities that have their own rules and adequate proceedings. PFC acts as a mediator between the production company and the appropriate entity, so as to facilitate communication and ensure that shooting will be made on the chosen location.

Recent productions
Onde Jaz o Teu Sorriso/Oú Gît Votre Sourire Enfoui, A Mulher que Acreditava Ser Presidente dos EUA/The Woman Who Believed She Was President of the USA, A Filha/My Baby, Mulher Polícia/Police Women, A Passagem da Noite/Night Passage, Nha Fala, Vai e Vem/Come and Go, O Rapaz do Trapézio Voador/The Boy on the Flying Trapeze, Desmundo, Um Filme Falado/Talking Picture, Preto e Branco/Black and White, Quaresma/Lent, Nós, Os Imortais/The Immortals, A Fascínio/Fascination, Xavier, Portugal SA.

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: GMT
Mainland & Madeira:
From 28 Mar 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT +1
From 31 Oct 10 to 27 Mar 11 GMT
From 27 Mar 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT +1
From 30 Oct 11 to 25 Mar 12 GMT
From 25 Mar 12 to 28 Oct 12 GMT +1
Azores:
From 28 Mar 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT
From 31 Oct 10 to 27 Mar 11 GMT -1
From 27 Mar 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT
From 30 Oct 11 to 25 Mar 12 GMT -1
From 25 Mar 12 to 28 Oct 12 GMT
Capital City: Lisbon
Population: 10.7 million
Area: 92,390 square km, 35,671 square miles.
Language(s): Portuguese
Dialling Code: 351
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence or International Driving Permit required. Minimum driving age is 18
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: EUR: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500
Coins: EUR: 1, 2. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1500 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1300 & 1500-1900 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1300 & 1500-1900 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat, 1000-2300 Mon-Sun (shopping centres)

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day, 16 Feb Mardi Gras (Carnival), 2 Apr - 5 Apr Easter, 25 Apr Freedom Day, 1 May Labour Day, 3 Jun Corpus Christi, 10 Jun Portugal Day, 15 Aug Assumption, 5 Oct Republic Day, 1 Nov All Saints' Day, 1 Dec Restoration of Independence Day, 8 Dec Immaculate Conception, 25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note: Holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are not observed on the following Monday.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Portuguese, many executives speak English or French. Smoking is generally accepted but restricted in many public buildings and on public transport. Request permission before smoking in offices and restaurants. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. There is no official minimum drinking age

Tipping: A service charge is normally added to the bill, additional discretionary tips are around 10%. Tips customary for taxis

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card - EHIC scheme (formerly known as the E111) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment with emergency care. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card please click here

Please note: The EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK, lost or stolen property etc.

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate for Azores and Madeira regions only if arriving from infected areas. However, no certificate is required from passengers in transit at Funchal, Porto Santo and Santa Maria. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: None.

Consider: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B

Risks: None.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate.

Please note - see United Kingdom entry for complete list of EU members, Schengen State & EEA Countries

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:

1) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Rep, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & United Kingdom

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Portugal

2) For an unrestricted length of stay by:

a) Holders of passports issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovak Rep, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland

b) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen

3) For stays up to 90 days by:

a) Nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR passports), Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Macao (SAR passports), Malaysia, Mauritis, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, St. Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, United States, Vatican City & Venezuela

b) Holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas) or British Overseas Territories Citizen with the �right of abode� label issued by the UK

Air Transit

Required by all except:

1) Those as noted under `Visas'

2) Persons continuing their journey to a third country without leaving the airport (no night stop allowed) provided holding documents and tickets with confirmed onward reservations (except nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo Dem Rep, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia & Sri Lanka,

3) A transit visa may be issued upon arrival at the discretion of the immigration authorities provided holding tickets and all documents required for next destination and an entry guarantee in that same country. It will enable one transit for a stay up to 5 days

Exit Permits

Special Notes

1) Visitors must hold confirmed return or onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance during their stay. (Exempt are E.E.A members see United Kingdom for detailed list)

2) Member of Schengen Visa Agreement, however we strongly recommend that travellers make enquiries prior to travel with the appropriate embassies of the countries within the agreement which they plan to visit

Climate

Mediterranean type climate which is tempered by the Atlantic. The coast has mild winters, the north and central areas are much colder. Winter is the wet season throughout the country although autumn rainfall in the north can be heavy. Snow is rare at sea level but more frequent inland and in higher areas in the north. The south is the sunniest, driest and warmest area

Clothing

Light to mediumweights with rainwear in winter and colder seasons

Charts for Lisbon

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 14 15 17 20 21 25 27 28 26 22 17 15 Min Temp (C) 8 8 10 12 13 15 17 17 17 14 11 9 Humidity am (%) 85 80 78 69 68 65 62 64 70 75 81 84 Humidity pm (%) 71 64 64 56 57 54 48 49 54 59 68 72 Rainfall (mm) 111 76 109 54 44 16 3 4 33 62 93 103

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
ICEP Portuguese Trade & Tourism Office
Portuguese Embassy
11 Belgrave Square
London, SW1X 8PP
tel: +44 20 7201 6666
fax: +44 20 7201 6633
e-mail: info@visitportugal.com
website: www.visitportugal.com

Embassy
Consulate of Portugal
3 Portland Street
London, W1B 1HR
tel: +44 20 7291 3770, 0906 550 8948* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7291 3799
email: london@portembassy.co.uk
website: www.portuguese-chamber.org.uk
hours: 0900-1330 (Mon-Fri)
* calls cost �1 per minute