corporate-wage-slave

Yes is the short answer. For the outbound you need a PCR within 72 hours or a Lab sponsored antigen test (lateral flow test) within 48 hours if on one booking. CVS are doing both, to give one name of hundreds of options in SoCal. For the return it's nearly the same, but you can do a lateral flow test in OPO airport, there is a test centre in the middle of the departure area, though it can have a long queue in the mornings. Or you can do it LHR. It doesn't have to be an antigen test, it can be PCR, NAAT or LAMP. If it is one booking, at least in theory you can do the test on day1 in OPO where day2 is OPO-LHR and day3 is LHR-LAX. Obviously if you do it on day2 instead you make it an easier discussion, but you have to dodge the queues somehow. Testing in Portugal is much easier and vastly cheaper that SoCal, every pharmacy will do one, even some newspaper kiosks too; LHR is more expensive but hassle free. Note that right now about 12% of the adult population of Porto has COVID.

I also recall that the Portugal government said something along the lines that the next travel update will be around 8 or 9 February. I doubt the USA will change requirements in the near future, UK will probably abandon travel requirements for the vaccinated later today but that's not a factor for you anyway.

Tack

Thank you! Cheers.

corporate-wage-slave

The Portuguese national wire service Lusa is reporting that Portugal may reduce their requirements on 1 February, in line with a recent recommendation from the EU. Potentially reducing testing requirements. So if you are booking tests, try to make sure it is refundable.

Link is in Portuguese, but if you know Spanish you will be able to understand it.

https://www.lusa.pt/national/article...nsenso-europeu

mango cream

Hello, Has anyone used a antigen test from Shopper drug mart for entry into Lisbon, portugal? Does it comply with the EU regulations they impose.

thanks.

e8steve

cannot comment on the type of test
from that provider but (as mentioned above) Portugal currently requires tests to be undertaken in a clinic. Self tests, including by video, are not accepted.

BahrainLad

I’ve been travelling to Portugal regularly throughout the pandemic. I’ve always done a in person test either at Collinson at the o2 or at St Pancras and everything has been fine. On arrival in Faro in December the couple in front of me in the queue had Randox self tests, they were directed to one side and told to take a new test (and I have read of people being fined up to €800 if they are asked to do this.)

i am next flying there on the 4th so I’ll report back with any updates.

Tack

TBIT at LAX has a Clarity Mobile Lab that provides a 1hr Antigen pre-flight test. Just wondering if anyone had used that service before flying BA to LHR and beyond. And if so, how was it? Timely and excepted? Final destination is OPO. With my work schedule this week it’d be really convenient to do it before check in. Thanks!

clarkeysntfc

Appears that Portugal has now dropped all inbound testing for fully vaccinated passengers coming from the EU plus the 33 "third countries" inc UK with reciprocity.

Is anyone within BA lurking here who may have access to the screens the agents see at check in able to confirm what the system says?

corporate-wage-slave

Today Portugal dropped the requirement to test before departure provided you have an approved digital vaccination certificate, such as the EU or NHS vaccine certificates. Not sure if the California equivalent is in the system. However in doing this, Portugal also tightened up the timelines, so you need an antigen certificate wtihin 24 hours of boarding rather than the previous 48 hours, and frankly it's a lot cheaper and much easier to do this in London as a result. PCR remains 72 hours. Antigen tests need to be EU approved, though I somewhat doubt anyone is checking the inventory. If Clarity are using the BD Veritor Plus device, the most common one in use in the USA then that is approved, bottom of page 16 in the current inventory. But as I say, it's probably best not to overthink the equipment, they check the time and date.

corporate-wage-slave

Timatic and the FCDO currently show the old rules (pre departure testing for all), typically this takes a day or two to be updated. Sherpa (used by BA and TAP) has been updated already. Word will probably get out in LHR in the next 24 hours, TAP has already updated their front page to say it's OK. I think you can probably argue it, the Portugal government site is pretty clear:

https://www.visitportugal.com/en/con...ented-portugal

https://www.flytap.com/en-gb/promo/unlock-portugal

clarkeysntfc

Thanks CWS. Not flying until Friday evening.

Both triple vaccinated in the UK so seems we just need the NHS COVID pass plus the Portuguese Passenger Locator Form.

Likewise on return except the UK PLF of course.

clarkeysntfc

gov.uk is now updated with the relevant info stating no tests for fully vaccinated passengers.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements

S_W_S

Apologies for hijacking an existing thread.

From what I can make out Madeira just requires a vaccination certificate now, however gov.uk says a PLF is mandatory, from what I can see this is simply advised and won't generate a QR code or anything.

I submitted a form for one of my parents last night on the Madeira Safe website and so far nothing.

I just don't want them getting turned around at check in at the weekend.