Madeira Extends Current COVID-19 Restrictions Until March 15

The decision has been announced by the region’s official travel website, according to which the rules which were imposed on February 1 will continue to apply further. According to these rules, travellers do not need to test upon arrival, but vaccination certificates or recovery remain mandatory for arrivals from third countries.

“COVID-19 testing at airports and ports/marinas has ended, but travellers will be required to present a Completed vaccination Certificate, with three doses of the vaccine; Incomplete vaccination Certificate (1 or 2 doses of vaccine) and a certificate of recovery within 180 days or a certificate of recovery valid for up to 180 days,” reads a travel guide amid COVID-19 updated on the website.

However, travellers to the region must be aware of the existing domestic travel rules, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Those wishing to attend public and private sector activities, such as restaurants, gyms, bars and clubs, cultural events, sports activities, nightlife activities, casinos, and other similar activities, must hold a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

The certificate, however, is not required in order to have access to places like public transportation, pharmacies, clinics, petrol stations and places of worship, as well as in places that offer medical services, animal medical services, postal and social security services, etc.

Travellers who show symptoms of the virus must test for it. Those that result negative are obliged to isolate for five days. After that, they can return to normal activities without the need to perform another test.

According to Portugal’s general entry rules, travellers from the EU and EEA countries can enter its territory if they hold an EU Digital COVID Passport, which proves that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, have recovered from it, or have tested negative for the virus before their arrival in Portugal.

However, for the vaccination certificates to be valid, the travellers must have been vaccinated with one of the following vaccines: BioNTech, Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca (all of its versions), Janssen, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Covaxin.

Currently, eligible to enter Portugal from third countries for non-essential purposes are travellers from Brazil, Canada, the USA, and the UK, as well as from Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Peru, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Rwanda,  United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Uruguay, and the administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong, provided that they also permit Portuguese citizens to enter their territory.

In order to be eligible to enter Portugal, travellers from these third countries are required to present a vaccination certificate that meets the conditions mentioned above.

>> Madeira Ends COVID-19 Testing at Airports & Ports for Incoming Travellers