Portugal changes vaccine rules for UK visitors

Travellers from the UK to Portugal will not need to be fully vaccinated to avoid quarantine, the country's tourist board has said.

Instead, UK visitors will only need to show proof of a negative PCR antigen test to get into the country.

Visit Portugal said the measures also apply to passengers embarking and disembarking cruise ships on the coast of the Portuguese mainland.

The new rules are in place from Tuesday and will be effect until 16 September.

UK travellers, aged 12 and above, must show a valid PCR or antigen test certificates to airline check-in staff to board flights to Portugal.

A PCR test must be taken up to 72 hours before departure, or an antigen test up to 48 hours before travel.

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Children aged 11 or under are not required to present proof of negative Covid tests and do not have to be vaccinated.

However Portugal's tourism board said the rules may be revised at any time, depending on scientific or medical changes pertaining to the pandemic.

Anything that makes travel easier to and from Europe is welcomed by the travel industry, but this change has come late in the summer when many potential travellers are fully vaccinated anyway.

It's unlikely to make a major impact on UK trips to Portugal, particularly as Portugal's mainland is still on the UK's amber list.

This means anyone not double jabbed will have to quarantine when they arrive in the UK.

But it is a move in the right direction for travel companies who hope countries will continue to open up rather than close shut.

At present, shops and restaurants in Portugal are currently allowed to stay open until 2am and bars and clubs may close even later.

But customers can only enjoy the revelry sitting down - dancing will be allowed again in October if the vaccination campaign continues successfully.

Portugal is currently on the UK's travel amber list, amid concerns about rising Covid cases.

Adults fully vaccinated in the UK, the US and most European countries don't have to self-isolate upon their return to the UK.

But a Covid test is needed three days before returning from an amber country, and a PCR test two days after arriving.

Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated need to quarantine for 10 days and take an additional PCR test on or after day eight.