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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Travel
Cathy Adams

Portugal to open borders to vaccinated British tourists from May

Photograph: Portugal to open borders to vaccinated British tourists from May

Portugal is the latest country to announce it will welcome British tourists this summer.

Tourists must either present a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test to enter from 17 May, the country’s tourism minister told BBC Radio.

The opening date coincides with the earliest day that people in England will be allowed to travel abroad recreationally, according to the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Rita Marques also said that vaccine passports should be an international solution, rather than just within Europe, and that Britons should be able to participate.

This week, the European Commission published proposals for a “digital green pass”, designed to facilitate travel around the bloc, although the UK government has not yet agreed on a solution.

The UK vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “If other countries will require a vaccine certificate then I think it’s right that we facilitate it.”

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Until there is a national scheme, anyone who has been vaccinated and needs to prove it in order to facilitate entry into another country was advised by Mr Zahawi to ask their GP.

European countries are rapidly announcing opening dates for vaccinated British tourists this summer.

Greece and Cyprus have set dates of 14 May and 1 May respectively, while yesterday Iceland said it would welcome vaccinated travellers from around the world from 18 March.

France last week eased its entry restrictions for Britons, while Spain has signalled it would welcome vaccinated tourists this summer, stopping short of giving a concrete entry date.

In most cases, unvaccinated visitors will need to present a negative PCR test.

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