Covid Test requirement for traveling to Lisbon from the US

Check your airline’s website. Here’s what I found on Expedia: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal. It’s too late to get a PCR test but tomorrow you’ll need to get the antigen test.

Yes, you need a negative result Covid test to enter Portugal. You could be fined if asked for your test and don't have one.
Take your CDC vaccination card as back up.
Absolutely need a test for return to the US.

I've been using Delta airlines travel requirement website for up to date travel info

https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-planning-center/find-your-destination/explore-top-destinations?prices=false

I just looked at United Airlines policy and they say (after entering departure city and arrival city and nationality and vax status):

"Fully vaccinated passengers:
Fully vaccinated passengers do not have to present a negative COVID-19 test result"

... which is news to me. My understanding is/was that a negative lab test is required (not home test), for the airline. But I believe Portugal requires a negative test

editing to add: I just checked the above link for Delta and its verbatim the web page that United presented me with (i.e. saying no test req'd). I would feel better if I read it from a Portugal website

From the US Embassy Website:

"1. EU Digital Vaccination Certificate *OR
No specific guidance exists indicating if US CDC vaccine card are accepted for proof of vaccination. As such U.S. Embassy Lisbon strongly recommends all U.S. citizens travelling from the United States to Portugal follow option 2, present a negative COVID 19 test before boarding (see below)
2. Negative COVD Test
PCR / NAAT test 72 hours before boarding or
Rapid Antigen / TRAg test 24 hours before boarding."*

My son and daughter-in-law just arrived in Lisbon, Portugal early this morning. They needed only their CDC card (both have had one booster which is considered fully vaccinated). They were not required to show a negative covid test of any sort. They flew United.

They have their packed, unopened (requirement) tests that were delivered overnight by FedEx which is the only way they could have it delivered even though they ordered it weeks ago. They ordered them through the United website for testing prior to entering the US. Btw, the box, which the tests must be in and unopened, took up 2/3 of their carry-on bag. Final cost @ $190.

When I last checked United Airlines' requirements for my flight to Lisbon, to be considered valid, the vaccination certificate must be one of the following:

• an EU digital COVID certificate
• a vaccination certificate recognized as valid by the EU [issued by a list of countries, the US not among them]

When I checked this morning, I also see listed:
- a US CDC card

The United travel ready center goes on to say.... "Keep in mind"
- the vaccination certificate must be in digital format {no acceptable format/list of formats specified]
- [and a list of information that must be included in the certificate]

The US Embassy in Portugal still says:

No specific guidance exists indicating if US CDC vaccine card are accepted for proof of vaccination. As such U.S. Embassy Lisbon strongly recommends all U.S. citizens travelling from the United States to Portugal follow option 2, present a negative COVID 19 test before boarding (see below)

My trip is still 6 weeks away, so I will continue to monitor my airline and the embassy websites.

I just checked Delta's website and it says the same thing Visit Portugal's website says: EU vaccine cards are accepted and US cards are not listed as an approved third country. If they accept your card good but, either way it you should still get tested before the trip.

Thank you everyone for the responses. Much appreciated.

I just made an appointment with CVS. Will get a PCR test in a couple of hours. My instinct tells me they won't check at Lisbon airport, but I'll do it for peace of mind.

I'll update in a few days.

@Ann, they might not check it at the Lisbon airport, but before you depart the US, the ticket agent may ask for proof of negative test before they allow you to board.

When we went to Spain last October, we had to go to the ticket counter BEFORE we got in line to board to have the agent confirm we had the paperwork, and they stamped our ticket as proof. Then we we lined up to board, the agent at the door double checked for the stamp and if there wasn't one, that person was to leave the line and go get his boarding pass stamped after presenting a negative Covid test. this was United Airlines

I'll fly Air France, and in their communication to me as a passenger, they only need the CDC card. Either way, I'll pay $139 for the test at CVS to have peace of mind while waiting to board and upon arrival.

Ann

Ann- I flew Air France (Delta partner) to Lisbon last fall. It was the Air France departure counter in the US that required the proof of a negative test before boarding passes were issued. After that I never showed proof of my test result. Not needed in Lisbon since it was already checked at US airport departure.
Also - you may be allowed to test for free at CVS. I am planning on another free PCR test at CVS in June to return to Lisbon.

@pj, how did you get free PCR testing?

The CVS online page used to ask if testing is required for travel (my experience in September 2021 when headed to Portugal). I just went to the CVS site this morning. It no longer asks that travel question. It asks for my zip code and then asks if I want a test due to high transmission and difficulty with social distancing. I answered yes (I am a substitute teacher at a college prep academy in a county with alarmingly rising case numbers). Like in September it asks if I have insurance. My insurance stills covers the test. The government had been covering for those uninsured but perhaps that is no longer the case.
Also - is it possible that the state/county you live in determines if testing is covered by insurance? Or the specific insurance plan?

For Covid testing information…
Go to HHS.gov
Click on the “Learn More” tab in the box
On the left, under Testing - click on “Community Based” - and scroll down to the links for CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid

I see you travel tomorrow. I tested 2 days before departure and results were received via email the following morning, one day before travel. My CVS pharmacist said that tests are not sent to the lab until after 5 pm.

I arrived in Lisbon 3 hours ago. Air France did not check for PCR test if you have the CDC card. It's either or, not both. A friend went several weeks ago, also paid for the test, but not checked.

So no PCR needed if you have the CDC card.

Thank you for the update Ann. Much appreciated. Wishing you safe & happy travels.

We fly out Lisbon on May 17, we are getting PCR tests tomorrow, after 5:30PM according to United's website for requirement to enter Portugal. (72 hours before flight departs) We can test for free, so better safe than sorry, and I certainly want to know if by some chance I'm positive for Covid -although that would totally ruin our 3 week planned vacation---

Bringing our CDC vaccination cards as back up, having been boosted and boosted... I'm feeling pretty good for travel. That said, we have friends that have been boosted 2x and they both have Covid right now.

We will be in Spain before we travel to Lisbon; we are US citizens. We travel to LIsbon on 28May. We are flying TAP. Their site indicates those without valid vaccination certification (which the US is not one of the countries recognized) requires a negative covid test to enter. We'll keep watching and appreciate the feedback that others are experiencing--that the test results have not been checked, but feel it is a risk if we don't get the test (it would be our luck TAP checks).

Call the airline to confirm before paying for PCR. No check at all from 5 different people I spoke to.

Ann - count me as #6. We were there late April to early May and were never asked for our negative test results.

Thanks Ann et al...I will check with the airline (TAP) before we fly. Their website currently does state we need to have a negative test...but appreciate all the 'real' experiences. Thanks.

See my post in other thread
Just returned from Portugal today.

Walgreens 72 hr PCR taken Sunday morning didn’t arrive in time for Tuesday nite flight. Took again at SFO, but agent didn’t even ask for it when checking us in. Checked vax card. The customs/passport agent in Lisbon just asked for vax card, not test results.

To return, we took rapid test at airport (€30 and results in 30 minutes). Keep paper copy as U.S. was checking test results before they let folks offplane

Hello. any recent experience with British Airways if they are requiring the PCR test or if the CDC card is enough?

Please call the airline if you want to be sure. My brother in Montreal mentioned last week that EU no longer requires masks starting tomorrow, Monday.

I'm in Seville now. As of today, we still have to wear mask on the bus. I'd wear mask when there are too many people around, for my own protection.