Pre-departure COVID test for Portugal

imgeorge54

Is this still a requirement even fro Portugal even if double vaccinated and in possession of a paper NHS Covid Pass? By departure I mean before the outward flight.

onashoestring

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

• show a negative result from a PCR test taken less than 72 hours before you arrive in Portugal, or an approved lateral flow test within 48 hours (you should not use the NHS testing service but arrange to take a private test)
• complete a passenger locator card
• be prepared to be temperature-checked upon arrival

imgeorge54

Thank you for the above. Do you know if there is an additional requirement for a "fit to fly" certificate to be supplied by the tester, be it a PCR test or a lateral flow test?

I assume that in the case of a lateral flow test the tester would confirm that it is "approved".

onashoestring

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

The requirements are : NHS COVID Pass holders, who do not also have an EU digital COVID certificate, must

• take a COVID-19 test to enter Portugal (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

imgeorge54

That is odd because from the very same page I read the following

"Entering mainland Portugal

Before you travel to mainland Portugal

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 "

This would suggest that the NHS COVID Pass can be considered as an ALTERNATIVE to the EU digital COVID vaccination certificate.

And what exactly is a "fit to fly" certificate? And who issues it?

It's all very confusing ( still ) !

onashoestring

Looks like page has been updated today - sometime after my first post - which is why it’s always best to check directly on the uk gov for latest information- things change by the hour , 
Yes latest guidance is that Portugal are now accepting NHS COVID pass as proof of vaccination so no COVID test required to enter Portugal. 

Caz3121

the summary page shows it was updated today....

Updated:

8 October 2021

Latest update: Information on recognition of NHS COVID pass for entry to mainland Portugal ('Coronavirus' and 'Entry requirements' pages)

ScarletBea

Not that I'm questioning the info on the Gov.UK site, but please note that the official portuguese government site doesn't mention the NHS certificate (i.e. United Kingdom) as an acceptable non-EU proof of vaccination (site updated on the 4th Oct).
So if you're travelling soon, I'd double/triple check things.

I'm travelling there on friday but I got a EU certificate.

Doshwaster

The Jet2 site has also been updated

https://www.jet2.com/en/flights/safe-travel/travel-requirements/mainland-portugal

• Proof of full vaccination: If you’re fully vaccinated at least 14 days before your arrival, you’ll need to provide proof to enter Mainland Portugal which must be an NHS COVID Pass or an EU digital COVID vaccination certificate showing you have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved COVID-19 vaccine. Please note, your business card-sized paper COVID-19 vaccination record card isn’t an acceptable form of vaccine status proof and can’t be used to enter.