OCC CRUISING INFORMATION SERVICE

Editor: George Curtis, Blacksmiths Cottage, Aston Tirrold, Oxfordshire, OX11 9DQ, England

Tel/Fax:+44 (0) 1235 850794; e-mail cis@oceancruisingclub.org

‘Country Page’ Portugal

1. Formal requirements for yachts entering from abroad:

Portugal in the recent past has had a more comprehensive system of monitoring the movement of sailing craft than its neighbours and many of these practices still run alongside standard EU practice.

Some offices operate a single form procedure where the passing of information to other offices will be transparent to the registrant, some offices operate a multi-part form and you will be required to visit more than one official and some other offices will require different forms to be filled in by different officials.

It is good practice to ask for a copy of your filled in entry form to show to the next port of call as it will ease the process of filling in subsequent paperwork.

For non-EU registered vessels with a transit-log (see below) it is important to have it stamped if this is your point of departure from Portugal. Make it clear if you are bound for the Azores or Madeira as these are Portuguese administered territories.

For any vessel exiting Portugal and then planning to return it is useful to keep the receipt as it tracks your entry/exit for boat tax purposes.

There is a local boat tax, full details of which can be found on the "Information" pages at web site www.lagosnavigators.net . In summary, the boat tax is a sub-set of the local vehicle tax, and it applies to all boats in Portugal. Foreign registered boats become liable after the boat has been in any port or boatyard, in any part of the country, for a grand total of 183 days in any tax year. Note that the tax year is the calendar year in Portugal, so the traditional "9 months winter contract" will escape the tax for each of the two years. This is a locally collected tax, and there is currently no real mechanism for checking time spent in different ports across the country. Real cruisers would probably need to spend over 183 days in one location in any year, before they are likely to be identified by the authorities.

For locally registered boats, the tax is paid in advance, in January, while for foreign boats it becomes due when 183 days have been accumulated in the tax year. There is a short clemency period of ca. 8 days after which, if identified as liable, the tax plus a penalty for late payment, will be demanded.

VAT (IVA)

For USA and other non-EU visitors, the rules are common with the rest of the EU - a total of 18 months stay is allowed in any part(s) of the EU - and then VAT (= IVA) becomes due on the value of the vessel. Two tips that appear to work – but need careful verification! (1) A documented journey, outside the EU – e.g. to Morocco - can “restart the clock” and allow for a further 18 months VAT free status. (2) If you ARE importing - enter via the Açores, where VAT/IVA rates are significantly lower (15% v. 21%).

2. Visa requirements:

3. Cruising permits and restrictions:

For non-EU registered yachts whether or not they have already cleared into the EU a transit-log (livrete de transito) was a formality in the recent past and may still be regarded as such at some ports. For non-EU registered yachts when checking in draw the official’s attention to ‘non-EU’ flag and as for assistance.

If you are given a transit-log, for which a small fee will be charged, it is important that it is stamped on exit from Portugal. More than one official’s stamp may be required.

4. Formal procedures when departing from one port and entering another:

Have the following information available:

Registration number and port of registry, Vessel dimensions, Number of Masts, Make of Engine, HP of engine, Amount of fuel carried, Serial number of Epirb, Make and type of transceivers (radios), Licence numbers for radios (ship station licenses), Licence number for operators, Insurer contact details and policy number, Evidence of third party insurance in Portugese, Passports for all on board, Certificate of competence, Evidence of boat VAT status, Hull Number, Boat model type. Dinghy type, Outboard engine type and power, Last port, with payment receipt if applicable, Next port

5. Recommended cruising guides:

RCC Atlantic Spain and Portugal, Martin Walker and Anne Hammick, fifth edition

David Lumby’s excellent site at http://www.manorhouses.com/ports/index.htm This covers: Caminha , Viana do Castelo , Povoa de Varzim , Vila do Conde , Leixoes , Oporto , Aveiro , Figueira da Foz , Nazare , Sao Martinho do Porto , Berlenga Island , Peniche , Cascais , Lisbon , Seixal , Sesimbra , Setubal , Sines , Baleeira , Lagos , Alvor , Portimao ,
Vilamoura , Culatra Island , Olhao , Tavira , Vila Real de S. Antonio

Portugal Cruising Guide L. Falco & C. Radburn

Southwest Spain and Portugal Cruising Companion Detlef Jens

6. Web links providing local cruising information:

7. Some of the Ports of entry:

For non-EU registered yachts ports of entry permanently manned by immigration (SEF = Service for Foreigners and Frontiers) are: Viana do Castelo, Povoa do Varzim, Leixoes, Nazare, Peniche, Cascais, Sines, Lagos, Portimao and Vilamoura.

There are only immigration (SEF = Service for Foreigners and Frontiers) and customs staff at the major commercial ports.  Foreign yachts (including non-EU) can enter any port and the Marina staff will automatically notify the appropriate authorities at their nearest office.

8. Recommended sources of weather and climate information and reliability:

http://lagos.compserv.co.uk/

http://www.meteo.fr/marine/naviweb/bulletins/ATL_LARGE.html

http://www.freemeteo.com/default.asp?pid=28&la=1

http://www.weatherweb.net/aviations/marine/Portugal.txt

http://www.meteo.pt/en/previsao/inicial.jsp

www.meteo.pt

Navtex, Monsanto, ‘R’ 02:50 then every 4 hours 518

Navtex, Monsanto, ‘G’ 0100 then every 4 hours 490

VHF broadcasts irregular but listen on channel 11

MF broadcasts irregular but listen on 2657

9. Where to obtain tidal information:

10: How to contact the search and rescue organisation:

Centro de Busca e Salvamento Maritimo

Phone 214 401 919

VHF Ch 16

MF 2182

11: Any comments on radio and communications:

12. Any comments on emergency and health services:

13: Any comments on importing spares:

14: General advice, places to go, warnings:

15: Any comments on safety and security:

The OCC Cruising Information Service is provided by the OCC. The information is supplied to the OCC by members and is for OCC members only. The date given in the above is the date that the members supplying the information visited this place and the information may have changed at any time. The OCC has taken no steps to verify the information, which should be confirmed independently. The OCC accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information and cannot be held liable for any damage howsoever caused whether directly or indirectly or any consequential losses.