Travel to Portugal on ESTA

[Mario001 11]

Good Morning,

 

If anyone can provide me some feedback it would be greatly appreciated!
The portuguese border control (SEF) updated their website and there is a section about traveling for family reunion for people that are not married (see imaged below). 
I've tried to call them but nobody is picking up the phone. I also reached out to the the embassy and airlines, but no one can give me a definitive answer. 

My fiancé is American and I'm Portuguese. We lived together in the US (for around 8months) and we have applied for a K1 visa last year (Nov 2019).  We share an apartment and both our names are on the lease. Since the pandemic I have been "stuck" in Portugal. 

From what I'm understanding, European Citizens and their respective families can fly into Europe for family reunification purposes. If you are not married, you need to prove that you have a long lasting relationship (like you are in a common-law marriage). My understanding is that we fall under that category (common-law marriage), with that in mind can my fiancé fly to Portugal?

I think I have my mind made up, but would really appreciate any feedback or a different interpretation of what is written.

Full page: https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/covid-19/faqs/#1600364840935-dad3d24f-7725

Thank you!

[Tyty040418 11]

I don’t think that you have to have a common law marriage. As long as you have proof of a long lasting relationship, I think it’s worth trying. I know that Germany has a form to fill out for the American visiting their fiancé. I am actually flying to Germany today and have a layover in Portugal (I’m American and my fiancé lives in Germany). I will be sure to update you to let you know about traveling to Portugal. 

[Mario001 11]

Thank you for your answer! 
Yes, please let me know how it went!

[Tyty040418 11]

On 10/17/2020 at 1:18 PM, Mario001 said:

Thank you for your answer! 
Yes, please let me know how it went!

So I had zero issues flying into Portugal! I left from Newark, NJ. When I checked in at the airport in NJ, they asked to see my covid test and asked why I was going, to which I responded “to see my fiancé,” and that was it. I was never asked for any proof of relationship or anything. I brought photos and printed documents that I put in a folder and even lost a little sleep worrying that they would not let me board. Of course I only stayed in the airport since my layover was in Portugal. Overall it was far less stressful than I anticipated!

Just now, Tyty040418 said:

So I had zero issues flying into Portugal! I left from Newark, NJ. When I checked in at the airport in NJ, they asked to see my covid test and asked why I was going, to which I responded “to see my fiancé,” and that was it. I was never asked for any proof of relationship or anything. I brought photos and printed documents that I put in a folder and even lost a little sleep worrying that they would not let me board. Of course I only stayed in the airport since my layover was in Portugal. Overall it was far less stressful than I anticipated!

I would still recommend having all documents, and proof of relationship just to be on the safe side. 

[Mario001 11]

Thank you for getting back to me! I'm surprised by how easy it was for you to fly! Did you had to show your "form to fill out for the American visiting their fiancé"? Just curious to understand if they asked any documents as proof of what you are saying.

Yes, for sure we will gather all the important documents.

[Mystery 2020 30]

What does an ESTA, pre authorization to visit the USA via the VWP have to do with Portugal?

 

This forum is for US tourist visas.

[Mario001 11]

You are right. The US doesn't need a ESTA to fly. My bad. But the question is still valid. We are trying to see if my US fiance can fly to Portugal.

[Tyty040418 11]

7 hours ago, Mario001 said:

Thank you for getting back to me! I'm surprised by how easy it was for you to fly! Did you had to show your "form to fill out for the American visiting their fiancé"? Just curious to understand if they asked any documents as proof of what you are saying.

Yes, for sure we will gather all the important documents.

I had that form with me, but they never asked for it. The only document they asked for other than my passport, was my Covid test.

[Mario001 11]

Just to give a follow up to this thread and to provide information to anyone trying to fly to Europe.

My fiance (American) flew yesterday to Portugal. The only requirement to fly was to have a negative COVID result done 72h before her flight. She prepared a folder to prove our relationship (unmarried couple). The folder included photos of us at different places, common expenses, flight tickets, our K1 visa documents.
At check-in they were a bit confused, because there it's not explicitly written that unmarried couples call fly to Portugal to be reunited (it's a generic sentece), but nevertheless they let her fly. She had a layover in Newark, and the same thing happened. When she arrived in Portugal, at border control the guy just stamped her passport, didn't even ask why she was there.

The people that asked all the questions at checking, they were just doing there job, from what I was able to understand they have some specific guidelines, but they are very open if you case is not 100% clear for them. It also seems that if you are able to board chances are good that you are able to get to your final destination.

[TBoneTX 44,916]

Thread is moved from Tourist Visas to the Europe & Eurasia regional forum.