New procedures in airports as of 1 December

As of 00:00 on 1 December, in addition to their digital COVID certificate, all passengers on international flights must show a COVID test result at the time of boarding. It could be a PCR or a rapid antigen test, taken 72 or 48 hours prior, respectively.

Without this test, passengers will be unable to board the flight and the airline subject to penalties. 

The measures were presented at a press conference with representatives of the Public Safety Police, the Borders and Immigration Service, the Directorate-General for Health, the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority, and ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal

A great emphasis will be given to filling out the Passenger Locator Form, an incredibly valuable tool that allows authorities to check where the passenger was seated in the aircraft.

Also as of midnight on the 1st of December, passengers from non- Schengen countries will be checked by a private security firm hired by ANA to check these documents prior to passport control.

For flights from Schengen areas, this control will be done on arrival, in the public arrival area after clearing customs. To avoid double checks, passengers who have been checked inside the terminal will be given a bracelet allowing them to detour the path where they would be checked again.

Domestic passengers flying in from another Portuguese airport are exempt from these procedures. They will also be given a bracelet at their departure airport and will use the channel for passengers already controlled in the Schengen area.

Passengers under 12 and crews are also exempt, according to the legislation now in force.