Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa had said he was considering making it mandatory to wear the mask outdoors, although its usefulness and effectiveness outdoors remains to be proven. The Portuguese Parliament is expected to vote in favor of this measure this Friday 23rd October. While critics have focused on the StayAway Covid tracking app, wearing masks outdoors has met with broad political consensus. This obligation will be for a minimum period of 3 months. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about wearing the compulsory mask outdoors in Portugal.
Portugal bans travels between departments between October 30th and November 3rd, lockdown for 3 municipalities
The Portuguese government of Antonio Costa announced this Thursday the ban on movement between each department (concelhos) between October 30th and November 3rd, in order to fight against the spread of the coronavirus epidemic which has already made more than 2,000 deaths since the onset of covid-19 in Portugal. This shock measure aims to avoid travel for the weekend of November 1, a public holiday in Portugal and an opportunity for families to get together. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the travel ban in Portugal.
Storm Barbara: all of Continental Portugal under orange weather alert, 130 km/h expected
The IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) has issued an orange alert bulletin for the whole of mainland Portugal, due to the heavy rains and wind that will hit the country with the arrival of storm Barbara. The gusts will reach 130 km / h and encourage the authorities to call for caution. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about this orange weather alert in Portugal due to storm Barbara.
Coronavirus: Portugal goes into a state of calamity
Faced with the increase in positive cases of coronavirus, Portugal has decided to go into a state of calamity. This state allows the implementation of measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in Portugal, such as limiting the number of people who can meet to 5, or the obligation to wear the mask in certain places. The state of calamity will be in place from midnight tonight. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the establishment of the state of calamity in Portugal.
Collapse of the ceiling of the Lisbon metro on the blue line: 4 injured, the line closed for 2 days
An incident occurred this Tuesday, September 29 on the blue line of the Lisbon metro in Portugal. In fact, part of the ceiling collapsed between São Sebastião and Praça de Espanha stations at around 2:23 pm The authorities recorded 4 injuries and the line will be closed for 2 days. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you about the ceiling collapse of the Lisbon metro.
Rent freeze in 2021 in Portugal due to deflation
This is one of the consequences of the deflation that is taking hold in Portugal: residential and commercial rents will not increase in 2021. Indeed, after 5 consecutive years of increase, the inflation rate was zero (-0, 03%) in August, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) confirmed this Thursday, September 10. This zero or negative rate forces the executive to declare a freeze on rental values in 2021. As a result, landlords will not be able to increase their tenant's rent for next year. Lisbob, the # 1 expatriate assistant, tells you all about the rent freeze in Portugal in 2021.
Portugal again excluded from the British air corridor, terrible news for tourism
Portugal had feared him for several weeks, and England have just buried their last hopes. Indeed, Portugal is once again joining the “black list” countries: all people who have stayed in Portugal will have to quarantine for two weeks upon their arrival in England. The measure will be implemented on Saturday 12th at 4 a.m. (UK time). Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the country’s new exclusion from the UK air corridor.
All the details of the "contingency plan" in Portugal from September 15th
As announced a few weeks ago by the Portuguese Directorate General of Health, Portugal will go fully into a state of contingency as of September 15th, in order to fight against the coronavirus epidemic. The purpose of this change is to introduce new routines in the face of the increase in new cases and the start of the school year. Also, some rules only concern the AML and the North region. New rules, new hours, Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about this state of contingency in Portugal from September 15th.
Portugal will lower the VAT on electricity to 13%
Portugal has decided to lower the VAT rate on electricity, currently at 23%, for homes with low consumption. This is a measure that has been expected for several years and which is intended to favor households that consume little. The total estimated cost of the measures is 150 million euros and "will cover around 5.2 million contracts (86% of low voltage customers)", details the press release from the Portuguese Council of Ministers. The drop should be implemented in December. Lisbob, the # 1 expatriate assistant, tells you all about the drop in Portuguese electricity VAT.
New Portuguese school: no break, take-away canteen and disinfection by the pupils themselves
The coronavirus epidemic has already changed a lot of our habits, and this will also affect the youngest of us as soon as the start of the school year, scheduled in Portugal between September 14th and September 17th, resumes. With less than a month before the children going back to school, Portuguese health authorities are issuing recommendations for the safest possible return. Among the measures, the establishment of a take-away only canteen, the disinfection of chairs and tables by the students themselves and in some establishments the disappearance of breaks! Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the new Portuguese school.
How to receive more than 1,000 € at the end of your employment contract in Portugal (what companies are hiding from you)
The Portuguese labor code is complicated and sometimes contains secrets that few people know. Lisbob is the # 1 assistant for expats and its mission is to help you know all your rights and above all to know how to assert them. Portugal, like other European countries, offers workers a right to training which can, at the end of the working relationship, bring in several hundred euros. However, many companies play on not knowing this law so as not to have to pay this amount. Lisbob, the # 1 expatriate assistant, tells you all about this Portuguese labor law that could pay off.
Freedom for Rui Pinto, the Portuguese Julian Assange
This is great news for Rui Pinto, the notorious Portuguese hacker behind tax evasion revelations, including the infamous football leaks. After being arrested in Budapest on April 8, 2019, then extradited to Lisbon, Rui Pinto reportedly showed a willingness to collaborate with the Portuguese authorities. Despite being charged with a total of 90 crimes related to his hacks and other revelations, Rui Pinto, the so-called Portuguese Julian Assange, will be released pending trial. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the release of Rui Pinto, the hacker behind the "Football leaks".
Reopening of bars and nightclubs in Portugal, but closing at 8 p.m. and without a dance floor
Since March and the start of the coronavirus epidemic, bars and nightclubs in Portugal have been closed. However, they should be able to reopen very soon: this is what the Publico newspaper reports. The rules applied will be the same as those applied to tea rooms: closing at 8 p.m. and of course no dance floor. The night sector will have to adapt. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the reopening of bars and nightclubs in Portugal.
Lisbon: A new metro line will connect Oeiras and Sacavém for 490 million euros
Lisbon will see its public transport network disrupted in a few years, if the work is completed. This Wednesday, July 29th, the 3 cities of Lisbon, Oeiras and Sacavém, made a joint declaration to announce this new aerial metro project to link Cruz Quebrada with Alcantara and Santa Apolonia with Sacavém. The existing tram line 15 should be used between Alcantara and Santa Apolonia. No date for completion of the project has been announced. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the new skytrain line that will link Algès and Sacavem for 490 million euros.
Madeira imposes mandatory masks even outdoors despite no deaths since the start of the pandemic
Madeira is the first Portuguese region to make it compulsory to wear a mask, even outdoors and even when safety distances can be respected. From next Saturday, August 1st, it will be compulsory to wear a mask in all public spaces of Madeira and even in the streets. The decision of the regional government of Madeira was announced this afternoon and is part of a package of new measures that will be implemented in the archipelago in order to fight against the covid-19 pandemic, which has yet no deaths from the start. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the mandatory mask wearing even outdoors and with social distancing in Madeira.
15-day extension of the state of calamity for 19 municipalities in Greater Lisbon, Portugal still at 3 different levels
As of July 1st, 19 municipalities in the Lisbon region are affected by the state of calamity which imposes stricter rules than in the whole country. The Portuguese government decided on Monday to extend the state of calamity by 15 days in all 19 parishes, and the rest of the Lisbon metropolitan area remains under contingency. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about extending the state of calamity for 19 municipalities in Greater Lisbon and Portugal, still at 3 different levels.
Dolphins back in Lisbon
Lockdown also had positive effects. Thanks to the improvement of the Tagus waters as well as the reduction of noise pollution, dolphins have made a massive return to Lisbon Bay. Even if it is not an extremely rare event in itself, the frequency of the last visits (almost daily) as well as the number of dolphins goes out of the usual. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the return of these special visitors: dolphins in Lisbon.
Portugal out of British "tourist" corridor, Spain in
Boris Johnson has announced today the list of the countries that will be exempted a quarantine starting from 10th July. This list includes France, Italy and Spain, but excludes mainland Portugal. Madeira and Açores are in the “safe” list and will not have mandatory quarantine. This is a very bad news for Portuguese tourism and especially in the Algarve, where a lot of British tourists come every summer. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you everything about the Portugal out from the tourist corridor, and Spain in.
Border between Portugal and Spain reopened after 3 and a half months of closure
It had been since March 17th that the land border between Portugal and Spain was closed due to the coronavirus epidemic. After three and a half months, the two neighboring countries have decided to reopen their border this Wednesday, July 1st. And to mark the occasion, the 2 heads of state as well as the 2 heads of government will be present for a ceremony. It is now possible to move freely between the two countries. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the reopening of the border between Portugal and Spain this Wednesday, July 1st.
TAP airlines will be nationalised
It was a rescue that was expected. While the coronavirus crisis strongly impacted the Portuguese airline TAP, the government of Antonio Costa decided to move forward with the nationalization of the emblematic company. TAP will be nationalized because private shareholders do not accept the conditions imposed by the Portuguese government regarding the loan of 1.2 billion euros to the airline. After losing 100 million euros in 2019 and being hit hard by the covid-19 crisis, the nationalization of TAP is likely to be expensive. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the nationalization of TAP.