riv

Can anyone state , or provide link to authoritative statement - re the current rules for entry to Portugal from the UK ?

Specifically, is the NHS paper document certifying the two jabs sufficient for entry ?

Or is there still a requirement to provide a Certificate of negative test result X ( how many ? ) hours prior to entry ?

Red Eric

COVID-19 | Measures implemented in Portugal

riv

Thank you.
I note it states:
All travellers to mainland Portugal (aged 12 or older) are required to show a negative Covid-19 test:
- RT-PCR taken within 72 hours of departure or
- Lateral flow test taken 48 hours prior to departure

But what is the permitted mechanism for 'SHOW' ing a Lateral Flow Test ?

I have these LFT kits from the chemist, and could take one myself the day prior to departure, but I assume a self administered one is of no value.

Do chemists like Boots just administer this test and then print out a certificate of the result ? And is that piece of paper sufficient at the border entry ?

wellinever

Well antigen tests are offered at airports, but of course you get the result there and then (30mins) at £39 at least at Stansted using Randox, via Ryanair..

BillBullock

You need a Fit to Fly certificate to enter Portugal as well as the UK. A self-administered antigen test is not sufficient.

wellinever

So are you saying that an antigen test done at airport pre departure to Portugal is no good?

GrahamF

As long as it's a recognised testing centre they give you a certificate with the result - hopefully negative.

dingg

If its a self administeted for 3e no good
If its by a certified lab with certified results cost 25e and meets UK requirements - good

Even though it may be exactly the same test as the 3e one 🙄

Pilotabroad

Its perfectly OK and they will email you the "certificate" in the form of your result in 30-40mins from the test.
Be warned though that although you get a set booked appointment of say 10am many have had to queue for up to 45mins making it tight time wise.
I suggest to book your test 2.5hrs before actual flight departure just to save on stress.

BillBullock

I would avoid the stress of a busy airport test centre and take the test 48 hours before flight departure time. If you don't have a test centre near you, take the test at home whilst on a video call with one of the many suppliers like Flowflex for £39.95 incl postage.

GrahamF

Although others have used them successfully, I won't use postal test after encountering delays. When home last time, our day 2 test result arrived within 48 hours but the day 8 one took 4 days to get the result, due they said to postal delay which would have been no good for flying. Best to use one of the providers who either test in-house or have a drop box and courier service. We used Assured Screening (Ellesmere Port branch) when coming over this time, result emailed within 24 hrs. They have twice/day courier to lab..

NataHH

Riv
Don't rely solely on Expats information. Rules and regulation change constantly. Check out the Government website you can subscribe to it as I did. Every time there is an update you will get an email. It also gives you a list of recommended companies who supply "Fit to Fly" certificates. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could have different rules. The airline websites also give information.

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

Either tomorrow or on Thursday there will be an announcement and update by the government. Countries will be moved from amber to red or green your guess is as good as mine.

BillBullock

Using the fit to fly home kit whilst on a video call with a supervisor does not involve the postal system. If you get a negative result, the certificate is emailed to you almost straight away.

riv

Thnks for the link. But I as I hope to not be returning to Uk till October I think it is pointless to worry now about what the rules will then be for entering the UK.
I am concerned solely with what the rules ( the Portuguese Gov. rules ) are for entering Portugal from the UK with a double ~jabbed Certificate from the NHS.

Does anyone know if they ( the P Gov ) are considering waiving the requirement for the neg Covid test for those carrying a double jab cert. ? I believe other countries have done this.

Score76

Being double jabbed doesn't prevent you catching covid, nor spreading it. Sure it reduces your chances of catching it and also reduces likeliness of a case being severe or resulting in hospitalisation or death. Any country that removes the requirement for a negative entry test is running the risk of importing asymptomatic cases to spread to its own population at the expense of the tourist euro.

I travelled to UK then back again last Thursday. 11 people on the Ryanair flight from Faro to Manchester in the morning, Faro airport looking like it does in January, very empty, lots of the shops shut. Needed my PCR test cert to get through passport control in Manchester (could've used antigen test but went with PCR to give me a wider window). Flew back to Faro in the evening having collected my teenage kids, maybe 45 people on that plane, mountains of paperwork checks at passport control in Faro, 3 passports, residência, 3 negative covid tests, 3 passenger locator forms. Thorough both ways.