Emed Abbott's BinaxNOW for entry to Portugal
Feb 17, 2022, 9:02 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 40
That is, vaccinated people with proof of vaccination from a a non-EU, non-reciprocal country (for example, the US and their CDC card) would still need to present a negative test. Is this correct?
In addition, I think this would also imply that if an american used their CDC card to acquire a Swiss Covid Cenrtificate, then they could use the latter to enter Portugal without testing, is this correct?
In addition, I think this would also imply that if an american used their CDC card to acquire a Swiss Covid Cenrtificate, then they could use the latter to enter Portugal without testing, is this correct?
Feb 18, 2022, 9:07 am
#47
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 344
Land crossing to Portugal
We will be in Seville and want to go to Faro. We’re US citizens with CDC vax cards. We will need to get tested before entry to Portugal. I have the Bionex tests, but I was going to use them to go back to the USA.
Are there places in Seville where we can get tested to satisfy Portugal’s entry requirements? Also, will I have to get a new Spanish QR when I go back to Spain for return flight from Madrid
Are there places in Seville where we can get tested to satisfy Portugal’s entry requirements? Also, will I have to get a new Spanish QR when I go back to Spain for return flight from Madrid
Feb 23, 2022, 10:07 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
We're traveling to MAD via YYZ and LIS in early April, and as much as I'd like to drop the LIS transit, it's not likely to happen. Our family is all fully vaxxed and boosted but some also tested positive for Covid within the past 2 weeks.
As we understand it, we can not rely on our CDC vax cards to allow us to transit LIS, however we can use them for entry at MAD, if they are even checked there. We also may have issues with the BinaxNow proctored test for the LIS transit because it's not on the list of approved laboratory tests, although there is lot of anecdotal evidence of them being accepted. I would imagine we also don't want to be taking PCR tests 6 weeks after having Covid, as the PCR tests may still be positive.
So, I think we're looking at trying to get Swiss digital vax certs and as an alternative, we should also line up a lab antigen-test within 24 hours of our departure to YYZ. Perhaps it's worth a call to our airline (AC) to see if they will permit the BinaxNow test, as that would greatly simplify things??
Feb 23, 2022, 6:12 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 701
I'm appreciative for the information you've shared in this thread.
We're traveling to MAD via YYZ and LIS in early April, and as much as I'd like to drop the LIS transit, it's not likely to happen. Our family is all fully vaxxed and boosted but some also tested positive for Covid within the past 2 weeks.
As we understand it, we can not rely on our CDC vax cards to allow us to transit LIS, however we can use them for entry at MAD, if they are even checked there. We also may have issues with the BinaxNow proctored test for the LIS transit because it's not on the list of approved laboratory tests, although there is lot of anecdotal evidence of them being accepted. I would imagine we also don't want to be taking PCR tests 6 weeks after having Covid, as the PCR tests may still be positive.
So, I think we're looking at trying to get Swiss digital vax certs and as an alternative, we should also line up a lab antigen-test within 24 hours of our departure to YYZ. Perhaps it's worth a call to our airline (AC) to see if they will permit the BinaxNow test, as that would greatly simplify things??
We're traveling to MAD via YYZ and LIS in early April, and as much as I'd like to drop the LIS transit, it's not likely to happen. Our family is all fully vaxxed and boosted but some also tested positive for Covid within the past 2 weeks.
As we understand it, we can not rely on our CDC vax cards to allow us to transit LIS, however we can use them for entry at MAD, if they are even checked there. We also may have issues with the BinaxNow proctored test for the LIS transit because it's not on the list of approved laboratory tests, although there is lot of anecdotal evidence of them being accepted. I would imagine we also don't want to be taking PCR tests 6 weeks after having Covid, as the PCR tests may still be positive.
So, I think we're looking at trying to get Swiss digital vax certs and as an alternative, we should also line up a lab antigen-test within 24 hours of our departure to YYZ. Perhaps it's worth a call to our airline (AC) to see if they will permit the BinaxNow test, as that would greatly simplify things??
Feb 24, 2022, 9:59 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
I would absolutely get the EU certificate. It's easy, fast, and cheap. I would be less likely to want to hang my hat on a single answer about the Abbott test from whoever happens to answer the phone at Air Canada, much as we here in this thread still have to make up our own minds about the Abbott test from listening to all the anecdotes. Could your recently-positive family members get a PCR test a week or so before your flight to see if they're still positive and then you'll know what you're dealing with? Then in conjunction with the EU cert you'll have time to get a doctor's note of recovery, and you should have a better idea how to proceed. In our case, we are not going until June and hopefully Portugal will change their minds for transits. We have our EU certs, but if we were leaving tomorrow, I would also have us get tested at a local clinic within Portugal's window just to be safe and not plan on using the Abbott tests until we come home.
So, unless the rules change, that leaves us relying on 24 hour antigen tests at laboratories/pharmacies both on the outbound and return, since we're transiting LIS both ways. I like the idea of doing a trial PCR test a week in advance, as if those come back negative, we can do them again within 72 hours which would be better than last minute testing.
Also, frankly, the Portuguese are being such pains about this that we're also looking at changing our flights to either go direct to Spain, or somewhere else that accepts CDC vax cards or the Biinax proctored test. This isn't easy, as our biz tix were about $1,500 each, so we're looking at having to pay significantly more to make changes.
Feb 24, 2022, 10:33 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 701
Unfortunately, it appears the Swiss digital certificate is no longer available to non-Swiss citizens/residents.
So, unless the rules change, that leaves us relying on 24 hour antigen tests at laboratories/pharmacies both on the outbound and return, since we're transiting LIS both ways. I like the idea of doing a trial PCR test a week in advance, as if those come back negative, we can do them again within 72 hours which would be better than last minute testing.
Also, frankly, the Portuguese are being such pains about this that we're also looking at changing our flights to either go direct to Spain, or somewhere else that accepts CDC vax cards or the Biinax proctored test. This isn't easy, as our biz tix were about $1,500 each, so we're looking at having to pay significantly more to make changes.
So, unless the rules change, that leaves us relying on 24 hour antigen tests at laboratories/pharmacies both on the outbound and return, since we're transiting LIS both ways. I like the idea of doing a trial PCR test a week in advance, as if those come back negative, we can do them again within 72 hours which would be better than last minute testing.
Also, frankly, the Portuguese are being such pains about this that we're also looking at changing our flights to either go direct to Spain, or somewhere else that accepts CDC vax cards or the Biinax proctored test. This isn't easy, as our biz tix were about $1,500 each, so we're looking at having to pay significantly more to make changes.
Feb 25, 2022, 6:03 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 40
From: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home...ml#-1428730671
"The certificate requirement within Switzerland was lifted on 17 February 2022. For travel outside Switzerland, depending on the measures in place in the country in question, COVID certificates may still be required. For this reason, certificates are still being issued. COVID certificates that have already been issued retain their period of validity. In addition to this, the cantons also have the authority to order measures (such as a certificate requirement) within their canton to prevent the spread of communicable diseases."
The Swiss issued certificates to tourists for the legitimate purpose of facilitating travel to Switzerland. As the certificates are no longer required to visit, it makes perfect sense that they would limit new certificates to Swiss citizens allowing them to travel to countries still requiring a certificate...like Portugal.
So it appears that this "back-door" EUDCC loophole is closed.
For those who did receive Swiss certs, "COVID certificates that have already been issued retain their period of validity."
"The certificate requirement within Switzerland was lifted on 17 February 2022. For travel outside Switzerland, depending on the measures in place in the country in question, COVID certificates may still be required. For this reason, certificates are still being issued. COVID certificates that have already been issued retain their period of validity. In addition to this, the cantons also have the authority to order measures (such as a certificate requirement) within their canton to prevent the spread of communicable diseases."
The Swiss issued certificates to tourists for the legitimate purpose of facilitating travel to Switzerland. As the certificates are no longer required to visit, it makes perfect sense that they would limit new certificates to Swiss citizens allowing them to travel to countries still requiring a certificate...like Portugal.
So it appears that this "back-door" EUDCC loophole is closed.
For those who did receive Swiss certs, "COVID certificates that have already been issued retain their period of validity."
Mar 9, 2022, 4:19 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
It's not officially on the list of approved tests, so YMMV depending on who you're flying. I was told on the AC forum that they absolutely won't accept that test at SFO.
Mar 9, 2022, 8:08 am
#55
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 701
But if you were lucky enough to have jumped on the Swiss EU Digital Covid Certificate like we were, will having that EUDCC as a US citizen suffice so we don't have to test to transit LIS? I can't find anything definitive that looks official.
Mar 9, 2022, 8:10 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 458
Unfortunately I missed that! However in reading the posts above the consensus answer seems to be "yes" the Swiss certificate will work
Mar 9, 2022, 9:28 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
Or a valid vaccination certificate (with a complete vaccination schedule or a vaccine booster) or recovery certificate issued by a third country, under reciprocal conditions: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Cabo Verde, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Iceland, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), Uruguay, The Vatican
Mar 9, 2022, 10:32 am
#58
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 701
https://www.visitportugal.com/en/con...ented-portugal
Underline is mine. You're good to go with only the Swiss certificate.
Underline is mine. You're good to go with only the Swiss certificate.
Mar 9, 2022, 11:32 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
I read that underline part as being the conditions/countries for a recovery certificate. I'm only assuming that the EUDCC is one of Portugal's "valid vaccination certificates". If a Swiss-issued EUDCC is considered valid is the part I'm having trouble finding spelled out.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-...certificate_en
Mar 9, 2022, 11:51 am
#60
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
I read that underline part as being the conditions/countries for a recovery certificate. I'm only assuming that the EUDCC is one of Portugal's "valid vaccination certificates". If a Swiss-issued EUDCC is considered valid is the part I'm having trouble finding spelled out.