New rules for entering Portugal from UK

[gg321]

Is this true?

“However, the Portuguese Government has reportedly announced that certificates issued by other countries will be accepted for entry with the UK Covid certificate added from October 4.
From October 4, all UK tourists who have been double-vaccinated with an EU approved vaccination will reportedly be allowed into Portugal without taking a pre departure test.
Every passenger who has been fully vaccinated with the approved vaccines of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson will be accepted.

British tourists must be able to show their NHS vaccination certificate to enter Portugal but from October 4 will no longer have to have an EU Covid passport or do a pre-departure test according to SchengenVisaInfo.”

Does anyone know if the rules are changing?

I can't answer your question in full. However I do know that England has not pulled its finger out enough to yet be part of the EU vaccination passport scheme (or the EU Covid recovery pass scheme).

Some countries intended to insist that travellers had documentation from the EU system. They expected England to be part of it, but we are not. Apparently we are working on it , and the delay is nothing to do with Brexit.

So until this gets sorted some countries e.g Portugal and Greece seem to be changing their rules to allow travellers to have the NHS Covid documentation. Other countries aren't doing this- eg. Cyprus accepts UK vaccination passport, but not UK Covid recovery documentation.

@freckles20 Thankyou. So I’m hoping that what I’ve heard about Portugal accepting the uk vaccine certificate is true and will come into play this week, I need to try and find something on a Portuguese government website then I suppose. Just be good to know whether I need to get a lateral flow done as well. Maybe worth it just incase! But more expense!

Anyone have anymore idea on if you need a test before flying to Portugal or will nhs covid vaccination certificate do?

I flew into Portugal yesterday and you definitely still need a negative test to get in. Someone got turned away from our flight because they thought the NHS vaccine certificate was enough. It isn't, and as far as I am aware there is no reciprocal agreement with regards to this between us and Portugal/other EU countries.

@72WayTooCool Thankyou. I had heard rules changing from today?

Just back from Lisbon. I was travelling in Schengen so didn't have any issue, but at least no-one asks anymore in bars and restaurants for a covid certificate. Masks everywhere on public transport and indoors though.

@72WayTooCool for the fit to fly antigen test, does that need to be done 48 hours before departure or arrival, I might wait 48hours before arrival to be sure. It says departure on the gov website but I’ve read things about some places going by arrival times instead, I just want to be sure

anyone travelling this week? we fly to faro on Saturday and I've booked and antigen test just in case.

@Carriemac yes we are flying to Faro this week, been investigating a lot into whether we need the pre departure tests and yes we definitely do.

Just had a negative antigen - don't know why I feel relived I'm
Triple jabbed and test twice a week routinely . Not convinced I needed a test - easyJet site says we don't

@Carriemac that’s good you got a negative, I will feel very relieved if I get mine!! It’s such a mind boggle knowing if we need one or not, one day I’ve been convinced we don’t, the next convinced we do, I just thought it’s not much for an antigen, better be safe than sorry! Do you know if you do it before departure or arrival time? I know I could just wait until arrival time to be sure but I want to do it as soon after 48hrs from departure time as I can so I can (hopefully) stop worrying!

Departure according to website

We’re going in half term. EasyJet messaged us today with dukes that if you’re double jabbed not need to test. Dd12 is jabbed and they want proof, but NHS site won’t allow us to get proof. She has the card, but somehow I don’t think this is enough.

From what I can gather is if your double jabbed and you have an Eu vaccination certificate you don’t need to test but from what I understand Portugal don’t recognise the uk nhs vaccination certificate…yet, that may be changing by half term I don’t know. I’m testing just to be sure, I’ve heard stories of people getting turned away, I couldn’t bear that for the sake of a £29 test! Happy holidays

I've been checking on this daily. It seems that the confusion might stem from the Portuguese websites stating that they accept the EU certificate and certificates issued by third countries holding EU certified vaccines. But the list of third countries appears to be buried elsewhere and the UK isn't on that list.

EasyJet have said you don't need a pre-departure test now but I wouldn't risk it until there is unambiguous confirmation on the Portuguese immigration website and updated on the FCO website, otherwise the risk is staff on the ground go by FCO. It's frustrating, we're going soon too.

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo same, I’ve been checking a lot and I think the same that it’s confusing about Portugal having this additional list of third countries but couldn’t find any definitive information that the uk was on this list! And like you I’m not risking it!! It’s certainly not black and white information, and easily misunderstood which will unfortunately ruin holiday plans for many I expect

Absolutely @gg321 Some poor reporting causing confusion too. One of the major newspapers posted that no test needed this week too. I can understand why people would assume they don't need one. Unless it's updated on the FCO website I'll be doing my antigen test!

Fully vaccinated passengers

Fully vaccinated passengers are exempt from presenting a COVID-19 test result.

Passengers must present proof of vaccination - The certificate/document may be requested at different points of the trip. They must present proof of vaccination that must comply with Portugal requirements.

To be considered fully vaccinated by Portugal you must comply with the following:

Vaccine types accepted:

Comirnaty™; Pfizer-BioNTech.
COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna.
Vaxzevria; COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen.
Vaccination certificates accepted:

EU Digital COVID Certificate or vaccination certificates recognized as equivalent by the European Commission
Please note that vaccination certificates issued in Israel, Panama, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are considered equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) by the European Union.

Sorry, this what I found on the EasyJet website for Portugal. The last paragraph.

Anyway, keep us updated and let us know how you get on.
Keep some sunshine and wine for us

I really do think you need a pre departure test for Portugal, according to the gov website and Portuguese websites. Search on Twitter about it too and everyone saying you do. Search ‘test Portugal’ It is confusing but better safe than sorry. I’ve got my negative antigen tests wooooooo ✈️ ☀️

That looks like serious misinformation from EasyJet! Like everyone else I've been scouring the various government websites and I can see no confirmation that Portugal accept the NHS vaccine certificate for entry into the country, so antigen tests seem to be required.

I agree @CloudPop I've held off as far I'm willing to and have just ordered our pre-departure tests for next week. For the sake of £29 each I definitely don't want to risk it. This holiday is long overdue!

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo imagine getting turned away at the airport because you hadn’t tested! You’d willingly give £29 in that situation to be able to board your flight, it really isn’t worth the risk! I have my negative test certificate but I will not worry at all if they don’t ask to see it, I’ll be happy on the plane to a long overdue holiday like you say. Good luck for your negative test and enjoy your holiday. We went with c19 testing and it was so simple, got our certificate within 30mims after uploading the photo, I was very impressed!

Thanks @gg321 that's who I've just ordered with. Glad to hear it was easy. Enjoy your trip!