{"id":4018,"date":"2023-10-25T22:01:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T22:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpcv.pt\/sistema-de-protecao-de-visitantes\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T12:24:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T12:24:19","slug":"visitor-protection-system","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gpcv.pt\/en\/visitor-protection-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Visitor Protection System"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is the Protection of Visitors System? <\/h2> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Alongside the Green Card System, there is the Protection of Visitors System, a mechanism created within the European Union, through the Motor Insurance Directives, to protect the victims of road accidents occurring abroad (outside the victim’s country of residence), but limited to the countries of the European Economic Area, which covers the 27 Eurpean Union countries and also Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.<\/p>\n

While the Green Card System was designed to protect injured parties of accidents caused by foreign vehicles in their country of residence, the Protection of Visitors System aims to protect the victim of a road accident caused by local vehicles in a member state other than their country of residence.<\/p>\n

The main advantage it offers is the possibility for the visitor (victim or injured party) to report the claim and claim compensation for the damage suffered in their own country and in their own language, and to do so by contacting the Claims Representatives.<\/p>\n

All insurers operating in the motor third-party liability sector must appoint Claims Representatives in all Member States, to whom the injured parties of accidents abroad can turn to claim compensation when they return to their country of residence.<\/p>\n

Claims Representatives have the power to represent the Insurer, pay compensation and examine the case in the language of the Member State where the injured party resides.<\/p>\n

You can search here <\/a>for the Claims Representatives of foreign insurers (FGA\/ASF).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Members of the Visitor Protection System<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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In Portugal, this system is regulated by Decree-Law no. 291\/2007, of August 21, under Title III – Protection in the event of an accident abroad (art. 65 and following).<\/p>\n

The players in the Protection of Visitors System operate under the authority of the Motor Guarantee Fund (FGA – ASF Website<\/a>), which is managed by the Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (ASF). They are:<\/p>\n