PORTUGAL has lifted travel restrictions for Brits travelling to the country – despite it being removed from the green list last week.
Anyone entering the country from the UK no longer needs to have a negative PCR test, and can just have an antigen test instead.
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The Foreign Office has changed their advice since the change: “With the exception of children up to the age of 2, you must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to or through Portugal.”
They explain that this can be a PCR test, or can be an antigen test – with the later much cheaper.
PCR tests need to have been taken 72 hours before arrival, while lateral flow tests can be taken 24 hours beforehand.
The advice also states: “You must show your test certificate before you board your flight to Portugal.
“Your airline is likely to deny boarding if you cannot show this at check-in. Check with your airline before you travel.”
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The new restrictions are similar to those in place for Brits heading to France, although only fully vaccinated Brits can enter with just an antigen test.
Spain has already lifted all travel restrictions for Brits.
However, Shadow Trade Secretary Emily Thornberry warned that foreign holidays are “very unlikely” to go ahead while Environment Secretary George Eustice said Brits should stay at home this summer as the spread of the Indian variant has wrecked plans to reopen travel.
He also said it was unlikely that any countries would be added to the UK’s green list anytime soon, quashing hopes of a trip abroad next month without quarantine restrictions.
Here is the full list of countries currently on the UK’s amber list.
The UK government is instead pushing families to take a domestic holiday this year, with a new scheme being launched later this year which will offer cheap train tickets and discounted tourist attractions for Brits.
However this has meant huge UK holiday demand – Visit Cornwall boss Malcom Bell previously said that there were already waiting lists for holidays to the region, with some even offering to pay extra to take trips off families who had already booked.
