Q. I would like to obtain tourist information about the United Kingdom. Can I obtain this from the Embassy?
A. The embassy does not have a tourism section. To obtain tourist information about England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should contact Visit Britain, which will be able to provide all the information you need about transport , travel arrangements and accommodation and main tourist and cultural attractions . Please visit the Visit Britain website.

Q. I intend to study or take a post-graduate course in the UK.  What will I need to do? Where can I obtain information about course equivalencies?
A. To obtain information about courses, schools, universities or internships in the UK, or about equivalencies, you should contact the British Council, the institution responsible for cultural and educational matters related to the UK.  If you are Portuguese you should contact the Portuguese Education Ministry.  Please visit the British Council in Portugal website, send an e-mail to Lisbon.enquiries@pt.britishcouncil.org, or ring the following number: 213214500

Q. I am a Portuguese National. Do I need any documents or a special authorisation to enter the United Kingdom?
A. No. European Union Citizens do not need visas to enter the United Kingdom. In this case, showing a valid identification document – Passport or Identity card – is sufficient. Driving Licenses are not considered a valid document for this effect. If you need further information, please visit the website of the State Secretariat for Portuguese Communities. Other nationalities might need to obtain a visa.  Please visit the visa pages on our website.  

Q. I have a relative/friend of Portuguese nationality who needs assistance in the UK. Can the embassy help?
A. The British Embassy cannot provide assistance in these cases. We suggest that you contact the Portuguese diplomatic and consular missions in the United Kingdom. Please find their contacts below:

Portuguese Embassy in London
11, Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PP
Tel: 0044207 2355331/2/3/4 Fax: 0044207 2350739
E-mail: london@portembassy.co.uk

Portuguese Consulate General in London
3, Portland Place, London W1N 3AA
Tel: 0044207 291 3770 Fax: 0044207 291 3799
E-mail: mail@cglon.dgaccp.pt

Portuguese Consulate General in Manchester
1 Portland Street, M13BE Manchester
Tel: 0044 161 236 0990 Fax: 0044 161 236 2064
E-mail: consulado@manchester.dgaccp.pt

For further information, please visit the Portuguese Foreign Ministry website.

Q. Do I need any special authorisation to work in the UK?
A. European Union citizens are free to live and work in the UK. Other nationalities may need to obtain a working visa. We recommend that you consult the visa pages on our website. You may also wish to visit our Working in the United Kingdom section.

Q. I intend to look for a job in the UK and I would like to obtain contacts of Employment Agencies.
A. The British Embassy does not have information about Employment Agencies. You should search the Internet using the term Employment Agencies UK.

Q. I need to consult a specialist doctor in the UK. Can the Embassy recommend a doctor or a hospital?
A. The Embassy cannot assume responsibility for recommending a doctor or a hospital. To search for doctors and hospitals in the United Kingdom, we suggest visiting the British Nacional Health Service website. If you are a Portuguese national, you may also seek advice from the Portuguese Consulates in the UK. Please find the contacts above.  

Q. Can I take my pet to the UK?
A. The "Pet Travel Scheme" was introduced in April 2001. This programme allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they comply with the rules. For further information please visit the website of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs or contact the "Pets Helpline": +44 870 241 1710 From Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

Q. Can I use electric equipment purchased in Portugal or in other European country?
A. The United Kingdom, like the rest of Europe, has the standard 220-240V, 50Hz voltage AC, but the plug system is a 3 flat blades model. However, you can easily purchase in the UK adapters for other plug models used in continental Europe.

Q. How can I contact the emergency services in the UK?
A. In case of emergency, (whenever an immediate response is necessary) you should call the 999 number. This number processes all the calls for the fire brigade, medical emergencies and police, therefore when you call you should make clear which service is required. In situations that are not considered emergencies, you could contact the police station nearest to the area where the crime took place, by phone or in person. To obtain further information and contacts, please visit the British Police website on the internet.

Q. What are the opening hours of banks in the UK?
A. Bank opening hours are decided individually by each bank and may differ from branch to branch. In general, banks are open to the public from 9am to 5.30pm on weekdays, although some in Scotland close for lunch. Some banks are open to the public all day on Saturdays, and some have started to on Sundays for a few hours.