According to the diploma, which comes into force at 00:00 on Saturday, this prohibition "does not apply to national citizens or holders of a residence permit in Portugal", and disembarkation is also possible "in exceptional or urgent cases, upon authorization from the health authority, namely for humanitarian, health reasons or for immediate repatriation, without entering national territory ".

Cruise ships are allowed to dock at national ports "for supply, maintenance and waiting for ship repair", the document also reads.

The disembarkation and licenses ban had already been determined on March 13, having been extended until April 30.

In the explanatory memorandum, the Government recalls that this interdiction, and its extension, was justified "as a measure to contain possible lines of contagion to control the spread of the SARSCoV-2 virus and the covid-19 disease" and recalls that "the experience demonstrates the high risk of disembarking passengers and crew from cruise ships ".

The order was signed by the Minister of National Defense, João Gomes Cravinho, of the Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, of Health, Marta Temido, and by the Assistant Secretary of State and of Communications, Alberto Souto de Miranda, and it may be extended "due to the evolution of the epidemiological situation ".