Portugal added to England’s travel quarantine list amid pandemic

Portugal is usually a popular holiday spot with Britons over the spring and summer months. The country is known for its spectacular coast line and vibrant cities. Due to the current coronavirus situation, travel abroad has remained largely uncertain with a plethora of countries introducing entry requirements.

Last night, the UK also officially left the European Union, following the end of the Brexit transition period, after years of negotiations.

The UK’s departure from the EU will have an impact on foreign travel to Europe.

For those looking to book a holiday to Portugal for a New Year break, holidaymakers may need to think again.

The latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice says the Portuguese government has announced that from today, UK nationals will not be able to travel to the country unless it is for “essential purposes”.

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The advice states: “The Portuguese Government has announced that from January 1 2021, travel by UK nationals to Portugal, including Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores, will not be permitted, except for essential purposes, such as to enable you to reunite with your family, or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons.”

Britons are being warned that they will be required to “provide evidence” to support their reasons for travelling to the country.

The evidence will be required by both your airline and on your arrival in the country.

However, the advice added: “This restriction does not apply to UK nationals who are legally resident in Portugal or any other EU member state.

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“You will be allowed to enter Portugal, but you will have to show proof of residence.”

Currently, Portugal is on the UK’s quarantine list for foreign travel.

Britons may need to self-isolate on their return from the country.

The FCDO is also advising against all but essential travel to mainland Portugal due to coronavirus.

However, the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores are on the list of countries and territories where self-isolation is not required on return to the UK.

The Test to Release scheme allows people to choose to pay for a private coronavirus test on their arrival in England.

The earliest a traveller can take the test is five days after leaving the country you travelled from.

The scheme is voluntary but means travellers can book a test with a private test provider and shorten their quarantine period.

Portugal is currently permitting air travel from EU member states.

This includes Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland as well as from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Uruguay and Thailand.

“China, Hong Kong and Macao are subject to reciprocity.”

Portugal’s seven-day coronavirus infection rate is 219.4 new cases per 100,000 people, according to the PC Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The UK’s seven-day infection rate is 434.5.

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