Portugal

PROFILE
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
ECONOMY
FOREIGN RELATIONS
U.S.-PORTUGUESE RELATIONS
TRAVEL

Compiled from the June 2007 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:

Portuguese Republic

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 92,391 sq. km., including the Azores and Madeira Islands; slightly smaller than the State of Indiana.

Cities: Lisbon (capital, metropolitan area pop. 1.9 million), Porto (metro. area 1.7 million), Faro.

Terrain: Mountainous in the north; rolling plains in the central south.

Climate: Maritime temperate, average annual temperature is 16°C (61°F).

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Portuguese (singular and plural).

Population: (2004) 10.56 million.

Population density: 113 per sq. km. (275 per sq. mi.).

Annual growth rate: (2003) -1.3%.

Ethnic groups: Homogeneous Mediterranean stock with small black African and Eastern European minorities.

Religions: Roman Catholic, 97%.

Languages: Portuguese.

Education: Years compulsory—9. Literacy (2004)—93.3%.

Health: (2004 est.) Birth rate—10.82/1,000. Death rate—10.43/ 1,000. Infant mortality rate—5/ 1,000. Life expectancy—77.53 years.

Work force: (5.48 million) Government and services—60%; industry—30%; agriculture—10%.

Government

Type: Republic.

Constitution: Effective April 25, 1976; revised October 30, 1982, June 1, 1989, November 5, 1992, and September 3, 1997.

Government branches: Executive—president (head of state), Council of State (presidential advisory body), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative—unicameral Assembly of the Republic (230 deputies). Judicial—Supreme Court, district courts, appeals courts, Constitutional Tribunal.

Political subdivisions: 18 districts, 2 autonomous regions.

Political parties: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Socialist Party (PS), Popular Party (CDS/PP), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Left Bloc (BE).

Economy

GDP: (2005) 147.8 billion (approx. $175 billion).

Annual growth rate: 1.4%.

Per capita GDP: (2005) 14,100 (approx. $16,700).

Avg. inflation rate: (2006) 2.5%.

Natural resources: Fish, tungsten, iron, copper, tin, and uranium ores.

Agriculture: Products—forestry, fisheries, cork, wine.

Industry: Types—textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, manufacturing, food and beverages.

Services: Commerce, government, housing, banking and finance.

Trade: (2005) Exports—$38.14 billion: vehicles (not railway), electrical machinery, machinery, knit apparel, mineral fuel/oil, footwear. Imports—$61.17 billion: mineral fuel/oil, vehicles (not railway), electrical machinery, machinery, plastics, iron and steel. Export partners—Spain (25.8%), France (13.0%), Germany (11.7%), U.K. (7.9%), United States (5.4%), Italy (4.2%), Netherlands (4%). Import partners—Spain (28.9%), Germany (13.4%), France (8.5%), Italy (5.2%), Netherlands (4.3%), U.K. (4.6%). U.S. trade (2005) Exports—$1.13 billion: aircraft/ spacecraft, electrical machinery, grains, seeds, fruits, optical/medical, wood. Imports—$2.34 billion: machinery, electrical machinery, mineral fuel/oil, textiles, cork, beverages, footwear.

HISTORY

Portugal is one of the oldest states in Europe. It traces its modern history to A.D. 1140 when, following a 9-year rebellion against the King of LeonCastile, Afonso Henriques, the Count of Portugal, became the country's first king, Afonso I. Afonso and his successors expanded their territory southward, capturing Lisbon from the Moors in 1147. The approximate present-day boundaries were secured in 1249 by Afonso III.

By 1337, Portuguese explorers had reached the Canary Islands. Inspired by Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), explorers such as Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias, and Pedro Alvares Cabral made explorations from Brazil to India and Japan. Portugal eventually became a massive colonial empire with vast territories in Africa and Latin America (Brazil) and outposts in the Far East (East Timor, Macau, Goa).

Dynastic disputes led in 1580 to the succession of Philip II of Spain to the Portuguese throne. A revolt ended Spanish hegemony in 1640, and the House of Braganca was established as Portugal's ruling family, lasting until the establishment of the Portuguese Republic in 1910.

During the next 16 years, intense political rivalries and economic instability undermined newly established democratic institutions. Responding to pressing economic problems, a military government, which had taken power in 1926, named a prominent university economist, Dr. Antonio Salazar, as finance minister in 1928 and prime minister in 1932. For the next 42 years, Salazar and his successor, Marcelo Caetano, appointed prime minister in 1968, ruled Portugal as an authoritarian “corporate” state. Unlike most other European countries, Portugal did not play a combatant role in World War II. It was a charter member of NATO, joining in 1949.

In the early 1960s, wars with independence movements in Portugal's African territories began to drain labor and wealth from Portugal. Professional dissatisfaction within the military, coupled with a growing sense of the futility of the African conflicts, led to the formation of the clandestine “Armed Forces Movement” in 1973.

The downfall of the Portuguese corporate state came on April 25, 1974, when the Armed Forces Movement seized power in a nearly bloodless coup and established a provisional military government.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Portugal moved from authoritarian rule to parliamentary democracy following the 1974 military coup against dictator Marcello Caetano, himself a continuation of the long-running dictatorship of Antonio Salazar. After a period of instability and communist agitation, Portugal ratified a new Constitution in 1976. Subsequent revisions of the Constitution placed the military under strict civilian control; trimmed the powers of the president; and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy, as well as privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media. Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, and has moved toward greater political and economic integration with Europe ever since. The four main branches of the national government are the presidency, the prime minister and Council of Ministers (the government), the Assembly of the Republic (the parliament), and the judiciary. The president, elected to a five-year term by direct, universal suffrage, also is commander in chief of the armed forces. Presidential powers include confirming the prime minister and Council of Ministers; dismissing the prime minister; dissolving the assembly to call early elections; vetoing legislation, which may be overridden by the assembly; and declaring a state of war or siege. The Council of State, a presidential advisory body, is composed of six senior civilian officers, former presidents elected under the 1976 constitution, five members chosen by the assembly, and five selected by the president.

The government is headed by the prime minister, who is nominated by the assembly for confirmation by the president. The prime minister then names the Council of Ministers. A new government is required to present its governing platform to the assembly for approval.

The Assembly of the Republic is a unicameral body composed of up to 230 deputies. Elected by universal suffrage according to a system of proportional representation, deputies serve terms of office of four years, unless the president dissolves the assembly and calls for new elections. The national Supreme Court is the court of last appeal. Military, administrative, and fiscal courts are designated as separate court categories. A nine-member Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation. The Azores and Madeira Islands have constitutionally mandated autonomous status. A regional autonomy statute promulgated in 1980 established the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores; the Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira operates under a provisional autonomy statute in effect since 1976. Continental Portugal is divided into 18 districts, each headed by a governor appointed by the Minister of Internal Administration. Macau, a former dependency, reverted to Chinese sovereignty in December 1999.

Current Administration

Parliamentary elections on February 20, 2005, gave the Socialist Party a comfortable majority for the new Prime Minister, Jose Socrates. Socrates' government formally assumed power March 12, 2005. The Socialist Party's 2005 victory followed a period of transition after center-right (PSD) Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durão Barroso resigned to accept the nomination as President of the European Commission. Durão Barroso, elected in 2002, committed his government to public-sector austerity and business incentives to promote growth, trade, and productivity. It faced rising unemployment, meeting euro-zone fiscal requirements, and adapting to European Union and NATO enlargement. After Durão Barroso's resignation, President

Jorge Sampaio asked the former mayor of Lisbon, Pedro Santana Lopes, to form a new government. Sampaio lost confidence in that government by the end of 2004, dissolved parliament, and called for new parliamentary elections. Social Democrat Anibal Cavaco Silva, a center-right candidate and former Prime Minister, won the Portuguese presidential election on January 22, 2006 with 50.6% of the vote. He was sworn in on March 9, 2006, replacing outgoing Socialist President Sampaio.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 2/1/2008

Pres.: Anibal Antonio CAVACO SILVA

Prime Min.: Jose SOCRATES

Min. of State: Luis AMADO

Min. of State: Fernando TEIXEIRA DOS SANTOS

Min. for Agriculture, Rural Development, & Fisheries: Jaime SILVA

Min. for Culture: Isabel PIRES DE LIMA

Min. for Economy & Innovation: Manuel PINHO

Min. for Education: Maria DE LURDES RODRIGUES

Min. for Environment, Territorial Planning, & Regional Development: Francisco NUNES CORREIA

Min. for Finance: Fernando TEIXEIRA DOS SANTOS

Min. for Foreign Affairs: Luis AM ADO

Min. for Health: Antonio CORREIA DE CAMPOS

Min. for Internal Admin.: Rui PEREIRA

Min. for Justice: Alberto COSTA

Min. for National Defense: Nuno SEVERIANO TEIXEIRA

Min. for Parliamentary Affairs: Agusto SANTOS SILVA

Min. for the Presidency: Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Min. for Public Works, Transportation, & Communications: Mario LINO

Min. for Science, Technology, & Higher Education: Mariano GAGO

Min. for Work & Social Solidarity: Jose VIEIRA DA SILVA

Governor, Bank of Portugal: Victor CONSTANCIO

Ambassador to the US: Joao DE VALLERA

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Joao SALGUEIRO

Portugal maintains an embassy in the United States at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036; Tel. 202-350-5400; Fax 202-462-3726 and consulates general in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and Newark, NJ; consulates in Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA; and honorary consulates in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, San Juan, and Waterbury. The Portuguese National Tourist Office in the United States is located at 590 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (tel: 212-354-4403).

ECONOMY

Portugal's membership in the European Union (EU) contributed to stable economic growth, largely through increased trade and an inflow of EU funds for infrastructure improvements. Until 2001, average annual growth rates consistently exceeded those of the EU average. Due to slow economic growth, Portugal has lost ground relative to the rest of the EU since 2002. Portugal's per capita GDP dropped from 80% of the EU-25 average in 2001 to 71% in 2006, causing the country to drop three places to 18th in purchasing power parity, behind Greece, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

In order to enter the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999, Portugal agreed to cut its fiscal deficit and undertake structural reforms. The EMU brought exchange rate stability, lower inflation, and lower interest rates. Falling interest rates, in turn, lowered the cost of public debt and helped the country achieve its fiscal targets. However, private sector borrowing increased dramatically. By 2001, the economy was in serious external imbalance, with a large current and capital account deficit. Portugal was the first country to breach the Eurozone's Stability and Growth Pact budget deficit target of 3%. The Government of Portugal met the 3% target from 2002-2004, but the deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% in 2005. The government reduced the deficit to 4.6% in 2006 mainly through revenue generating measures. The 2007 budget aims to reduce the deficit to 3.7% through spending cuts and structural reforms.

Helped in part by a wider EU recovery, the Portuguese economy grew by 1.4% in 2006, up from a 0.3% the year before. The Portuguese Government predicts the growth rate will accelerate to 1.8% in 2007. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2006. Portugal's economy is based on traditional industries such as textiles, clothing, footwear, cork and wood products, beverages (wine), porcelain and earthenware, and glass and glassware. In addition, the country has increased its role in Europe's automotive sector and has a world-class mold-making industry. Services, particularly tourism, are playing an increasingly important role. Portugal's EU funding will be cut by 10%, to 22.5 billion euros, during the 2007-2013 period. EU expansion into eastern Europe has erased Portugal's historic competitive advantage and relative low labor costs. The government is working to change Portugal's economic development model from one based on public consumption and public investment to one focused on exports, private investment, and development of the high-tech sector.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Portugal has been a significant beneficiary of the European Union and is a proponent of European integration. Portugal will hold the presidency of the EU Council for the third time during the latter half of 2007. During its upcoming presidency, Portugal hopes to focus on EU relations with North Africa and the Middle East, hold a second EU-Africa summit, revitalize the Lisbon Agenda, and develop a common EU approach toward migration flows. Portugal was a founding member of NATO; it is an active member of the alliance by, for example, contributing proportionally large contingents in Balkans peacekeeping forces. Portugal proposed the creation of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to improve its ties with other Portuguese-speaking countries. Additionally, Portugal has participated in a series of Ibero-American summits. Portugal was a strong advocate of independence for East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, and has committed troops and money to East Timor, in close cooperation with the United States, Asian allies, and the United Nations. Portugal contributed a small gendarme force to Iraq that it withdrew in February 2005, and has contributed funds and personnel for other training and development projects for Iraq reconstruction, including the NATO Training Mission.

U.S.-PORTUGUESE RELATIONS

Bilateral ties date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February 21, 1791, President George Washington opened formal diplomatic relations, naming Col. David Humphreys as U.S. minister. Contributing to the strong ties between the United States and Portugal are the sizable Portuguese communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, and Hawaii. The latest census estimates that 1.3 million individuals living in the United States are of Portuguese ancestry, with a large percentage coming from the Azores. There are about 20,000 Americans living in Portugal.

The defense relationship between the United States and Portugal is excellent, centered on the 1995 Agreement on Cooperation and Defense (ACD). Lajes Air Base in the Azores has played an important role in supporting U.S. military aircraft engaged in counter-terrorism and humanitarian missions, including operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Portugal also provides the United States and other allies access to Montijo Air Base and a number of ports.

Portugal defines itself as “Atlanticist,” emphasizing its support for strong European ties with the United States, particularly on defense and security issues. The Portuguese Government has been a key ally in U.S.-led efforts in Iraq, and hosted the Azores Summit that preceded military action. Portugal sees its role as host of NATO's “Headquarters West” (formerly SOUTHLANT), located near Lisbon, as an important sign of alliance interest in transatlantic security issues. As a staunch NATO ally since the founding of the organization, Portugal is a participant in NATO peacekeeping. It used its 2002 chairmanship of the OSCE to advance U.S. and European security objectives.

U.S.-Portuguese trade is relatively small, with the United States exporting $1.13 billion worth of goods in 2005 and importing an estimated $2.34 billion. While total Portuguese trade has increased dramatically over the last 10 years, the U.S. percentage of it—both exports and imports—has declined. The Portuguese Government is seeking to increase exports of textiles and footwear to the United States and is encouraging greater bilateral investment. U.S. firms play a significant role in the automotive, pharmaceutical, computer, and retailing sectors in Portugal.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Last Updated: 2/19/2008

LISBON (E) Av. Forcas Armadas, 131, 1649-044 Lisboa, APO/FPO PSC 83, APO/AE 09726, IVG: 884-0000 comm 351 21 727-3300, Fax 011-351 21 727-2354, Workweek: Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00, Website: http://lisbon.usembassy.gov.

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

September 26, 2007

Country Description: Portugal is a developed and stable democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.

Entry Requirements: A passport is required for entry into Portugal. There are no immunization requirements. A visa is not required for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days. The 90-day period begins when you enter any of the “Schengen group” countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Portuguese law requires some non-European Union foreign nationals to register with immigration officials within three days of entering Portugal. The law affects those who transit another Schengen area country by air en route to Portugal and stay at noncommercial accommodations. For further information concerning entry requirements for Portugal, visit the Government of Portugal web site at www.portugalemb.org for the most current visa information.

Travelers may also contact the Embassy of Portugal at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, tel. (202) 350-5400, or the Portuguese Consulates in Boston, MA; New Bedford, MA; Providence, RI; New York, NY; Newark, NJ; San Francisco, CA; or Los Angeles, CA.

Note: Although European Union regulations require that non-EU visitors obtain a stamp in their passport upon initial entry to a Schengen country, many borders are not staffed with officers carrying out this function. If an American citizen wishes to ensure that his or her entry is properly documented, it may be necessary to request a stamp at an official point of entry. Under local law, travelers without a stamp in their passport may be questioned and asked to document the length of their stay in Schengen countries at the time of departure or at any other point during their visit, and could face possible fines or other repercussions if unable to do so.

Safety and Security: At this time there are no specific and credible threats related to terrorism, demonstrations, war, civil unrest or other forms of violence that should impact the visitors to Portugal. However, like other countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement of free cross-border movement, Portugal's open borders with its European neighbors allow the possibility for anyone to enter/exit the country with anonymity. Brief general strikes and public protests by public sector employees, industrial workers and/or university student groups take place with some frequency, but are usually publicized in advance and are rarely violent.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, including the Worldwide Caution Travel Alert, can be found. The Portuguese national emergency response telephone number is 112. This service is similar to the U.S. 911 emergency response telephone number and may be called from all telephones, including cell phones, for police, fire and medical emergencies. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.

Crime: Portugal has a relatively low rate of violent crime; however, petty crime is on the rise in Portugal. Travelers may become targets of pickpockets and purse snatchers, particularly at popular tourist sites, restaurants, or on public transportation. Rental cars and vehicles with non-local license plates can be targets for break-ins; travelers should remove luggage from vehicles upon parking. Travelers should also avoid using automatic teller machines in isolated or poorly lit areas. Drivers in Portugal should keep car doors locked when stopped at intersections. In general, visitors to Portugal should carry limited cash and credit cards on their person, and leave extra cash, credit cards, and personal documents at home or in a hotel safe. While thieves may operate anywhere, the U.S. Embassy receives reports of theft from the following areas.

Lisbon: Pick pocketing and purse snatching in the Lisbon area sometimes occurs in buses, restaurants, the airport, trains, train stations, and trams, especially aboard tram number 28 to the Castle of Sao Jorge. Theft of purses, briefcases and wallets also occurs in hotel lobbies, restaurants and elevators. At restaurants, items hung over the backs of chairs or placed on the floor may be stolen. There have been reports of theft of unattended luggage from the Lisbon Airport. Special care should be taken in the Santa Apolonia and Rossio train stations, the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts, the Castle of Sao Jorge and the area of Belm.

Outside Lisbon: Thefts have been reported in the towns of Sintra, Cascais, Mafra, Fatima and in the Algarve. Automobile break-ins sometimes occur in parking areas at tourist attractions and near restaurants. Special care should be taken in parking at the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace in Sintra and at the beachfront areas of Guincho, Cabo da Roca, and Boca do Inferno.

Azores: Pick pocketing and purse snatching are not common occurrences in the Azores. There are no reports of organized crime or gangs.

Madeira: Pick pocketing, while infrequent, may occur in the Old Town and Santa Catarina Park areas of Funchal.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. Portugal has a crime victim's assistance program, administered through an organization known by its acronym, “APAV.”

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical facilities are available in Portugal, but in some cases they may not meet U.S. standards. The responsiveness of emergency services is often not up to U.S. standards. Further, ambulance services usually require on-the-spot payment.

Important Note: Travelers sometimes request that relatives or friends in the U.S. mail prescription medicines to them in Portugal, but to do so violates Portuguese law and usually results in the shipment of medications being impounded by Portuguese Customs. When this occurs, the medications will not be released under any circumstances. Travelers who use prescription medicine should bring a sufficient supply with them to cover their anticipated stay in Portugal, along with a copy of their physician's prescription. Should an unforeseen need for prescription refills or new medications arise, Portuguese pharmacies generally carry equivalent medications to those found in the U.S. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Portugal is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Portugal has one of the highest rates of automobile accidents and related fatalities in Europe. Drivers should use extreme caution, as local driving habits, high speeds, and poorly marked roads pose special hazards. In Portugal, fines for traffic violations are substantial and usually must be paid on the spot. Taxis are a reliable means of transportation, though travelers should be alert to possible discrepancies between the meter fare and the amount requested by the driver. Buses are reliable and inexpensive.

In the Azores, driving can be treacherous due to narrow cobblestone streets, blind curves, unprotected embankments, herds of cows in the countryside roads, and the high speeds of other drivers. In contrast to the situation on the Portuguese mainland, traffic violations are registered by radar and later forwarded to the offender via the postal service; payments are not made on the spot. Taxis do not have meters. The fare consists of a base fee plus a posted rate per kilometer traveled. Public buses are inexpensive. Bus services begin at 7:00 a.m. and generally operate until 8:00 p.m. depending on the destination.

In Madeira, road conditions have improved substantially in recent years, although visitors must still drive cautiously and be wary of highspeed drivers.

U.S. visitors to Portugal may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license for up to six months. For international driving permits, please contact AAA or the National Auto Club. For specific information concerning Portuguese driver's permits, vehicle inspection and mandatory insurance, please contact the Portuguese National Tourist Office by telephone at 1-800-767-8842 or visit the website for the Portuguese Directorate-General for Traffic at http://www.dgv.pt.

Visit the website of Portugal's national tourist office at www.portugal.org, or the national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.dgv.pt.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Portugal's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Portugal's air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: Portuguese customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Portugal of such items as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, sales samples and other items. It is advisable to contact a Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. for specific information regarding customs requirements. Portugal's customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/ Temporary Admission) carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes.

ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA carnet in the United States. For additional information, please telephone (212) 354-4480, or send an e-mail to [email protected], or visit http://www.uscib.org for details.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Portugal's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Portugal are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Registration and Embassy Locations: Americans living or traveling in Portugal are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Portugal. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenida das Forcas Armadas, in the neighborhood of Sete Rios. Telephone (351)(21) 727-3300, fax (351)(21) 727-2354, Internet home page: lisbon.usembassy.gov.

The U.S. Consulate in the Azores is located in the city of Ponta Delgada on the island of San Miguel. The address is Av. Principe do Monaco, 62o, phone 351-296-282-216, fax 351-296-28-72-16.

There is a part-time U.S. Consular Agency in Funchal, on the island of Madeira, on Rua Alfandega, no 10-2, Room A-B, phone 351-291-235-636, fax 351-291-229-360. The Consular Agency is open Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

International Adoption

May 2006

The information in this section has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services.

For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note: Intercountry adoptions are permitted between Portugal and the United States. However, according to Portuguese adoption law only children who have no possibility of being adopted by applicants in Portugal are available for intercountry adoption. As a result, the youngest children available for intercountry adoption often have medical issues or are older, i.e., from 10 to 14 years of age.

Patterns of Immigration: Please review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Adoption Authority: The central authority (CA) for intercountry adoption in Portugal is the General Directorate of Welfare and Social Services, Families and Children (Direcção-Geral da Segurança Social, da Familia e da Crianca) in the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity.

Direcção-Geral da Segurança Social,
da Família e da Criança
Av. da Republica, 67 1069-033 Lisboa—Portugal
Tel.: 00 351 217 920 100; Fax: 00 351 217 934 739;
e-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Dra. Graça Ribeiro

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents:

• Persons who have been married or living in a common-law relationship for more than 4 years and who are both over age 25;
• Single persons over age 30;
• Persons under age 60, provided that the age difference between the child and the adopter does not exceed 50 years.

Residency Requirements: A U.S. citizen residing outside of Portugal who wishes to obtain the Portuguese Court's authorization to transfer a Portuguese orphan to the U.S. for the purposes of adoption in the U.S. does not need to establish residency in Portugal. However, a U.S. citizen who wishes to fully complete the adoption of a child in Portugal must be a legal resident of Portugal.

Time Frame: The amount of time needed to complete a process in Portugal varies considerably from case to case. According to Portuguese authorities, the average amount of time to complete an intercountry adoption is three months. The intercountry adoption process involves the Portuguese judicial system, in coordination with the Portuguese Central Authority as well as the Ministry's local Welfare and Social Services office (Centro Distrital da Seguranca Social).

Adoption Agencies: To date, No U.S. private adoption agency has applied accreditation by the Government of Portugal to transmit inter-country adoption cases directly to the Portuguese Central Authority. However, the Portuguese CA has advised the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon that private adoption agencies licensed in the U.S. may initiate intercountry adoption requests and submit them to the Portuguese CA if they do so through a competent U.S. State authority, i.e., a state-level government agency that has oversight over adoption issues.

Adoption Fees: The adoption process is free of charge in Portugal. There are no fees for court services. Adoption Eligibility: Portuguese children may become eligible for adoption in Portugal or in a receiving State under the following circumstances:

• if the minor is a child of unknown or deceased parents;
• if there has been previous consent to the adoption, i.e., the biological parents have given their authorization before a Portuguese court;
• if the parents have abandoned the minor;
• if the parents, by action or omission, have put in danger the minor's safety, health, moral formation or education, in ways which, by their gravity, seriously compromise the proper bonds of affection and affiliation;
• if the parents of a minor sheltered in a private home or in an institution have revealed a manifest lack of interest in the child, seriously compromising the proper bonds of affection and affiliation, at a minimum, during the three-month period prior to the submission of a petition to the court requesting the entrustment of the child for future adoption.

Adoption Procedures: To apply to become an adoptive parent, the following steps must be taken:

• A home study must be performed in the United States by a competent adoption organization.
• The home study and other relevant documents must be submitted by the adoption organization to the competent State agency in the U.S. state in which the adoption of the child will be completed, for that agency's approval.
• Once approved, the state agency forwards the adoption package to the Portuguese CA.
• Upon the Portuguese CA's finding that the case meets the legal requirements of the state of origin and the receiving state, the CA will submit a report to the Portuguese court, recommending that the child be placed with the prospective adoptive parents and released for intercountry adoption. The CA will also request that legal guardianship be transferred from the foster care home where the minor resides to the prospective adopting parents. The Portuguese Welfare and Social Services office will also be notified of the steps that are being taken regarding the minor.
• Prospective adoptive parents will subsequently be notified by the court to appear for a hearing before the Family Court Judge. They must appear in person. Attorneys may not represent prospective adopting parents in Court.
• Upon the successful conclusion of the judicial proceedings, the Court issues legal guardianship, awards legal custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parents and releases the child for intercountry adoption. The court must also authorize the travel of the minor with the adopting parents to be adopted abroad.

Required Documents:

• Home study report (social and psychological evaluation);
• Certificate of eligibility and suitability to adopt in Portugal;
• Criminal record;
• Health certificate;
• Residence certificate;
• Marriage certificate, or, if applicable, statement proving that the couple live as common-law husband/wife;
• Birth certificate(s) of prospective adoptive parents;
• Income certificate;
• Identity card or passport;
• The prospective adoptive parents' consent to have the competent authorities in the Receiving State supervise the integration of the child with the family during the pre-adoption period and producing progress reports on the situation each six months until the full adoption is ordered;
• Agreement by the prospective adoptive parents to forward to the Portuguese Central Authority an abstract of the U.S. Court's full adoption decree dully certified with the seal of the Apostille Convention.

Embassy of Portugal
2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. 202-350-5400
Fax 202-462-3726

Portugal also has consulates general in Boston, Newark, New York, and San Francisco. There are also consulates in Providence, Rhode Island and New Bedford, Massachusetts.

U.S. Immigration Requirements: Prospective adopting parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

U.S. Embassy
Avenida das Forcas Armadas
1600-081 LISBOA
Apartado 43033
1601-301 LISBOA
Tel: 351-21-727-3300
Fax: 351-21-726-9109
E-mail: [email protected]

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in Portugal may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.