scott the farmer
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2014 Pamplona to Burgos, 2017 SJDP to Santiago,
Hi wondering if any Australians have had any issues related to Covid when entering Portugal. We are double vacinated and boosted.
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The new regulation has been announced but not yet been published in the Official Gazette of Portugal. It is not yet reflected on the official websites of Portugal. The Reuters article says that the following category of travellers will no longer need a pre-flight test: arriving with a valid digital European Union certificate or recognised proof of vaccination. Note this comment in the Reuters article:Also, it seems that a test before arrival is no longer required for Portugal. https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...t-requirement-arriving-passengers-2022-02-03/.
The [Portuguese] Interior Ministry, which is responsible for the entry of people into the country, could not immediately provide further details, including whether British or American proof of vaccination would be considered valid.
I haven't made it there yet. Was booked for May but cancellations and rescheduling issues with the airline due to Covid made me postpone until September. I too am fully vaxxed with booster and international Covid Certificate, which looks pretty ordinary if you ask me. Look forward to hearing from any other Australians making it to their Camino.Hi wondering if any Australians have had any issues related to Covid when entering Portugal. We are double vacinated and boosted.
Hi Eilann I’m an Aussie booked to walk in Spain in May. How did you get your International COVID certificate? Do you know if I would need another booster shot as I had one about two months ago? (Ie I would have had a booster shot 5 months before entry to Spain.) I’m so excited that we are finally able to travel outside Oz, but it’s confusing & maybe things will have again by May. Buen Camino in Sept!I haven't made it there yet. Was booked for May but cancellations and rescheduling issues with the airline due to Covid made me postpone until September. I too am fully vaxxed with booster and international Covid Certificate, which looks pretty ordinary if you ask me. Look forward to hearing from any other Australians making it to their Camino.
I am also walking in Spain in May from Sydney so also interested in this replyHi Eilann I’m an Aussie booked to walk in Spain in May. How did you get your International COVID certificate? Do you know if I would need another booster shot as I had one about two months ago? (Ie I would have had a booster shot 5 months before entry to Spain.) I’m so excited that we are finally able to travel outside Oz, but it’s confusing & maybe things will have again by May. Buen Camino in Sept!
Hi AussieannieHi Eilann I’m an Aussie booked to walk in Spain in May. How did you get your International COVID certificate? Do you know if I would need another booster shot as I had one about two months ago? (Ie I would have had a booster shot 5 months before entry to Spain.) I’m so excited that we are finally able to travel outside Oz, but it’s confusing & maybe things will have again by May. Buen Camino in Sept!
As far as I understand, there is no expiry on the booster shot. If you've had a booster after the first 2 shots you should be fine. But, of course rules are constantly changing and vary between countries within the EU.Hi Eilann I’m an Aussie booked to walk in Spain in May. How did you get your International COVID certificate? Do you know if I would need another booster shot as I had one about two months ago? (Ie I would have had a booster shot 5 months before entry to Spain.) I’m so excited that we are finally able to travel outside Oz, but it’s confusing & maybe things will have again by May. Buen Camino in Sept!
Although the UK is now in the EU’s category of ”Third Countries” like Australia, it does not mean that Portugal puts the UK and Australia into the same category when it comes to Covid-19 related rules on entering the country.We are now of the same status as Ozzies in that we are from a 'Third country' now that are no longer in the EU club so I would imagine the same rules apply
Hey there you can request the international Covid certificate through Medicare App on your phone. I added it to my Apple Wallet. At this point in Australia we are asked to get the third shot, booster. There is no requirement for a fourth booster at this point in time. I got the booster because I always want to make sure I am able to go overseas.Hi Eilann I’m an Aussie booked to walk in Spain in May. How did you get your International COVID certificate? Do you know if I would need another booster shot as I had one about two months ago? (Ie I would have had a booster shot 5 months before entry to Spain.) I’m so excited that we are finally able to travel outside Oz, but it’s confusing & maybe things will have again by May. Buen Camino in Sept!
Just a small detail, but essential, make sure your Medicare name is exactly the same as your passport including any middle name letters or it rejects your request. Otherwise very straightforward. Have fun. I’m hoping for Portugués later this year.Hi Aussieannie
to get your International covid cert, go to your MyGov account, into Medicare, proof of vaccination area, scroll down to below the aust covid cert and the link for international one is there. You will need your passport details to complete, then download into device from there. I would probably take a paper copy as well just in case.
Cheers Carmel
I use the Re-open EU app which I believe is the official EU app. Smart Traveller also has the same info for Portugal - non essential travel is authorised, negative test is required.Hi wondering if any Australians have had any issues related to Covid when entering Portugal. We are double vacinated and boosted.
The new regulation was published today in the Official Gazette of Portugal.The new regulation has been announced but not yet been published in the Official Gazette of Portugal. It is not yet reflected on the official websites of Portugal
Have heard back from the Portuguese Embassy. The Australian certificate is accepted. Link in Portugese but easy enough to follow: https://eportugal.gov.pt/pt/noticia...es-terceiros-validos-em-viagens-para-portugalI have sent an email to the Portuguese Embassy asking for clarification about the Australian government international certificate. I will let you know what they say.
I received this from the Portuguese Consul in Sydney, after the Embassy sent me a link that was months old and did not reflect the current situation.I am still getting advice from Smart Traveller (Australia government travel advisory) that if arriving by "direct flight" from Australia we are only allowed in for essential purposes, even if fully vaccinated. There are no "direct flights" from Australia, we have to transit somewhere. I'm told that is sufficient, but I don't fancy arguing with a customers officer or health official at the airport in Lisbon.
I had hoped this would have been clarified by now.
I've sent off an email to the Embassy in Canberra. Let's see what response I get.
Yes please - hopefully not from a holding cell at the airport! I've been watching the March start threads to see if there are any Australians on the Portuguese now, but could not see anyone so far. It would be really useful to have your experience.I take this to mean I am good to go. I leave next Tuesday so we will see. I' ll post here about how I get on.
I have expressed my concern elsewhere that the phrase 'direct flights' isn't used in many places, and so far I haven't found it on any official Portuguese website. The words used are 'direct travel' or 'flights'. Like @Kanga, I wouldn't relish the prospect that, at least until the Portuguese Government accepts the Australian International Vaccination Certificate, you could be stopped on arrival in Portugal by air, and turned around.I am still getting advice from Smart Traveller (Australia government travel advisory) that if arriving by "direct flight" from Australia we are only allowed in for essential purposes, even if fully vaccinated. There are no "direct flights" from Australia, we have to transit somewhere. I'm told that is sufficient, but I don't fancy arguing with a customers officer or health official at the airport in Lisbon.
I had hoped this would have been clarified by now.
I've sent off an email to the Embassy in Canberra. Let's see what response I get.
I wish you a good trip, @Lindsay53, wherever you have decided to end your flight now.It is indeed a shambles.
That is fantastic news. Next to see if they will they will accept Dubai as a transit.Hi all. I am in Lisbon. No trouble at all. Passport and Australian vaccination certificate accepted without question and never asked for my pre arrival test.
On arrival at Sydney airport check in staff looked up their rules for various destinations and for Portugal I had to get a covid test there and then - easily done at the terminal and results emailed in 20 minutes, and fill out the online Portuguese arrival form. This was a pain the bum because it is not very user friendly, especially on a phone. But got it done and submitted and then QANTAS checked me in.
A good trip via London, only annoyance a 2 hour wait to clear immigration in Lisbon but that's part of.the adventure.
Hi all. I am in Lisbon. No trouble at all. Passport and Australian vaccination certificate accepted without question and never asked for my pre arrival test.
On arrival at Sydney airport check in staff looked up their rules for various destinations and for Portugal I had to get a covid test there and then - easily done at the terminal and results emailed in 20 minutes, and fill out the online Portuguese arrival form. This was a pain the bum because it is not very user friendly, especially on a phone. But got it done and submitted and then QANTAS checked me in.
A good trip via London, only annoyance a 2 hour wait to clear immigration in Lisbon but that's part of.the adventure
Hi Molly. I needed the test because my final destination was Lisbon. Had it been the UK I would not have needed one. Cost was $59. Waited about 20 min to do test, then results emailed to me about 20 min after that. The main hassle was the Portuguese online arrival form which QANTAS wanted filled out before check in. Asks for lots of info re covid status, flght information including time of arrival, exact address in Portugal incuding postcode - here I put the guest house address for the first 2 days.Hi Lindsay53,
Good to hear you arrived in Lisbon. Can I just ask a couple of questions. Did you have to get the Covid test done in Sydney because you were transiting thru London or because your final destination was Lisbon? Can I ask what the cost was of the test at the airport. Any other helpful hints would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi Lindsay53,Hi Molly. I needed the test because my final destination was Lisbon. Had it been the UK I would not have needed one. Cost was $59. Waited about 20 min to do test, then results emailed to me about 20 min after that. The main hassle was the Portuguese online arrival form which QANTAS wanted filled out before check in. Asks for lots of info re covid status, flght information including time of arrival, exact address in Portugal incuding postcode - here I put the guest house address for the first 2 days.
The problem is that if you make an error anywhere it does not seem to tell.you where but simply wont submit when you hit the button. Had to go back a few times to correct a few things before it would work.
Apart from that no issues at all. On arrival an official simply looked at my Aust. vacvination certificate on my phone, did not scan it or ask to see my test result, and waved me on to immigration clearance. There the Customs Officer just stsmped my passport and said 'Welcome to Portugal'.
Hi Lindsay - I did think as much as I have had other Aussie friends visit - but the Portugal website is so confusing and convoluted. You made me feel a lot better about my coming trip. Thanks for your blog !! Chris Lachman, AdelaideHi all. I am in Lisbon. No trouble at all. Passport and Australian vaccination certificate accepted without question and never asked for my pre arrival test.
On arrival at Sydney airport check in staff looked up their rules for various destinations and for Portugal I had to get a covid test there and then - easily done at the terminal and results emailed in 20 minutes, and fill out the online Portuguese arrival form. This was a pain the bum because it is not very user friendly, especially on a phone. But got it done and submitted and then QANTAS checked me in.
A good trip via London, only annoyance a 2 hour wait to clear immigration in Lisbon but that's part of.the adventure.
Hi Lindsay53,
Thanks for all the info- very reassuring. Will just keep checking the Portugal website to see if they will let us fly from Brisbane with a transit thru Dubai. Will still a a bit of time up our sleeves.
Once again, many thanks.
We are in the same situation. Both of us have now had our 4th vaccination. Travelling from Sydney to Dubai, then to Lisbon. Flight leaves on 13 April, at 6am. If we need a PCR test it will have to be the night before.
Hi Kanga,We are in the same situation. Both of us have now had our 4th vaccination. Travelling from Sydney to Dubai, then to Lisbon. Flight leaves on 13 April, at 6am. If we need a PCR test it will have to be the night before.
@Kanga, what is your thinking about getting the PCR test done the night before your departure?We are in the same situation. Both of us have now had our 4th vaccination. Travelling from Sydney to Dubai, then to Lisbon. Flight leaves on 13 April, at 6am. If we need a PCR test it will have to be the night before.
I had a RAT and the check in staff were happy with that. As I said above, no one on arrival in Portugal even asked about the test.We are in the same situation. Both of us have now had our 4th vaccination. Travelling from Sydney to Dubai, then to Lisbon. Flight leaves on 13 April, at 6am. If we need a PCR test it will have to be the night before.
When I travelled earlier this year, these times were measured from the time that you planned to commence travel, with your travel day counting as Day Zero. I was wondering if that had changed when I saw @Kanga's post. We have generally had results well within 24 hours of PCR testing in Australia, and about 36 hours when we were in the UK. I don't have experience with RAT/LFT/NAAT, but noting that @Lindsay53 did one at the airport before departure, it seems results are delivered very quickly.Portugal requires either a PCR or NAAT test within 72 hours, or a RAT within 24 hours.
I don't know about Australia, but in the US we can get a rapid NAAT test with results in a couple of hours.
Good question, Doug. I had assumed the tests done at the airport were PCR tests but perhaps they are not. I know they can’t be self administered. From reading the Portuguese websites I can’t see they are necessary for the vaccinated with no symptoms. But if the airline wants one we will do one. I’ll contact Emirates direct closer to the time and check.@Kanga, what is your thinking about getting the PCR test done the night before your departure?
I would be concerned that you wouldn't have a result in time for your flight the next day. If you had a supervised RAT done, I would think that result would be available in time, but I'm not sure that there is enough time to process the PCR test.
Thanks. I suspect that the airport testing centres provide RAT now these are being accepted at overseas destinations. That would be consistent with my understanding of the test processing times.Good question, Doug. I had assumed the tests done at the airport were PCR tests but perhaps they are not. I know they can’t be self administered. From reading the Portuguese websites I can’t see they are necessary for the vaccinated with no symptoms. But if the airline wants one we will do one. I’ll contact Emirates direct closer to the time and check.
I’m feeling a bit more confident about the flight since getting an email from Smart Traveller saying
Direct travel from Australia is currently limited to essential purposes only, unless you have an EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Australian passport holders can still enter Portugal for ‘non-essential’ purposes from elsewhere in the EU or approved third countries (including the United Arab Emirates).
I think the specific mention of the UAE is a bit of code - we have 17 hours in Dubai.
I had a RAT and the check in staff were happy with that. As I said above, no one on arrival in Portugal even asked about the test.
The fact that no one in Portugal asked to see her test results doesn't mean that it wasn't necessary to have a test done before boarding. I believe that the airlines are the "gatekeepers." They won't allow boarding without a negative test if it is required in accordance with the rules of the final and intermediate destinations.The Portuguese website that seems most authoritative was last update on 15 Mar, but still does not include Australia in the list of reciprocal countries whose vaccination certificates are recognised. @Lindsay53's success gives hope this isn't going to be an issue, but I still think I will play it safe and get tested before I leave as well unless this changes.
That's true, and we both know airlines don't want to have to deal with a passenger that aren't going to be allowed to enter another country. It is still an immigration officer who is going to make the decision at one's destination, not the airline.The fact that no one in Portugal asked to see her test results doesn't mean that it wasn't necessary to have a test done before boarding. I believe that the airlines are the "gatekeepers." They won't allow boarding without a negative test if it is required in accordance with the rules of the final and intermediate destinations.
I think you are right about the airlines acting as gatekeepers trecile. As I mentioned above, before I could check in they wanted both a test and the Portuguese on line entry form completed. Only when this was done was I checked inThe fact that no one in Portugal asked to see her test results doesn't mean that it wasn't necessary to have a test done before boarding. I believe that the airlines are the "gatekeepers." They won't allow boarding without a negative test if it is required in accordance with the rules of the final and intermediate destinations.
Sorry!!BTW..I am a he, not a she
Still confusing. I read it that we still need the EU vaccination certificate if we transit thru Dubai. Please tell me I’m wrong !!!Smarttraveller has been updated this morning:
Direct travel from Australia is currently limited to essential purposes only, unless you have an EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Australian passport holders can still enter Portugal for ‘non-essential’ purposes from elsewhere in the EU or approved third countries (including the United Arab Emirates). Travellers aged 12 and over must have a recognised COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 (PCR) or (TRAg) test to enter. Within Portugal, most COVID-19 measures other than mask-wearing have been lifted. Community transmission of COVID-19 is high. Rules may change at short notice (see 'Travel'). Local authorities are strongly advising against non-essential travel to the Island of Sao Jorge, in the Azores, due to the recent increase in seismic activity (see ‘Safety‘).
I don't read it that way. There appear to be alternatives that are acceptable. and recent experience that doesn't quite align with the formal statements. I hope a clearer statement emerges before I travel, but I am going to have both the Australian International Vaccination Certificate and a test. That covers two of the multiple 'or' statements as I read the rules.Still confusing. I read it that we still need the EU vaccination certificate if we transit thru Dubai. Please tell me I’m wrong !!!
At least in the case of Portugal not accepting the US CDC vaccination card, I think that it's a case of reciprocity. The same may be true of Australia/Portugal.Our own official government health website I know was wrong at one stage. The advice on it was different to the actual proclamations and legislation. I know having had to research it for someone. The police were issuing fines to people who the police thought had broken the law, when they had not.
So I am not too critical of the Portuguese, although the current regulations seem an extreme example of bureaucracy going overboard. Not recognising the Australian vaccination certificate is the thing that seems most crazy; my Australian government issued international certificate is very specific about exactly what vaccines I've had, when I've had them, all verified by a secure pathway into the Dept of Health record system by the professional who administered the vaccines, and it is attached to my passport. So I'm not sure what else the Portuguese want a certificate to do!
Except that there is a list of the countries with "Accepted vaccination certificates issued by third countries under reciprocal conditions"They also shifted text about vaccination documents around. One could perhaps understand it all to mean that anyone one a flight from say a European airport or an airport in the UAE with any vaccination document containing sufficient details is allowed entry …
In my very humble opinion, some of the apparent and ongoing confusion hinges on how the passage about “Vaccination certificates are accepted if they consider” and the reciprocal recognition part are interpreted. By readers of the website including passengers who want to arrive at their airport of departure well prepared. By airline ground staff who don’t rely on the VisitPortugal website but on the instructions in their computer that are issued by IATA or another professional organisation; by border and health control staff who have their own instructions (they may do only random controls) and so on.I entered Portugal yesterday on a direct flight from Canada. According to the Visit Portugal website, we needed an antigen test within 24 hours of departure, which we had. Neither the airline, nor customers in Portugal asked to see it, and the officials in Portugal did not ask for our vaccine record.
sengers from a selected group of countries. The rest of the text on requirements such as vaccination, pre-flight tests and 'Certificates issued by third countries, under reciprocal conditions', is in my personal opinion as murky as it had been for months until now.
I just checked again and now it's showing "updated on 26 April."That website is good for a laugh. They have not updated the mobile version. On my iPhone, it is "Updated on 22 april". On my iMac, it is "Updated on 26 april":
View attachment 123667
I crossed into Portugal by bus last week and no problems whatsoever. No checks of any kind.The April 26 update to that website has removed the requirement for a EU digital vaccine certificate or negative Covid test to enter Portugal by land. I am not confident whether that was done by design or just an oversight. We are doing the Portuguese camino in June and returning to Portugal by train from Spain in July. I certainly hope a negative test result is not required to enter by land in July (we are Canadian and not eligible for the EU digital vaccine certificate). Has anyone had recent experience of crossing into Portugal by bus or train? and were covid documents required?
Perfect, thank you.I crossed into Portugal by bus last week and no problems whatsoever. No checks of any kind.
Additionally, Portugal also accepts vaccination and recovery certificates from the following countries:
- [ . . . ]
- USA
- [ . . . ]
As both the text in the quoted post and the link to the TAP Portugal website says, it refers to passengers with destination or transit to Continental Portugal. More precisely, it refers to passengers who fly with TAP from the USA to Portugal. It does not refer to domestic requirements within Portugal and not to additional requirements after arrival in Portugal.Per US Embassy website for Portugal, and per Sherpa, 72 hour negative PCR tests are still required to arrive in Portugal from the US, which seems to be a "trust but verify" approach. I wonder if the "accepts vaccination and recovery certificates" applies to facility/venue entrance, or is additional paperwork to show at immigration when entering???
Out of curiosity, I put a flight from the USA to Portugal into the Sherpa website and clicked on all the corresponding links for information for such a flight and it finally said: Travellers who are fully vaccinated arriving from United States (see 6 additional countries) may present a valid vaccination certificate issued in these countries, depending on their airline. Please contact your airline to confirm if your proof of vaccination will be accepted.
Last Wednesday the TAP employee at the gate for my flight from Heathrow to Lisbon asked to see my vaccination card (US CDC card) but not my negative test result, which I also had.
I would continue to suggest that those from countries not on the list of accepted vaccine certificates to get tested before traveling to Portugal. I believe that they may do random checks.
The three dots are the interesting bit of this long-running saga . They stand for this text:1) EU Digital Vaccination Certificate
. . .
OR
2) Negative COVD Test
I flew on United Denver - Boston - Heathrow, then TAP to Lisbon.Were you transiting through LHR or originating from there? If transiting, did you originate in the US?
I assume it was a BA/AA flight???
Unlike Spain who still requires proof of vaccination in order to be allowed entry on flights from non-EU countries as a general rule, Portugal allows entry of travellers from the US who are unvaccinated provided that they present proof of a negative test. So, in short, you can't go wrong with a negative test.
Portugal is not different from France in this respect and their current requirements are clear: a traveller on a flight from the USA has to present a valid proof of vaccination or a valid proof of a negative test. Not both. Where France and Portugal differ, is clear language as to what is a valid proof of vaccination for entry to France and for entry to Portugal in those cases where the document used as proof is not an EU DCC or an EU DCCE.Hmmm <scratching head with a puzzled expression>
Thanks for patiently walking this dunderhead through it.Portugal is not different from France in this respect and their current requirements are clear: a traveller on a flight from the USA has to present a valid proof of vaccination or a valid proof of a negative test. Not both. Where France and Portugal differ, is clear language as to what is a valid proof of vaccination for entry to France and for entry to Portugal in those cases where the document used as proof is not an EU DCC or an EU DCCE.