A heads up if you are leaving Europe from the Lisbon airport and want to get a VAT refund. It took my son almost an hour to figure out and wait in the lines to get his VAT refund. There weren't any directions/instructions as you enter the area (after you go through security and before you enter the duty-free shopping area.) I hope this might save you some time and headache:
- Be sure you have your receipt for a VAT refund filled out at the shop where you bought the item. (We watched several people who did not have the proper form wait in line only to be turned away.)
- First you have to stand in line to get your receipt stamped by the customs company (it's to your right as you enter the area.) We were there on the morning of 6/29/23 and there was only ONE person working this counter, the line was LONG.
- After your receipt is stamped then you are directed to the third-party vendors that contract to offer the refunds. Those offices are to the left as you enter the area. Many people waited in those lines only to discover they had to have their refund forms stamped first.
Give yourself plenty of extra time if you plan to get your refund.