Almost 1,700 passengers were fined between the 1st and 26th of December for not presenting a negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or recovery certificate upon arrival at Portuguese airports.

According to the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), in a statement to Lusa, 38 airlines were also fined for having transported passengers who do not meet the requirements. It should be noted that companies incur a fine of between 20 and 40 thousand euros per transported passenger, while these are subject to administrative infractions, between 300 and 800 euros.

Only passengers on domestic flights, children under 12 and crews are exempt.

Since the measure came into effect, on December 1st, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the Public Security Police (PSP) have inspected 924,719 passengers and 8,358 flights, which resulted in 1,698 administrative infractions.

Of the total infraction notices, 1,035 were raised by the PSP and 663 by the SEF. Eight passengers were banned from entering the country for not having presented a test on arrival, since only Portuguese citizens, foreigners residing in Portugal and diplomatic personnel are allowed to carry out the test at the airport.

With regard to land borders, in which a negative test or recovery certificate is also requested from citizens from countries outside the European Union and from EU countries considered to be of red or dark red risk, they were obtained by the Republican National Guard (GNR ) and by the SEF, 6,327 random inspection operations.

In these operations, 41,467 light vehicles and goods, motorcycles, trains, buses were inspected, which gave rise to 32 administrative offenses for lack of a recovery test or certificate.