Saudi embassy warns citizens on Portugal face-covering ban from September 2026

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Portugal has notified Saudi citizens that a law banning full face coverings in public places will take effect across Portugal starting September 23, 2026. The embassy urged travelers to comply with the regulation when visiting the country after this date.

In its advisory, the embassy explained that violations of the law could result in fines ranging from €150 to €750 for negligence, and from €100 to €5,000 for deliberate breaches, according to the notice.

The advisory also noted that Article 6 of the law stipulates penalties of up to two years in prison, a fine, or up to 210 days of community service for anyone who forces another person to cover their face through threats or violence. The penalty increases by one third if the victim is a minor.

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The Saudi embassy in Portugal called on citizens to adhere to the law's provisions when visiting Portugal after it comes into force.