Covid - again !!

[roy4eyes]

We have saved up our hard earned pension to go to U.K. to see family and organised the covid rip off outbound but would appreciate advice on return.

Reading available comments it would appear that Portuguese residents returning from U.K. only need proof of being vaccinated but others state that at least a flow test is required before you are allowed on the plane. Anyone had any experience in this respect ?

[widge]

As I understand Roy a Covid test is only necessary If you do not have an EU digital COVID vaccination certificate:

[griff61]

we fly out on Sunday, and according to Jet2 website for flights to Portugal, you need the following
1. negative COVID test result
2. fill out overseas pre holiday form
3. provide proof of full vaccination

[Skiingbuffy]

From Safe Communities Portugal

Travel to Portugal
We have received a lot of enquiries from Members about testing for people arriving from a non-EU member state, but who have an EU Digital COVID Certificate. As I mentioned last time, I have confirmed with the ANA Aeroporto Director at Faro and he confirmed that no test is needed for people in the possession of an EU Digital COVID Certificate if they are Residents in Portugal. All other non-EU members (non-Residents) need to present proof of a negative test to screen for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

However, we have had calls from Members who say that their experience on arrival at the airport is that SEF officers are demanding a negative COVID test or taking them to get one done at the airport. We are also advised that some airlines are requiring a negative test prior to boarding and some aren’t. This is of course a nightmare, but at least the airline issue can be dealt with by asking the airline in advance what they require to board the plane, bearing in mind that their requirements may be different to those of the destination country.

As far as the airport authorities are concerned, it is confirmed that there is no test certificate required for fully vaccinated residents arriving in Portugal who have an EU Digital COVID Certificate. I have asked the airport Director to pass a report by a Member who contacted us to the SEF supervisors at Faro and ask them to confirm the situation there. It could be that some SEF officers either aren’t aware or are not applying the rules correctly and perhaps asking for a supervisor might solve the problem if you are asked for a negative test. An alternative might be to have the test done prior to returning to Portugal, but we also know that people have gone through the airport with no problem at all. As soon as we have clarification from Faro we will contact you again.

Passengers entering or transiting Portugal must present:

Proof of a negative RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) - 72h before boarding, or Rapid Antigen Test - 48h before boarding, or EU Digital COVID Certificate
Children under 12 do not need to present test.
All passengers need to complete a Passenger Locator Card (individually) before departure to Portugal at https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/pass ... cator-card and print the confirmation

Provisions for passengers from the UK:
All travellers to mainland Portugal are required to show a negative COVID-19 test (RT-PCR taken within 72 hours of departure or Rapid Antigen (TRAg) test taken 48 hours prior to departure);
Passengers with EU Digital COVID Certificate do not need to have a COVID-19 test prior to travel if they are legal Residents in Portugal;
Must comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or have complete vaccination carried out in the UK for 14 days, of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA);
Children with age 17 or younger at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunised as per EU directives;
Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements;
Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements;
Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

[roy4eyes]

Thank you for your helpful comments.

I now understand that the Portuguese authorities only need an EU digital Covid cerificate which we have - and we also will have our PCR test results from arrival 2 weeks pror to departure - but do the airline (Ryanair) need any additional tests before letting us board ?

If anyone, or you know anyone, who has travelled back from U.K. on Ryanair we would love to know the answer to this.

[Geoff]

I can't imagine that the airline will need more than the country you are flying to , though in my ( limited) experience, the airline checking is more thorough than border Forces either in UK or Portugal....probably because the airline faces fines if they transport people without correct documentation.
Anyway, you should be ok....latest UK advice is:

Before you travel to mainland Portugal
If you have 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

[KenC]

As of 1st September there is no differentiation between vaccinated and non vaccinated arrivals from the UK. No quarantine is required. Consequently the Indian batches of the AZ vaccine is no longer a potential issue.

[Geoff]

As of 1st September there is no differentiation between vaccinated and non vaccinated arrivals from the UK. No quarantine is required. Consequently the Indian batches of the AZ vaccine is no longer a potential issue.

If you aren't vaccinated, you do need to have taken a test though....from https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advic ... quirements

If you do not have 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 will need to take a COVID-19 test to enter Portugal (children up to the age of 11 are exempt)

[KenC]

Yes, they do, but so do those vaccinated (unless in the EU).

[Geoff]

Yes, they do, but so do those vaccinated (unless in the EU).

But as below:

Before you travel to mainland Portugal
If you have 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

My bold highlighting....i thought the NHS Covid Vaccination Certificate was now accepted in Portugal, hence a test not needed?

[sam]

Yes, they do, but so do those vaccinated (unless in the EU).

But as below:

Before you travel to mainland Portugal
If you have 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

My bold highlighting....i thought the NHS Covid Vaccination Certificate was now accepted in Portugal, hence a test not needed?

there is a colon between the first and second parts, therefore they are related and applies to eu certificate

[Geoff]

there is a colon between the first and second parts, therefore they are related and applies to eu certificate

Indeed, but I had read that the NHS Covid Certificate was valid in Portugal......various news sites indicate that it is allowed, see: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ne ... 82499.html

Of the countries that are accepting fully vaccinated British travellers, quarantine-free, many have said they will recognise the NHS app, including much of Europe. France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia have all said they will accept the proof outlined above as demonstration of vaccination status.

Though I have yet to see it in black & white on a UK/Portugal government site......

[sam]

The NHS Covid Certificate is recognised so you do not have to quarantine, but you still need a test prior to departure. I assume it will be accepted in restaurants to dine indoors. People with EU Passport for Covid do not need a test prior to arrival.
There are a number of sites such as gov.uk, sef, visit portugal ... that have info. The requirements change so checking is needed if travelling.

[Geoff]

The NHS Covid Certificate is recognised so you do not have to quarantine, but you still need a test prior to departure.

However, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advic ... quirements
says (my bold):
"If you have 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"

So it seems you don't need a test before you go IF the NHS certificate is recognised.

However, BBC News site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-56997931
says

Mainland Portugal does not yet accept the NHS Covid pass as proof of vaccination. Anyone travelling to the country aged 12 or over must:

Hence, it appears the NHS certificate isn't yet valid, so a pre departure test is needed....and presumably restaurants/hotels don't accept it either.

Anyone had experience out tere?

[Striderman]

We returned to UK on Saturday having spent last 2.5 weeks in Carvoeiro. When we arrived we needed to show Vaccine confirmation and proof of negative test. The proof of vaccination is no longer required but you will still need to show proof of negative test (antigen is sufficient). They were not checking the passenger locator form which you are still required to complete. However, we went with Ryan Air and they still required sight of the PLF at check in.
Hope this clarifies

Dan