Whoever travels to Portugal, since Friday, is no longer obliged to prophylactic isolation regardless of origin, according to the new rules of the last phase of decontamination, arbitrated by a note from the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI).

In a statement about a set of rules that are in force until this Friday, unless the epidemiological evolution requires changes, the MAI said that “there are no longer countries whose origin determines the subject to prophylactic isolation”.

In the rules applicable to air travel, the recognition of the vaccination and recovery certificates of covid-19 of countries is maintained, provided that the vaccines administered are approved by the European Medicines Agency (Janssen, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer) and provided that the “conditions of reciprocity” are met.

“The non-reciprocity in the recognition of the validity of the European digital certificate by third countries prevents the recognition of the validity of certificates issued by those third countries”, says the MAI.

On essential and non-essential trips, all are allowed, “regardless of origin”, as long as passengers present a certificate of vaccination or recovery from the disease recognized in Portugal and in conditions of reciprocity.

ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVELS

Still regarding essential and non-essential trips, the MAI says that all are allowed to passengers from the Schengen area, Brazil, USA, United Kingdom and countries framed in a European recommendation of 2020, which includes Chile, Kuwait and Rwanda and from where Bosnia and Herzegovina and the People’s Republic of Moldova were excluded.

With origin in other third countries only essential trips are allowed, that is, “how it allows the transit or entry into Portugal of citizens for professional reasons, study, family reunion, for health reasons or for humanitarian reasons”.

Entering Portugal by air implies the presentation of the European digital certificate or vaccination or recovery certificate recognized by all citizens over 12 years of age.

“Alternatively, they must present proof of carrying out a molecular laboratory test by RT-PCR or rapid antigen test with a negative result, carried out within 72 or 48 hours prior to the time of shipment, respectively”, says the MAI, dispensing that they have be tests consolidated by the European Union, which must identify the citizen, the manufacturer, indicate the date of the test and the result.

Failure to comply with these requirements will force passengers to carry out a test upon entry into Portugal, bearing the costs and awaiting the result at the airport.

Passengers with a destination or stopover in Portugal should only be allowed to board if the digital certificate of vaccination or a negative test is to be presented, and airlines may incur fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 euros per passenger in case of non-compliance.

The MAI also recalls that the measures apply to the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and crew of cruise ships in mainland Portugal.