The Portugal Passenger Locator Card was discontinued in April 2022 and is not required for travel as of August 2026. This page is kept for historical reference only. If you are traveling soon, please check our current entry requirements for your destination.
Portugal Passenger Locator Card: What It Was and Why It's No Longer Needed
Portugal called its pandemic-era travel document a "card" rather than a "form" - the Cartão de Localização de Passageiro - and it's been gone since April 2022. Here's what it required, why Portugal introduced it, and how it was phased out.
What Was Portugal's Passenger Locator Card?
The Passenger Locator Card, officially known as the Cartão de Localização de Passageiro (PLC), was a mandatory health-declaration document for air travelers entering Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It began as a paper card distributed and collected by airlines around mid-2020, when Portugal reopened to international flights after the first wave of pandemic-related closures. Passengers filled out the card during or before their flight, and airline staff collected it upon arrival.
This paper process didn't last long. On October 2, 2020, Portugal rolled out a digital version of the card, which quickly became the standard method for compliance.
Why the Portuguese Government Created It
The PLC wasn't an isolated initiative - it was formally operationalized under Joint Guidance (Orientação Conjunta) No. 001/2020, dated October 2, 2020. This guidance was jointly issued by four Portuguese authorities:
- Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS), Portugal's health authority
- SPMS, the shared services entity for the Ministry of Health
- ANAC, the national civil aviation authority
- Turismo de Portugal, the country's tourism authority
The purpose was straightforward: give Portuguese health authorities the ability to locate and contact passengers if a COVID-19 case was identified aboard their flight. This supported contact tracing efforts, which were a central pillar of pandemic response strategies worldwide.
The PLC applied specifically to air travelers arriving in Portugal and worked alongside other entry measures - including testing requirements and, later, vaccination or recovery certificates - as pandemic-era rules evolved.
What Information Travelers Had to Submit
The card required a relatively small set of details, focused on enabling quick contact tracing if needed:
- Personal and contact information
- Flight details, including seat number
- The address where the traveler would be staying in Portugal
This information allowed health authorities to reach travelers directly and identify their location within Portugal, should contact tracing become necessary.
How the Requirement Changed Over the Pandemic
Portugal's approach to the PLC changed more than once as the broader pandemic response evolved:
- Mid-2020
Launched as a paper card, physically distributed and collected on flights.
- October 2020
Replaced by a digital card, formalized through joint guidance from DGS, SPMS, ANAC, and Turismo de Portugal.
- 2021-2022
Used in conjunction with evolving testing requirements and the EU Digital COVID Certificate, as Portugal adjusted its entry rules in response to changing infection rates and vaccination progress across Europe.
When and Why It Was Scrapped
Portugal eliminated the Passenger Locator Card requirement for mainland Portugal under Decreto-Lei n.º 30-E/2022, dated April 21, 2022. This decree came as Portugal eased its remaining COVID-19 travel and public-health measures in spring 2022, mirroring a broader trend across the European Union.
From that date forward, travelers arriving in Portugal no longer needed to present a Passenger Locator Card as a condition of entry.
Is Anything Similar Required to Enter Portugal Today?
No. There is currently no Passenger Locator Card or COVID-related entry form required for travel to Portugal.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS are two newer EU systems that sometimes get confused with the old PLC, even though neither is related to it.
If you come across a website offering to help you fill out a "Portugal Passenger Locator Card," treat it with caution - the requirement no longer exists, so that site is working from information that's years out of date.
Do I still need to fill out a Portugal Passenger Locator Card?
No. It was eliminated for mainland Portugal on April 21, 2022.
What was the Portugal PLC used for?
It supported contact tracing, allowing health authorities to locate and contact passengers if a COVID-19 case was identified aboard their flight.
When was the Portugal PLC introduced?
A paper version launched around mid-2020, followed by a digital version starting October 2, 2020.
Is it a "form" or a "card"?
Portuguese authorities officially called it a card - the Cartão de Localização de Passageiro - though it functioned similarly to passenger locator forms used by other countries.
What happens if I find an old version of the form online today?
It's describing a requirement that ended in April 2022 - there's no current card to apply for.