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WHY WE THINK IT’S SAFE TO STUDY ABROAD WITH US IN LISBON, PORTUGAL AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING THERE!
This blog post only displays the current situation in Lisbon and why we think it is safe to study there. As conditions can change quickly, it is recommended to follow the news and stay informed about travel restrictions and guidelines from your home country as well as the Portuguese government.
YOU CAN STUDY ABROAD IN LISBON DESPITE COVID-19!
Have you always wanted to study for a semester in a different country and learn about a different culture? Well, then we have some good news for you: one of our European destinations, Lisbon, is accepting students for the spring semester of 2021. The European University of Lisbon is a great choice if you want to experience one of the greatest European capitals and combine this with your studies.
Find out more about the European University of Lisbon here
HOW CAN I TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL AND WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER?
The latest update on traveling to Portugal was given on September 24th by Visiting Portugal. If you are traveling from European Union countries, Schengen Associated Countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom), Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay, you don’t have to show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding your flight. If you are from another destination than those mentioned above, you need a negative COVID-19 test carried out within 72 hours before departure time.
If you fly with one of the Portuguese airports (Lisboa, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada e Funchal) you will notice several implemented initiatives that will keep the staff and the passengers safer. They will measure your body temperature on arrival and you will be requested to fill out a form from the Health Authorities (Passenger Locator Form), these will be provided by the Airline Company during your flight.
IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO STUDY IN LISBON?
Portugal is located right next to Spain, which has had a very high number of COVID-19 cases. We can imagine that this might be an obstacle while considering studying in Portugal. Although Spain was one of the worst-hit countries, the difference in Portugal was that they had more time to prepare. Madrid’s infection rate is double that of Lisbon. The hospitals are not overwhelmed and they have more time and better conditions to follow the critical patients in the ICUs. A study from Nova University showed that the development of COVID-19 was the lowest in Portugal of all Europe during the first 25 days of the pandemic. At the moment it is important to stay safe and follow the rules in any place in the world. So even though Portugal is a safe place to travel to right now, it is crucial to keep the following rules in mind!
FOLLOW THE RULES AND STAY SAFE!
There is still some social life in Lisbon going on again at the moment. Cafes and bars are open between 8 pm and 11 pm and the restaurants until 1 am. Tourist attractions are open for visitors at the moment and the beaches are accessible. You do need to follow some rules while you are on your exchange in Lisbon. It is important to keep 2 meters distance and to wear a face mask in public transport, shops, closed places, and places with many people. Also, don’t forget to bring your hand sanitizer with you whenever you leave the house! Besides that, your temperature will probably be measured whenever you visit closed places like stores and museums. All of these measures are to keep you as safe as possible during your stay in Lisbon. Luckily Lisbon is one of the few destinations that allows students like you to still study abroad during COVID-19. So don’t forget, even under these conditions, to have fun and enjoy your experience abroad!
Are you interested in studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal?
Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities in Asia Pacific for students from all around the world. Want to get travel tips and new blog posts straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! If you have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to contact us! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
This article was written by our marketing intern, Nadia!
