Fully Vaccinated Tourists No Longer Require Covid Test to Enter Portugal

The UK Government has updated its travel advice for British tourists going on holiday to Portugal stating that fully vaccinated holidaymakers no longer need a Covid test to enter the popular holiday hotspot

The UK Government has updated its travel advice for British tourists going on holiday to Portugal stating that fully vaccinated holidaymakers no longer need a Covid test to enter the popular holiday hotspot.

British tourists with an NHS Covid vaccination certificate will no longer have to have a COVID-19 test to enter Portugal according to the latest FCO advice.

Until now, Portugal did not accept the NHS Covid vaccination certificate as proof of vaccination.

The Government advice for mainland Portugal states:

If you have an NHS COVID Pass or an EU digital COVID vaccination certificate showing you have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before you travel, or an EU COVID recovery certificate showing you have recovered from COVID-19 no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days of when you are due to travel:

  • you do not need to have a COVID-19 test to enter Portugal. Be prepared to show a digital or paper copy of your COVID vaccination or recovery certificate when you check-in for your flight, and
    complete an online passenger locator card

If you do not have an NHS COVID Pass or an EU digital COVID certificate, you must:

  • take a COVID-19 pre-departure test before you travel (children up to the age of 11 are exempt)
  • this can be an antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. If you have an antigen test, make sure it meets the standards set out in the EU common list of Rapid Antigen Tests
  • check your test result identifies the type of test taken and gives your name, date of birth, the date and time the sample was collected and the date of the result
  • you should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test
  • complete an online passenger locator card

Portugal may accept other countries’ COVID vaccination certificates for the purpose of entry. Check with your airline or the Portuguese Consulate in your country of origin for more information before you travel.

You will be subject to health screening on arrival. If your temperature is 38ºC or over or you show signs of being unwell, you may be required to take a COVID-19 test and remain at the airport until you receive your test result.

If you are travelling from the UK or another non-EU/EEA country, you may be asked to show your COVID-19 vaccination certificate or negative COVID-19 test at border control.

The Portuguese Government previously stated it would accept third country vaccination certificates under reciprocal arrangements. This is suggested to include Northern Ireland’s Digital Covid Certificate.

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