If you are planning to cross the border using the Guadiana International Bridge, or by taking the ferry from Vila Real de Santo António, you will need identification documents, or risk being turned back.
Full document checks at all designated border crossings are in place from Wednesday until midnight on Sunday, May 14th, due to the visit of the Pope. Unofficial and little used border crossings also will be under observation.
Portugal's air, sea and land entry points are now fully manned by SEF officers who are taking no chances as they are wary of the threat of terrorists taking advantage of the country’s normally relaxed entry checks to launch an attack during the papal visit to Fátima.
The main points of entry in the Algarve are the Guadiana International Bridge, the river border at Vila Real de Santo António and Faro airport.
Everyone must have their citizen's card or passport to hand and will be no good quoting the Schengen agreement to the SEF as in Portugal, each and every person on Portuguese soil is required to carry ID at all times.
According to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), in the next four days they will be at nine officially recognised land crossing points, 21 sea entry points and nine airfields and airports.
The SEF stresses that "attempts to cross borders outside these designated crossings will not be allowed," except for "cases of local traffic which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the authorities."
Pope Francis is the fourth pontiff to visit Fátima. His trip is timed to coincide with the centenary of the apparitions and will see the canonisation on May 13th of two of the three shepherds, Francisco and Jacinta, who witnessed the phenomenon.
The Pope has been granted an audience with Portugal's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on his arrival, and will meet Prime Minister, António Costa, on May 13.