July 11, 2021

Covid-19 : an overview of our destinations

Here is an overview of Covid-19 situation in our destinations: Portugal, France, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Jordan, Armenia and Georgia. Borders opening, health measures and protocols... all answers to your questions are here!

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PORTUGAL

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Entry requirements - Portugal

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1) Arriving to Portugal by Plane or Sea

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- MAINLAND Portugal

LIMITED: passengers from the UK (Essential and non-essential travel)

All travellers to mainland Portugal (aged 12 or older) are required to show a negative Covid-19 test:
- RT-PCR taken within 72 hours of departure or
- Lateral flow test taken 48 hours prior to departure
Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or have complete vaccination for 14 days.

Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunized as per EU directives
* Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
* Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
All passengers must complete the Passenger Locator Card (individually), prior to departure to Portugal or on board, available at: https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card
Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

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‍ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)
Countries of the European Union, Schengen Associated countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland), Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China, South Korea, United States of America, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Northern Macedonia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and special admnistrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao

RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) - 72h before boarding, or
Rapid Antigen Test - 48h before boarding, or
EU Digital COVID Certificate (from 1 July)
Children under 12 do not need to present test.
All passengers need to fill a Passenger Locator Card (individually) before departure to Portugal or on board at https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card

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LIMITED: Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa (Only essential travel)

RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) - 72h before boarding, or
Rapid Antigen Test - 48h before boarding, or
Need to comply with quarantine of 14 days after arrival in Portugal;
Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
All passengers need to fill a Passenger Locator Card (individually) before departure to Portugal or on board at https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card

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- AZORES

ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel) - UK is included

RT-PCR Test - 72h before boarding, or Immunity declaration (for those who already had COVID-19, for example), or EU Digital COVID Certificate (from 1 July)
Passengers may perform free test on arrival and wait the result in prophylactic isolation (between 12 to 24 hours for the result).
Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
If the stay is longer than seven days, on the 6th and 12th day from the date SARS-CoV-2 first test was performed, the passenger must contact the health services of the county where is staying so that a second test can be performed.
All passengers need to fill Questionnaire at https://mysafeazores.com. More information at www.visitazores.com

- MADEIRA

ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel) - UK is included

RT-PCR Test - 72h before boarding, or vaccination certificate (2 shots 14 days prior to entrance in PT) or Immunity declaration (for those who already had COVID-19, for example), or EU Digital COVID Certificate (from 1 July).
Perform free test on arrival and wait the result in prophylactic isolation (between 12 to 24 hours for the result), or perform voluntary isolation, for a period of 14 days, at home or in a hotel accommodation.
Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
Passengers need to register at https://madeirasafe.com.
More information at www.visitmadeira.pt

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2) Arriving to Portugal by Road

Passengers from the UK

Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or have complete vaccination for 14 days.
Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunized as per EU directives
* Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
* Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

Passengers from other countries

No restrictions of entrance, except for citizens coming from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa in the last 14 days, only for essential travel:

Must comply 14-day quarantine period at home or at a place indicated by the health authorities;
Must register before entering the country at https://travel.sef.pt

3) Arriving to Portugal by Train

‍Passengers from the UK

Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or have complete vaccination for 14 days.
Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunised as per EU directives
* Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
* Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

No restrictions of entrance except for citizens coming from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa in the last 14 days, only for essential travel:

Must comply 14-day quarantine period at home or at a place indicated by the health authorities;
Must register before entering the country at https://travel.sef.pt

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Requirements when flying back to the UK

Portugal, including the Azores, is on the amber list for entering England.

‍Madeira is on the green list for entering England.

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AMBER LIST RULES

Changes to international travel rules for amber list countries

From 4am, Monday 19 July, the government will no longer recommend against travel to amber list countries. People covered by the amber list rules, who have been fully vaccinated with an NHS vaccine, will not need to quarantine on arrival in England or take a COVID-19 test on day 8. For further information:

read the announcement about the rule changes
sign up for an email alert to tell you when this page is updated

Until 19 July you must follow the following rules, even if you have been vaccinated.

Before travel to England

Before you travel to England you must:

take a COVID-19 test
book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests – to be taken after arrival in England
complete a passenger locator form

On arrival in England

On arrival in England you must:

quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8

Read about quarantine and taking COVID-19 tests.

Children aged 4 and under do not need to take the day 2 or day 8 test.

You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.

If you have been in a country or territory on the red list

If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.

Read about making a transit stop in a red list country or territory.

Countries moving to the red list

If conditions change in a country or territory, it can be moved from the amber list to the red list. If there is a sudden change in conditions, a country or territory may be moved between lists without warning.

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GREEN LIST RULES

You must only have been in or travelled through a green list country or the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in the previous 10 days.

You must follow these rules even if you have been vaccinated.

Before travel to England

Before you travel to England you must:

take a COVID-19 test
book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test – to be taken after arrival in England
complete a passenger locator form

On arrival in England

You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive.

Children aged 4 and under do not need to take this test.

You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

You must quarantine if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

If you have been in a country or territory on the red or amber list

If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.

If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the amber list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, and have not visited a country on the red list, you must follow the amber list rules.

Read about making a transit stop in an amber or red list country or territory.

Countries on the green watchlist or moving to amber

If conditions change in a country or territory, it can be moved from the green list to the amber or red list.

If a country or territory on the green list is at risk of moving to amber it will also be listed on the green watchlist.

If there is a sudden change in conditions, a country or territory may be moved between lists without warning.

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Sanitary rules in public area in Portugal

Public Transportation

‍The use of face masks is mandatory.
Public transportation is limited to 2/3 of the capacity.
Taxis and similar passenger transport, the front seats must be used only by the driver, and passenger occupancy cannot exceed 2/3 of the remaining space.

Rent-a-Car

Vehicles with capacity of 5 seats or less can be fully occupied if they belong to the same household.
Vehicles with capacity of more than 5 seats, its capacity is limited to 2/3 of the total, unless they are part of the same household.

General Rules

- Restaurants, cafés, and pastry shops close at 1 am.
- Shops and shopping centres are open, without time restrictions.
- Cultural facilities close at 1 am. 50% capacity limit.
- Outdoor events possible with specific rules (check the event website for more info).
- Amateur sports and training events possible with specific rules (check the event website for more info). 33% capacity limit.
- Alcoholic beverages sale is prohibited in service areas or gas stations and, from 9 p.m., in shops including supermarkets
- Golf courses are fully operational. The specific measures established by the Portuguese Golf Federation are available at www.fpg.pt.
- Accommodation has been adopting the “Clean & Safe”, which allows the identification of establishments and services that have implemented enhanced hygiene and safety measures. More info at www.portugalcleanandsafe.com
- in the whole continental territory, at check-in or for access to hotel and local accommodation establishments the EU Digital COVID Certificate or a negative test* will be required;
- in high and very high-risk municipalities (see below list at 2.), on Fridays after 7 p.m., at the weekends and public holidays, for access to meals inside restaurants the EU Digital COVID Certificate or a negative test* will be required;

* The types of tests allowed are:
- RT-PCR carried out within 72 hours prior to submission;
- Antigen test with laboratory report, carried out within 48 hours prior to its submission;
- Rapid antigen test using the self-test method, carried out within the 24 hours prior to submission in the presence of a health or pharmaceutical professional who certifies its performance and result;
- Rapid self-test antigen test carried out on the spot, at the door of the establishment to be visited, under the supervision of the persons in charge of these premises.

Children under 12 years old accompanied by an adult are exempt of testing requirements and are free to access places or establishments, to participate in events and to travel in the country.

‍Exceptions

In high-risk municipalities - Albergaria-a-Velha, Alenquer, Aveiro, Azambuja, Bombarral, Braga, Cartaxo, Constância, Ílhavo, Lagoa, Matosinhos, Óbidos, Palmela, Paredes de Coura, Portimão, Rio Maior, Salvaterra de Magos, Santarém, Setúbal, Sines, Torres Vedras, Trancoso, Trofa, Viana do Alentejo, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Vila Nova de Gaia and Viseu:
- Restaurants, cafés and pastry shops close at 10.30 p.m. and a negative test or the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be required for access to meals inside restaurants in certain days and times (see General Rules above). Limitation of groups of 6 people inside and 10 people on the terraces.
- Cultural shows end by 10.30 p.m.
- Weddings and baptisms with 50% of the capacity.
- Shops and supermarkets closed after 9pm.
- Practice of all sports allowed, without public.
- Physical activity allowed outdoors and in gyms.
- Outdoor events with reduced capacity.
- Circulation on public roads is forbidden between 11p.m. and 6 a.m. of the following day.

In very-high risk municipalities - Albufeira, Alcochete, Almada, Amadora, Arruda dos Vinhos, Avis, Barreiro, Cascais, Faro, Lagos, Lisboa, Loulé, Loures, Lourinhã, Mafra, Mira, Moita, Montijo, Mourão, Nazaré, Odivelas, Oeiras, Olhão, Porto, Santo Tirso, São Brás de Alportel, Seixal, Sesimbra, Silves, Sintra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Vagos and Vila Franca de Xira:
- Restaurants, cafes and bakeries closed after 10.30 p.m. and a negative test or the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be required for access to meals inside restaurants in certain days and times (see General Rules above). Limitation of groups of 4 people inside and 6 people on the terraces.
- Cultural shows not allowed after 10.30 p.m.
- Weddings and baptisms possible with 25% of the capacity.
- Supermarkets and grocery stores open until 9pm during the weekdays and until 7pm on weekends and public holidays.
- Shops open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and until 3.30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
- Sporting activities of medium risk allowed but without public.
- Outdoor physical activity allowed up to 6 people and gyms without group classes.
- Outdoor events with reduced capacity.
- Circulation on public roads is forbidden between 11p.m. and 6 a.m. of the following day.‍

Behavior rules ‍

- Social distancing;
- Frequent hand washing;
- Mandatory use of mask;
- Respiratory etiquette.
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Good to know

Clean & Safe
In tourism, the “Clean & Safe” seal was implemented allowing tourists to have increased security and confidence in the use of accommodation establishments, in the various tourist services and tourist attractions.

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FRANCE

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BORDERS: OPEN

Entry requirements - France

The UK has been classified as "orange" country by the French authorities:

For vaccinated travelers, those from "green" destinations will no longer have to perform a PCR test to go to France. When they come from countries classified as "orange" (where the virus circulates in a controlled manner), travelers will be able to enter France on presentation of a negative result of PCR test.
Unvaccinated travelers will have to present a negative PCR/antigenic test result if they come from "green" countries. They will be able to enter France from "orange" countries only with a pressing grounds.
Travelers from countries classified as "red", where the virus is actively circulating, vaccinated or not, will only be able to enter French territory on proof of pressing grounds.

Here is the map of countries by color, updated on 7/1/21

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DETAILED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

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Countries/territories on the “green” list:

If you are vaccinated:

- you are not subject to any health measures.

If you are not vaccinated:

- upon boarding, each traveler aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 72 hours before the flight.

This will not apply to:

trips by residents of cross-border areas (border within a 30 km radius of your residence, and for a duration of less than 24 hours).
work-related trips, the urgent or frequent nature of which makes them incompatible with these tests;
trips by haulers carrying out their work.

To avail of the exemptions above, you must have a document proving the reasons for your trip.
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Countries/territories on the “orange” list:

if you are vaccinated:

upon boarding, each traveler aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before the flight or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight.

The measures regarding pressing grounds for travel and quarantine which are applicable to vaccinated adults also apply to any minors accompanying them, whether they are vaccinated or not.

If you are not vaccinated:

- you can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.

- each traveler aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before departure or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before departure.

- you may be subject to a random test when you arrive in France.

- you must pledge to self-isolate for 7 days.

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Countries/territories on the “red” list:

If you are vaccinated:

- you can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.

- each traveler aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before departure.

- you will be tested when you arrive in France.

- you must pledge to self-isolate for 7 days.

The measures regarding pressing grounds for travel and quarantine which are applicable to vaccinated adults also apply to any minors accompanying them, whether they are vaccinated or not.

If you are not vaccinated:

- you can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.

- upon boarding, each traveler aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight.

- you will be tested when you arrive in France.

- you will be subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine supervised by security forces.

Depending on your circumstances, you must complete and carry some of the following documents in order to board:

Proof of vaccination. It will only be valid if it proves that you are fully vaccinated, i.e.:

- Two weeks after the second shot for two-shot vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca);

- Four weeks after the shot for one-shot vaccines (Johnson & Johnson);

- Two weeks after the shot for vaccines administered to people who have already had COVID-19 (only one dose is necessary).
Only vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be accepted, i.e. Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna, AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).

(for all travellers except vaccinated travellers arriving from a “green” country) a sworn declaration, which you can download from the Interior Ministry’s website stating that you have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection;

to your knowledge, you have not been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to your journey;
(if you are aged 11 years or older) you agree to submit to a virological RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 upon arrival in France;
(where applicable) you pledge to self-isolate for seven days;
(for non-vaccinated travellers arriving from a “red” country) you are aware that you will have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in France.

(For travellers arriving from “red” countries, or if they are not vaccinated, “orange” countries), a certificate of international travel for Metropolitan France, which you can download from the which you can download from the Interior Ministry’s website. You must present this certificate to travel companies before using your travel ticket, as well as to border control authorities (for travel by air, sea and land, including by rail);

(for travellers required to self-isolate or quarantine) proof of location of self-isolation, and where appropriate, access details for inspectors to carry out checks.‍

If you fail to produce these documents you will be denied boarding.

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Requirements when flying back to the UK

France is on the amber list for entering England.

AMBER LIST REQUIREMENTS

Changes to international travel rules for amber list countries

read the announcement about the rule changes
sign up for an email alert to tell you when this page is updated

Until 19 July you must follow the following rules, even if you have been vaccinated.

Before travel to England

Before you travel to England you must:

take a COVID-19 test
book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests – to be taken after arrival in England
complete a passenger locator form

On arrival in England

On arrival in England you must:

quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8

Read about quarantine and taking COVID-19 tests.

Children aged 4 and under do not need to take the day 2 or day 8 test.

You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.

If you have been in a country or territory on the red list

If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.

Read about making a transit stop in a red list country or territory.

Countries moving to the red list

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Sanitary rules in public area

You must wear a mask in all venues unless you are eating or drinking.
Shops and indoor markets: one client for every 4m²
Bars, pubs and restaurants: to full capacity in outdoor areas, and to 50% capacity inside. Patrons must be seated, to a maximum of six people per table. You may not eat or drink while standing or at the bar.
Casinos: 50% capacity. A health pass will be required for capacities over 1,000 people
Wearing a mask is compulsory throughout the country for everyone aged 11 and over in enclosed spaces and on public transport, on pain of a fine.

Tourist attractions & museums

Museums: one visitor for every 4m².
Seated open-air festivals: 65% capacity, to a maximum of 6,000 people. A health pass will be required for capacities over 1,000 people.
Outdoor zoos: 65% capacity.
Libraries: one seat out of two
Cinemas, theatres and show venues: 65% capacity, to a maximum of 6,000 people per room. A health pass will be required for capacities over 1,000 people.

Museums and monuments are open
Parks and gardens are open
Terraces of bars and restaurants are open
Places of worship are open (one seat in two rule)
Cemeteries remain open
Swimming pools are open
Guided tours are possible
Zoological parks are open
Theme parks are open

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Good to know

In all cases, the usual travel restrictions apply (visas, duration of stay, etc.).
Whatever your place of departure, if you show symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival in France, you will be quarantined or placed and kept in isolation by the prefect.
Each overseas territory sets its own entry conditions and possible restrictions (curfew, lockdowns, etc.) based on the local epidemiological situation. You are therefore highly advised to visit the website of the prefecture or high commission of your destination before you travel.
Travel between Metropolitan France and some overseas territories is only possible if you have pressing grounds for travel.
In order to travel to an Overseas Territory you must present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old and a compelling reason to travel.

More information here.

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DUBAI

BORDERS: OPEN

Dubai has been open to tourists since 7th July.

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Entry requirements - Dubai

Compulsory health insurance required to enter the Emirates.
All passengers - vaccinated and non vaccinated - arriving into Dubai from any point of origin (GCC countries included) must hold a negative PCR test certificate, for which the test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to time of departure. You must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in (SMS and digital certificates are not accepted). The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai.
UAE nationals are exempt from the above, but will be required to take a PCR test on arrival at Dubai airport.
Passengers arriving into Dubai from certain countries will be required to take another PCR test on arrival at DXB: UK is not involved in that measure.
Passengers transiting through Dubai must ensure that they comply with the entry requirements of their respective destination country.
Thermal scanning at airports.
Test performed at the airport for passengers with symptoms.
Quarantine Undertaking Form to be completed during flight and submitted to Dubai Health Authority staff upon arrival. The passenger will only be quarantined if they show symptoms and need to undergo a PCR test at the airport, until the results are released.

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THE MAGIC PLUS

Magic Travels offers an "ON-SITE PCR TEST in DUBAI" to offer your customers the most pleasant stay and the best customer support. The test is carried out directly at the customers' hotel, regardless of the hotel you are staying in!

This package is priced at 85 USD per person. Contact us for more information!

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