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Portugal Continues to Welcome Americans

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August 31, 2021 – Portugal has confirmed that they will continue to allow entry to Americans, despite the EU’s recent recommendation that non-essential travel be halted due to a high number of Covid cases in the US. The EU has removed the US from its “safe third countries list” and recommended that member countries tighten their restrictions on countries that are not on the list.  However, the EU can only make recommendations and each member state can decide to establish their own requirements for entry.

Portugal will continue to require that all visitors provide a negative Covid test result taken 72 hours before boarding their flight in order to enter the country. All visitors also need to individually complete a Passenger Locator Card before their departure to Portugal: https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card

Hotels require that guests present a negative Covid test result taken 72 hours before arrival or a copy of their vaccination card to verify that they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson).

Portugal has been easing their Covid restrictions, as over 83% of the population is now fully vaccinated and nearly 95% of adults have received at least one shot.

We will provide updates as more information is made available.

Spain Continues to Welcome Vaccinated Americans

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September 3, 2021 – Spain will continue to allow entry to Americans, despite the EU’s recent recommendation that non-essential travel be halted due to a high number of Covid cases in the US. The EU has removed the U.S. from its “safe third countries list” and recommended that member countries tighten their restrictions on countries that are not on the list.  However, the EU can only make recommendations and each member state can decide to establish their own requirements for entry.

Announcement from the Tourist Office of Spain (New York):

“Starting at 00:01 (in Spain) on Monday, September 6, the U.S. will not be on Spain’s list of countries exempted from restrictions for travelers, as a result of the elimination of the U.S. from the list of countries considered safe in the COVID context of the European Union.

However, Spain will continue to admit vaccinated travelers from the U.S. who have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (or any other vaccines approved by the WHO), at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain, as well as unvaccinated children under 12 years of age who accompany them.

Travelers must provide the official CDC vaccination card and fill out an online health control questionnaire before traveling.

In Spain, 70.5% of the population has already completed the vaccination cycle, and 77.2% have already received at least one dose. It is the third country in Europe with the highest percentage of completed vaccinations.”

Travelers must provide their official CDC vaccination card and present upon arrival in Spain a QR code generated through the Spain Travel Health portal, obtained through the website or by downloading the “SpTH app” in Google Play Store or iTunes App Store for each traveler, regardless of their age. The QR code is obtained by visiting the Spain Travel Health website (https://spth.gob.es/).

Additional information is available on the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Spain website, click here.

We will provide updates as more information is made available.

European Union Proposes Reopening Borders for Vaccinated Third-Country Citizens

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The European Union has proposed that Member States can start reopening their borders to vaccinated travelers from outside of the EU area.

“The Commission proposes to allow entry to the EU for non-essential reasons not only for all persons coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation but also all people who have received the last recommended dose of an EU-authorised vaccine.”

Both Portugal and Spain have indicated that they anticipate allowing entry to vaccinated Americans in June, following guidance from the EU.

To read the complete story, click here.

Photo credit: SchengenVisaInfo