Portugal to impose new travel rules

Authorities in Portugal are considering modifying the entry rules following the recommendation of the European Union Member States to abolish additional entry restrictions for people who hold a valid vaccination certificate. EU countries reached a joint agreement to lift additional restrictions on movement for persons who hold a valid COVID-19 vaccination document that proves they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus.

According to Portugal News, a source from the office of the Minister of International Administration said: “As always; the government will consider possible adjustments to the rules in force in the national legal framework, taking into account the content of this recommendation and also the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Portugal.”

The Council of the EU introduced a new recommendation to ease the travel process amid the COVID-19 situation based on which Coronavirus measures should be applied considering passenger health rather than the epidemiological situation of their country of departure, except for high-risk countries.

The decision means that passengers from other countries will face milder entry rules when travelling to EU countries, provided they have completed their immunisation process against the virus. The Council of the EU adopted such a recommendation on 25 January, while the same will become effective on 1 February.

“This means that a traveller’s COVID-19 vaccination, test, or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant. A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travellers,” the Council of the EU pointed out. In addition, on the same day, February 1, the Member States will shorten the validity of vaccination documents to 270 days.

Since December 1, 2021, all travellers from other countries reaching Portugal are obliged to present a negative rest or recovery document upon their arrival.

(Source: SchengenVisaInfo.com)