With the high season approaching, Spain hopes to receive as many tourists from abroad as possible. To make the summer as safe as possible, the Spanish government continuously adjusts the travel rules. Below is an update.
National tourism in Spain, which has now started, also gives hope for a successful international tourist season. However, the regulations for entry to Spain depend, among other things;
- on the purpose of the trip
- the country of departure
- whether or not visitors are fully vaccinated.
What travel rules are there within the EU?
The same rules apply to all travel within the Eurozone. The European digital corona certificate has been introduced for this purpose. Travellers with this certificate meet at least one of the requirements for free travel;
- full vaccination
- second dose administered at least 14 days before travel
- a negative result of a corona test taken up to 48 hours before the start of the trip
- proof of recovery from covid-19.
The document must be in Spanish, English, French or German. Furthermore, all children under the age of 12 are allowed to travel without a corona certificate.
Depending on the epidemiological situation, areas in Europe may be exempt from the above rules. Travellers from areas designated as green on the corona map of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) may travel without a corona passport.
Can non-European travellers also travel to Spain?
There is a list of non-European countries and areas where the epidemiological course is so favourable that non-essential travel to Europe from these areas is allowed. Currently, this includes Albania, Australia, South Korea, United States, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China and the administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao.
Travellers from other non-European countries must be fully vaccinated (at least two weeks before travel). The vaccine must be approved by the WHO or the EMA for non-essential travel to Europe. A recent negative test result or recovery from covid-19 is therefore not enough to travel to Europe.
This does not apply to children under the age of 12. They can travel to Spain without restrictions with an adult who has been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine.
Can travellers from the UK travel to Spain?
Last Monday, the Spanish Prime Minister announced that from Friday, July 2, all travellers from the United Kingdom must have proof of full vaccination or a positive result of a PCR test (up to 48 hours old). The British can therefore no longer travel freely to Spain as was the case last month.
Spain is tightening the measures due to the high number of infections with the delta variant in the United Kingdom. These therefore also apply to Britons travelling to the Balearic Islands. Despite the fact that this group of islands has been designated as green the UK.
Are there exceptions?
The Spanish government will continue to adjust the rules for countries where new virus variants emerge. At the moment, a ban on non-essential travel from India, Brazil and South Africa is in place, including travelers from these countries who have been fully vaccinated. Only travelers with Spanish nationality are allowed to return from these countries and all travelers in transit to a non-Schengen country are also allowed to spend a maximum of 24 hours at a Spanish airport.
Do additional forms need to be completed?
All travellers who reach Spain by plane or boat, including all children under the age of 12, must complete a health declaration. This statement can be found on the website www.spth.gob.es or on the Spain Travel Health app. The QR code issued afterwards must be presented at both boarding prior to travel and at the airport upon arrival.
