Borders between Portugal and Spain opens on May 1st

[camino.ninja]

UPDATED:

Borders between Spain and Portugal are open and there are no border control. Galicia still have restrictions, but Tui in Spain is full of portuguese people today. Also pilgrims.

You still have to check if you can get to Portugal by flight and all that. That is still a little unclear to me.
But one thing is for sure. If you are allowed to get there. The Cominhos Português are open and hospitable!

You can find all the information about open and closed places in the Camino Ninja App thanks to the trail-angels Carla from Albergue de Peregrinos do Mosteiro de Vairão and Mónica from Ideas Peregrinas. So, please stop by and say thanks when you are there!

Open places can also be seen for portugal on:
https://albergueperegrinosporto.pt/theway
And the Spanish part from Tui to Santiago on Camino Portugues:
https://ideas-peregrinas.com/en/camino/
Bom Caminho / Buen Camino

https://www.facebook.com/CaminoNinjaApp/posts/1111702959295525

 

[Zarniwoop]

Does this mean that (given nothing changes within the next month), pilgrims walking from Portugal into Spain in June on the Camino Portugues will be allowed to pass? Will they be required to show a negative COVID-19 test on entry to Spain as they would have had to if they had arrived by air? Thanks!

 

[camino.ninja]

Does this mean that (given nothing changes within the next month), pilgrims walking from Portugal into Spain in June on the Camino Portugues will be allowed to pass? Will they be required to show a negative COVID-19 test on entry to Spain as they would have had to if they had arrived by air? Thanks!

Well Portuguese pilgrims are crossing the border as we speak. There is no border control anymore. And a lot of Portuguese tourists in the border cities of Spain right now.

And depending on the country you come from, you might actually be able to go to Portugal right now:
https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

So it is all about the incident rate. Ireland, Finland, Iceland and Malta are allowed to go to Portugal with no restrictions right now.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Update on May 3...it looks like rules may change, from town to town...

Spanish Galicia still refuses to let Portuguese over border - Portugal Resident

In spite of borders reopening, vice-president of Spanish council area of Galicia says area not be accepting Portuguese till June 9

www.portugalresident.com

 

[camino.ninja]

Update on May 3...it looks like rules may change, from town to town...

Spanish Galicia still refuses to let Portuguese over border - Portugal Resident

In spite of borders reopening, vice-president of Spanish council area of Galicia says area not be accepting Portuguese till June 9

www.portugalresident.com

Yes, some Galician politicians are fighting the opening of the borders.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Normally, the "rules" should be that if a region is in lockdown but it has an internal international border and the countries on both sides of it are in the EU/Schengen Area, then crossing that border is legal regardless the lockdown - though it can be conditioned by the so-called 30 kilometre rule, where unrestricted border crossing can be reserved to those living within 30 kilometres of the border ; but then that would need to be implemented by the Spanish government, but AFAIK it hasn't been for the Portuguese border.

Of course these Covid rules are confusing for everyone, including to those either in favour of or opposed to the reopenings, but at the very least the border is open in the Spain to Portugal direction, and will be open in both directions in a less confusing manner after May 9th.

 

[camino.ninja]

Normally, the "rules" should be that if a region is in lockdown but it has an internal international border and the countries on both sides of it are in the EU/Schengen Area, then crossing that border is legal regardless the lockdown - though it can be conditioned by the so-called 30 kilometre rule, where unrestricted border crossing can be reserved to those living within 30 kilometres of the border ; but then that would need to be implemented by the Spanish government, but AFAIK it hasn't been for the Portuguese border.

Of course these Covid rules are confusing for everyone, including to those either in favour of or opposed to the reopenings, but at the very least the border is open in the Spain to Portugal direction, and will be open in both directions in a less confusing manner after May 9th.

The border is open in both directions. There is no border control.

But there have been examples where they try to thread to give fines.

After the Spanish State of Alarm ends this might continue. It is a regional political fight. Most likely not legal.

 

[natefaith]

This is the official word from the Spanish side. Until May 16th, officially they are still only permitting essential travel "from Spain to Portugal".

CONTROL FRONTERIZO TERRESTRE ESPAÑA-PORTUGAL

www.exteriores.gob.es

 

[JabbaPapa]

This is the official word from the Spanish side.

That's actually an official Spanish statement on the current state of the Portuguese restrictions on entry into Portugal ; but it's useful, thank you, as it would seem to confirm the end of the Portuguese restrictions on May 16th, which has been the date for it I've seen most frequently suggested in the rumours.

Although Portugal to Spain Caminos for those currently in Portugal won't have to wait that long.

 

[natefaith]

Yes, I thought it was curious that the Spanish statement was not explicitly restricting entry into Spain, but rather limiting movement from Spain into Portugal. I didn't actually click on the link and read the law, though.

 

[camino.ninja]

That's actually an official Spanish statement on the current state of the Portuguese restrictions on entry into Portugal ; but it's useful, thank you, as it would seem to confirm the end of the Portuguese restrictions on May 16th, which has been the date for it I've seen most frequently suggested in the rumours.

Although Portugal to Spain Caminos for those currently in Portugal won't have to wait that long.

It just got extended to May 16th. It might get exteded further than that.

 

[camino.ninja]

This is the official word from the Spanish side. Until May 16th, officially they are still only permitting essential travel "from Spain to Portugal".

CONTROL FRONTERIZO TERRESTRE ESPAÑA-PORTUGAL

www.exteriores.gob.es

So you might end up getting stuck in Spain, if you plan to go back to Porto to get a flight home from there.

This law would only make sense if it was only applied to Spanish residents.

 

[natefaith]

That's actually an official Spanish statement on the current state of the Portuguese restrictions on entry into Portugal ; but it's useful, thank you, as it would seem to confirm the end of the Portuguese restrictions on May 16th, which has been the date for it I've seen most frequently suggested in the rumours.

Although Portugal to Spain Caminos for those currently in Portugal won't have to wait that long.

Oh! I just read your first sentence more carefully and I see what you mean: Spain is just repeating what the Portuguese have said about entry into Portugal. Got it.

 

[camino.ninja]

Oh! I just read your first sentence more carefully and I see what you mean: Spain is just repeating what the Portuguese have said about entry into Portugal. Got it.

Not completely accurate. Portugal distinct from incidence numbers over the past 14 days, as is the new EU standard. People from Iceland, Ireland, Finland and Malta can fly to Portugal without restrictions. People from other EU or Schengen countries might have more restrictions, like only essential travel being allowed. Or for some even 14 days quarantine required.