Since December 1, all passengers arriving in Portugal by air are required to present a negative test for Covid-19 or recovery certificate upon arrival.

In a balance of the first six days of this measure to contain the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) told Lusa that the PSP and the SEF inspected 186,267 passengers and 1,985 flights, which resulted in 591 administrative infractions.

Of the 591 infraction notices, 403 were raised by the PSP, which controls passengers from flights originating in the Schengen area, and 188 by the SEF, which supervises travellers from countries outside the Schengen area (outside Europe).

Passengers on domestic flights, children under 12 and crews are exempt from mandatory testing, PCR or rapid.

MAI also indicates that the 591 administrative offenses include six foreigners who were refused entry into the country for not having presented a test on arrival, since only Portuguese citizens, and foreign residents in Portugal are allowed to carry out the test at the airport

According to the MAI, 21 airlines were fined for having transported passengers without a negative Covid-19 test or recovery certificate, with most of these companies having transported people from Europe.

At land borders, also since December 1, citizens from countries outside the European Union and from EU countries considered to be at red or dark red risk need a negative test or recovery certificate to enter Portugal.

Citizens from EU countries considered to be at low or moderate risk must carry a vaccination, test or recovery certificate to enter Portugal.

Until December 6, the GNR and the Foreigners and Borders Service carried out 945 random inspection operations at land borders to ensure that tests were carried out for Covid-19, according to MAI.

Within the scope of these operations, 8,652 light vehicles, merchants and motorcycles, 294 public transport vehicles and two trains were inspected, which gave rise to 26 administrative offenses for a lack of a test or recovery certificate.

MAI also states that 262 diagnostic tests were carried out at the land borders.