HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Non-essential travel restrictions from third countries have once again been extended by the Spanish government.

The extension, which was confirmed on the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE), sees non-essential travel to Spain from most third countries extended until midnight November 30 2021. This means that the majority of unvaccinated tourists who reside outside of the EU, are still not permitted to enter Spain.

The restrictions were first approved on July 17 and then extended to October 30, with the reasons for the extension being that “the epidemiological situation has not changed substantially”.

The further extension will continue to affect anyone wanting to enter Spain from most non-EU countries, who have not been vaccinated with one of the vaccines recognised by Spain.

As it stands those who can prove they have been vaccinated with one of the EMA-approved vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson, can visit Spain for tourism or other non-essential reasons.

Also, according to the World Health Organisation website, the vaccines that are listed for ‘emergency use’ are currently the Chinese-developed Sinopharm, Sinovac and Covishield inoculations.

Covishield is the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced under licence by the Serum Institute in India. It is made to the same specifications as Vaxzevria, the version produced in Europe, but is not currently approved by the European Medicines Agency.

The inclusion of these three vaccines means that travel to Spain is opened up for vaccinated people in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where Sinopharm, Sinovac and Covishield have been used more widely.

Spain also has a ‘low risk’ list of third countries from where travellers who want to visit Spain for non-essential reasons, can visit without having to provide proof of a Covid-19 test or having been fully vaccinated. They will, however, still be required to fill out a health control form.

It is also important to check whether or not a visa or any other documents are needed to enter Spain before travelling.

The list of third countries which are exempt from the restrictions includes Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Jordan, Kuwait, Namibia, New Zealand,
Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

The other reasons that can be used for travel to Spain from third countries that are listed under the non-essential travel restrictions are:

• You are a resident in the EU or Schengen country.
• You are travelling for duly accredited imperative family reasons.
• You have a student visa for a country in the EU or Schengen zone.
• You have a visa for a long duration stay in an EU or Schengen country.
• You work in transport, such as airline staff or are in a maritime profession.
• You work in diplomatic, consular, international organisations, military or civil protection or are a member of a humanitarian organisation.
• You are a highly qualified worker or athlete whose work cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
• You are allowed entry due to force majeure or on humanitarian grounds.
• And as previously mentioned, you have a vaccination certificate that Spain’s Ministry of Health recognises, as well as for any accompanying minors (unless below the age of 12 years).

Anyone travelling to Spain from the UK and the US, the Spanish Health Ministry states that
“For persons resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland coming directly from this country, in addition to the vaccination certificate, diagnostic certificates of NAAT tests (nucleic acid amplification tests, e.g.: RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA, HAD, NEAR, CRISPR, SDA…..) will also be considered valid”.

Source

https://www.thelocal.es/20211101/spain-extends-restrictions-on-non-essential-travel-from-most-non-eu-countries-until-december/