Confusing information
The demand was later downgraded to a cheaper and faster lateral flow test. But, because of confusing information on the Visit Portugal website many British holidaymakers wrongly believed they were exempt from the need to test if they could show proof of vaccination.
Jet2 has warned passengers that proper NHS certification – either online or on paper – is required. “Please note, your business card-sized paper Covid-19 vaccination record card isn’t an acceptable form of vaccine status proof and can’t be used to enter,” the firm said.
Unvaccinated adults and children aged 12 or over must continue to take a lateral flow test within 48 hours of arrival in mainland Portugal. Portugal’s holiday islands – Madeira and the Azores – have not demanded tests before arrival.
The move came as 47 countries were removed from the Government’s red list in one of the biggest reopenings of foreign travel since the start of the pandemic.
Only seven countries (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Haiti, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic) remain on the list, which requires travellers to be quarantined in a hotel on their return to the UK at a cost of £2,285 per person.
