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Travellers planning to travel to the Autonomous Region of the Azores Islands in Portugal must be tested for COVID-19 before departure, as the authorities in the region now implement this requirement, just like mainland Portugal.

According to the regulations of the Azores Airlines, before January 9, 2022, all passengers aged 12 and over who fly to or transit through the Azores on an international flight must present the COVID-19 test to the airline before boarding Proof that the result is negative.

Only PCR and antigen tests are accepted when entering the area. The first time can be done within 72 hours before arriving in the Azores, and the second time must be done within the past 48 hours.

“Proof of vaccination before January 9, 2022 does not exempt the requirement to submit a proof of negative test result,” Azores Airways explained in its travel guide to the area during COVID-19.

Those who have been ill from the coronavirus in the past and recovered through the formation of antibodies are also exempt. According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, children under the age of 12 are exempt from this obligation regardless of their country of departure.

At the same time, pre-travel testing requirements do not apply to vaccinated and recovered people arriving in the area from mainland Portugal or Madeira. However, once they arrive in the Azores, they are obliged to perform a COVID-19 test on arrival within 24 hours.

Travelers under the age of 12 who have not recovered and have not been vaccinated also do not need to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival. Those who test negative before departure are also exempt from the obligation to test upon arrival.

The document regarding the test results, whether before departure or upon arrival, must be in Portuguese or English and contain the following information

When the Omicron virus was found in South Africa, the Portuguese authorities warned at the end of November that pre-departure testing was necessary to enter Portugal. From December 1st, all entrants have an obligation to prove that the test result is negative, even those who are fully immunized.

All passengers traveling to the Portuguese mainland and the Azores area must comply with the regulations on wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and respiratory hygiene established by the regional health authorities.

>> Portugal has made new adjustments to its Golden Visa program, effective from January 1st