Portuguese travellers have reported challenges after their travel authorisations were updated by US Customs and Border Protection to “unapproved”.

The Honorary Portuguese Consulate in Bermuda issued a statement on Wednesday that warned of complications being experienced by Portuguese nationals going through the United States this week.

Portuguese passport holders were urged to check the status of their Electronic System for Travel Authorisation and to visit a travel agent.

The honorary consulate said in its notice that reports indicated some Estas which were earlier approved had been updated to “unapproved status”.

Travel agents in Bermuda said they began receiving calls and e-mails from clients on Tuesday complaining that they had been forced to make other travel arrangements.

Joe Amaral, a senior travel adviser at Travel Edge, a Bermuda travel agent, said he had received correspondence from 25 clients since Tuesday who had been issued an e-mail from US customs.

The e-mails were not addressed to individuals by name, but informed them: “There has been an update to your Esta Travel Authorisation Status.”

The e-mail then told recipients to visit esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta to check their application.

He said he had heard from a family of five who were able to fly from Bermuda through the US on July 8 to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, but later received an e-mail saying the father's Esta had been “updated” and he could not enter the US.

Mr Amaral said: “The father will have to come back on the [direct] charter flight and his family will travel through the US.

“Usually, you can apply for a visa but my clients are telling me there are no appointments for visas in August, and after August there are no openings as a decision from Washington is being waited on.

“Clients are telling me that is what the US Consulate General in Bermuda is saying.”

Mr Amaral said he would be contacting airlines “pleading” with them to give refunds to his clients under the circumstances.

Luisa Gonclaves Da Ponte of travel agent Trip.bm said she had received correspondence from about 50 affected travellers.

The Honorary Portuguese Consulate in Bermuda said in a statement that it wished to "inform all Portuguese passport holders who have obtained an Esta to visit one of the travel agencies in Bermuda“.

“It is crucial to confirm whether your Esta is still reflected as approved” it added.

“We have received reports indicating that certain Estas previously approved have been updated to an unapproved status.

“We are currently conducting inquiries with the US Consulate in Portugal and the Portuguese Secretary of State for Communities regarding this matter.

“Please ensure that you check your Esta status at your earliest convenience to avoid any travel disruptions.

“Thank you for your attention to this important issue.”

The visa waiver programme enables qualifying nationals to travel to the US for tourism or business stays for up to 90 days without a visa.

Those who qualify to travel via the visa waiver programme must apply for an Esta.

The Portuguese Cultural Association of Bermuda posted a warning on social media about the situation.

It said: “We have received anecdotal accounts of Portuguese people having their Esta revoked by the American authorities without prior notice.

“While there does not appear to be any official word on this taking place, it is advised to check if your Esta is valid before travelling to the USA.”

The association advised that when visiting the Esta website, maintained by US Customs and Border Protection, affected travellers should click on “Check Esta Status” and then click “Check Individual Status”.

It added: “You will need to enter either your passport number, date of birth, and application number or the country of citizenship, passport issuance date and passport expiration date.”

It then set out a number of potential outcomes after this part of the process is complete.

Ms Da Ponte said: “It’s a major, major problem for the Portuguese because it is not guaranteed that you can enter the country with the Esta.

“Starting yesterday [Tuesday] and today [Wednesday] Estas have been cancelled.

“The Portuguese that we have on the other side who went through the States, some of them are stuck there [in Portugal], some are unable to travel. They are shocked.

“This is a lot of work for us and the other agencies.

“All these people they authorised and now out of the blue they are sending us e-mails saying their Esta has been cancelled.”

Sata Azores Airlines cancelled its direct flight last December saying it was not economically viable.

Ms Gonclaves Da Ponte recently secured a limited direct summer and winter flight schedule between Bermuda and the Azores through Trip.bm that may be able to assist some travellers.

Anyone travelling on a Bermudian passport does not require an Esta.

The Royal Gazette contacted the US Embassy and Consulate in Portugal but did not receive a response by press time.

There appeared to be no specific information on its site about the recent changes.

The Gazette also sought comment from US Customs and Border Protection, the Embassy of Portugal to the United States of America, Skyport and Bermuda’s ministry responsible for transport.