Portugal eases Covid-19 rules to enter the country

The government has approved a series of changes to the rules regarding the EU Covid-19 digital certificates, which will already show the reinforcement dose. On the one hand, it is no longer necessary to present a negative test to enter Portugal, for those who have a vaccination certificate. On the other, the validity of the antigen test is reduced, and this must be done within 24 hours prior to its presentation.

“The adjustments relate to access to tourist or local accommodation establishments, restaurants or similar, gambling establishments, casinos, bingos or similar, events, access to gyms and fitness centres, and the entry into national territory, ceasing, in the latter case, the requirement to present proof of a negative test result for those who present the EU Covid Digital Certificate in any of its modalities or other proof of vaccination that has been recognised,” according to Cabinet this Thursday.

As for the antigen tests’ validity, “it is now required that they are made in the previous 24 hours with negative results (instead of the previous 48 hours)”. With this change, the digital certificate in the testing modality will also now only certify a rapid antigen test done in the last 24 hours, with a negative result.

As for the vaccination certificate, this will now show “the completion of the primary vaccination series of the respective holder, over 14 days and less than 270 days since the last dose, with a vaccine against Covid-19″, or “the completion of a booster dose of a vaccine against Covid-19”.