COVID Entry Rules for Portugal: Vaccination, Recovery, and Testing Requirements Explained

The official travel portal of Portugal, Visit Portugal, explains that currently, all travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are permitted entry for all kinds of purposes as long as they meet the entry rules.

“All passengers are authorised to enter national territory, regardless of their origin or purpose of travel,” the statement of the Portuguese authorities reads.

According to the travel portal of Portugal, all travellers entering the country are required to present a valid EU Digitial COVID Certificate or another equivalent document upon their arrival.

This means that all persons must show a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate in order to be permitted entry to Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal accepts all vaccination certificates that prove that the holder has completed primary vaccination with one of the recognised vaccines in the last nine months. In addition, vaccination passes indicating that the holder has received a booster shot are also accepted.

As for the recovery certificates, the Portuguese authorities explain that the country recognises the document only if it proves that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.

Travellers who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus can enter Portugal for all kinds of purposes as long as they present a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before the arrival.

The requirement to present one of the certificates listed above applies only to travellers over the age of 12. Those under 12 are exempt from all the entry rules.

Similar to Portugal’s mainland, the Azores still requires passengers on international flights to present a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival.

However, it has been emphasised that those departing from Portugal mainland or Madeira do not need to follow any rules.

“There are currently no restrictions for passengers travelling to the Azores on domestic flights (departing from Portugal mainland or Madeira),” the statement of Visit Portugal reads.

Differently, Madeira has dropped all of its rules. All travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are permitted restriction-free entry. They do not need to show any of the certificates upon arrival.

Despite keeping in place entry rules, Portugal has already facilitated some of its national COVID-19 restrictions. The country decided to drop the face mask requirement earlier in April. Since then, all persons have been able to enter different public places and events without following the mask requirement.