Portugal- covid requirements - simplify please?

[Sxxyfing]

Hi,
I'm travelling with my husband and baby to Portugal (mainland) end of September.

I've been on furlough and then maternity leave since March last year. Have only just started going out again since mask requirement was removed and never had covid or a covid test. Me and husband are double vaccinated. Husband has been WFH for the same amount of time. So we have been pretty much shielded from any of this stuff (luckily!) But also means I'm pretty clueless about what is needed and why?

Can someone please simplify for me the requirements for testing. The government website is an overload of information that's not all relevant and I probably still have baby brain?

What tests do we need?
When do we have to do them?
Where is the best place to get them?
How much do they cost?
What's the situation in Portugal with rules/masks etc? We are all inclusive so prepared to not leave the hotel if its going to be difficult to do so.

If anyone's recently done this trip I'd really appreciate your advice!
Re tests we are in London travelling from Gatwick it that's of any relevance.

Thank you x

[Missymoo99]

Hi we have just come back from Portugal, to get there we needed an antigen test (we used collinson) and Portugal passenger locator form filled in and proof of vaccinations. To return to England we had a antigen test which we booked and paid for in Portugal there seemed to be loads of places to do it but we used unilabs was €25, we ordered day 2 test from randox health which with code were £43 and had to fill in uk locator form. All is relatively straightforward but bit of a faff and we printed everything out so we could show quickly rather than scrolling through phones.
Out there everything felt reasonably normal, and 'covid safe' masks inside and outside in busy spaces, beaches fine busy but not overly so. We had the most amazing time and feel so grateful we got to go.

[Sxxyfing]

Oh thank you that is really helpful! We are so looking forward to it but nervous as don't want to do something wrong. Appreciate your advice

[Missymoo99]

I understand the nerves I was exactly the same, but so glad we went. Portugal is beautiful have a lovely time.

[KnottyKnitting]

I have spent the summer in The Algarve. LFT out (Qured) and we booked one locally for the way back which was much cheaper than the companies in the uk ( where you take the test with you) Booked a PCR for day 2 from Nationwide pathology (£40) which was posted and waiting for us when we got home. Locator forms and digital vaccine pass both ways. Totally worth it - Portugal seems very safe compared to the UK . Very strict about masks in shops- didn't see a single person without a mask in the shops ( including lots of children from about 5ish) and they ask for doctors letter if you claim to be exempt.

Have a lovely time! Love the Algarve!

[Oblomov21]

I'm confused too. I'm sorry if I'm asking stupid questions.

I've read and read. Tried to work out what we need.

We are going Ljubljana end September. Then Portugal beginning October, both for Friday to Monday.

We are both double vaccinated. Tried to see if I can get a cheap green package from BA (Ljubljana) and Ryanair (Lisbon).

It says below that per gov uk you DON'T need a test to enter. Portugal.

See below linked.

But I find this hard to believe, why would any country let you in without recent proof of being covid free?

I'm also confused by the day 2 antigen. Why?

In order to fly back to uk, you have to prove you have a PCR booked for when you get home right.
On the passenger locator form to
Get back into the uk, it's not the day 2 antigen test they ask for
Is it? So why have that done? To whom do you report that you've had a day 2 test done.

In order to get home, for the uk form, you need to prove you've got a PCR booked for your return home, by day 2 after you get home right?

So why the antigen test when you are there. What's the need for that? Who asks you to prove you've had it done?

[Missymoo99]

It appears that the rules to enter Portugal may have changed now but it does say Eu vaccination certificate and we don't have that as we aren't part of the Eu just the nhs proof but I get your confusion, it's not very clear but when we travelled (16/8) we had to have an antigen test before we went. To return to the uk we needed an antigen test in Portugal 48 hours or less of flight and then have a pcr test booked for day 2 when you get home. This all seems like a scam and seems no one does check when you are home but you need a number for the return passenger locator form. Leaving Portugal they were very strict on checking we had vaccination certificates, antigen results and passenger locator form for uk filled in.

[HaveANiceFuckingDay]

Sorry to hijack , I'm in the same position going to Portugal 4/10 havent booked yet as I'm frightened I'll do something wrong or not do something I should
So the proof of vaccine is the 2 QR codes on the NHS app ? . I'm only there for 4 days

[Missymoo99]

Yes if u go into the nhs app there is the option to get COVID certificate for travel and it consists of the two Qr codes which u can show on your phone or email to yourself and print out. I was so stressed and got myself into such a state before we went!

[Oblomov21]

Likewise.
Oh my god. I hadn't even registered the fact we aren't EU covid certificate.
1)Do you need a pre flight test? To leave us. Why? Who asks if you've had one done?
2)You need a day 2 test. Why? Who asks you for this?
3)For the fly back to uk form you have to give a PCR number of a test already bought?

[Missymoo99]

To leave uk?
We were checked at check in before we flew that we had COVID vaccination certificate, negative antigen certificate and passenger locator forms filled in - same as to return to the uk, passport control in Portugal also wanted to see our antigen results. Friends of ours that flew on a different day also saw a couple refused to go on the plane as they had not done the antigen test to fly with certificate and had just done a nhs test thinking that would be enough.
We have had our day 2 pcr results back and have not had to report them to anyone but whether they would get checked or not I do not know! But needed the order numbers for locator form to return to uk.
Things are changing all the time though so this is just our experience.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

As far as I can tell we need

Negative PCR or LFT to get into Portugal
To complete a passenger locator form
Negative PCR or LFT to fly home
Booking code for a day 2 PCR to fly home

I am getting 2 postal/home LFT tests to do before flight out and before flight home, and will book the cheapest PCR available as I reckon nothing is going to happen if it doesn’t arrive as long as I have the reference code.

I’ll also take our NHS vaccination certificates but they are currently not accepted as EU certificates, and Portugal is apparently not requiring them.

[Oblomov21]

I'm still confused. Sorry. I just can't get my head round it.

[Clymene]

They will not let you board the plane if you don't have proof of your negative PCR test and a completed passenger locator form. They also check on arrival in Portugal.

The day 2 test I guess someone contacts you if it's positive.

What are you still confused about @Oblomov21?

[Oblomov21]

Thanks you clymene. I'm sorry because I've posted about this before. And nice MN'ers advised. So this is a bit embarrassing:

But I just can't get my head round the fact I need 3 different tests. The cost. The inconvenience. Money cow, conn.

1. pre boarding flight in London. A lateral. But Portugal says on their website I don't need a test, as I'm double vaccinated. See attached.
   
   
   
2. day 3 prior to flight home. Considering we are only there for a long weekend I just can't grasp who I'm doing this test for. I will buy a lateral that I buy here and take in luggage. Who do I report this result to? If it's negative, what's the point.
   
   3)I need to buy a PCR for day 2 after I arrive home. I have to buy this because you have to put it on the passenger locator form, in order to fly home, to the UK. This I can just about stomach, I guess.
   
   Ryan air has a package. But what it doesn't have is all 3 tests:
   
   Antigen pre flying out of uk. Antigen whilst in Portugal on day 3. PCR on day 2 after getting home, needed for passenger form to get home.

[Oblomov21]

Attached.

"you do not need to have a covid 19 teat to enter Portugal".

[Clymene]

@Oblomov21

Attached.

"you do not need to have a covid 19 teat to enter Portugal".

Assuming you are in the U.K., you don't have an EU vaccination certificate, you have an NHS one. It's not valid.

Blame the fact that they won't accept it on Brexit.

You need a negative LFT to reenter the U.K. Fair enough - you might have got Covid while you were away.

The Day 2 test is indeed a money making exercise and you don't even need to supply the booking ref for children so they have no way of checking if you've done them or not.

Honestly though, you will drive yourself bonkers trying to figure out why. Don't bother. Just focus on making sure you have all the correct paperwork. Because - and I cannot stress this enough - if you don't, they will not let you on the plane either to go to Portugal or to come home again. And no insurance will cover you for that.

[Clymene]

And remember that Ryanair is Irish. They are an EU airline so they frame their requirements for EU citizens, not British ones.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

@Oblomov21

Attached.

"you do not need to have a covid 19 teat to enter Portugal".

Do you have an Eu or U.K. vaccination certificate? If the latter you need a test before travel. It can be PCR or LFT.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

Honestly though, you will drive yourself bonkers trying to figure out why. Don't bother. Just focus on making sure you have all the correct paperwork. Because - and I cannot stress this enough - if you don't, they will not let you on the plane either to go to Portugal or to come home again. And no insurance will cover you for that.

Top advice. It’s wildly illogical but them’s the rules.

[myotherusernameistaken]

But I find this hard to believe, why would any country let you in without recent proof of being covid free?

If you have had both vaccinations you can travel around the majority of mainland Europe without any need for proof of a negative test. I am in France and the pharmacies have a steady stream of people queuing for their tests to go back to the UK, but no (AFAIK) other EU countries require this.

In order to fly back to uk, you have to prove you have a PCR booked for when you get home right. On the passenger locator form to
Get back into the uk, it's not the day 2 antigen test they ask for
Is it? So why have that done? To whom do you report that you've had a day 2 test done.

You don't have to "report" it to anyone. It is simply a money making exercise. Either pay for the test or you cannot get on a flight/ferry to the UK. You could not do the tests and nothing would happen. But you sure as hell have to pay for them and prove that you have done so.

So why the antigen test when you are there. What's the need for that? Who asks you to prove you've had it done?

You need proof of a negative test to board your flight.

The logic behind much of the above is nonsense - you could have a negative test 24 hours before you fly, but all that means it that you didn't have Covid at the time you were tested

Presumably the day2 once you return is to check whether you caught Covid from anyone on the flight but seeing as nobody checks whether you actually do the test then it is simply a way to force people to buy a testing kit (regardless of whether you use it).

The simple answer to all the why questions is that "themz the roolz ".those are the current regulations.

On a more positive note, there was an article on the BBC news page yesterday suggesting that rules may change:

www.bbc.com/news/business-58491245

Fingers crossed that this is the case as we are booked to go to the UK soon to meet our new grand-daughter whose arrival is imminent

I hope your trip goes smoothly @Oblomov21

[myotherusernameistaken]

@WiseUpJanetWeiss

We cross posted but you managed to put it much more succinctly than me!

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

@Oblomov21

It’s madness. But here’s what we’re doing.

1. Bought LFTs from C19 (£29) for our pre-travel test. We’ll do these on Saturday morning before we fly on Sunday. We upload photos to the company we bought them from’s website and they send us a certificate. We take the certificate to show at the airport in the U.K. and on arrival.
   

1. Bought LFTs from Collinson’s (£23 with a Ryanair discount code) which we will take with us. We’ll do these next Saturday before we fly home and send Collinson the photos. They will send us a certificate which we’ll need for the flight home.
   

1. Bought drive through Day 2 PCR tests from Eurofins (£20). We have the booking numbers for these which we will need for the British passenger locator form.
   

We’ll also have to fill in a passenger locator form for Portugal before we fly out this Saturday.

We will also have our NHS vaccine certificates but they aren’t much use for Portugal. However our resort is happy to accept them (for reassurance, nothing legal) I believe.

I hope you get it sorted and have a fab time.

[Oblomov21]

Thank you all. WiseUp and Clym.
I'm sorry if I'm overthinking it all. I just hate it. Their bullshit, the conn!

But I will stop now. I promise.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

@Oblomov21

Thank you all. WiseUp and Clym.
I'm sorry if I'm overthinking it all. I just hate it. Their bullshit, the conn!

But I will stop now. I promise.

Don’t apologise! It’s infuriating and confusing. And may have changed by the time you go…

It’s the return PCR that’s annoying me the most. What on earth is the point?

[Clymene]

@Oblomov21

Thank you all. WiseUp and Clym.
I'm sorry if I'm overthinking it all. I just hate it. Their bullshit, the conn!

But I will stop now. I promise.

It's fine! I think you have to make a conscious decision to be zen/like about it so it doesn't spoil your holiday.

It's a very annoying and stressful process, that's for sure!