HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Spain has announced that it will now allow those travelling from third countries to enter the country if they have been infected in the last 180 days and hold a Covid-19 recovery certificate.

The Spanish government published the changes to the Covid regulations on travel to Spain in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on Saturday, February 26.

A report by SchengenVisainfo.com states that the new certificate has been listed as acceptable proof for entry into Spain by the country's Ministry of Health and the official Spain Travel Health website also now explains what the recovery certificate is, “Recovery certificate: a certificate issued by the competent authority or medical service at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT or rapid antigen test is accepted as valid. The validity of the certificate shall end 180 days after the date of sampling.”

Before the recent announcement, the only travellers from third countries who were allowed into Spain were those who had been vaccinated by one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Since February 1, vaccination certificates that allow entry into Spain have only been valid for 270 days from the date of the last vaccine received. Anyone whose vaccination is older must have a ‘booster’ jab to be allowed entry into Spain as ’a vaccinated person’.

Travel to Spain was also made easier for those aged 12 to 17 years of age travelling from third countries, as, since Monday, February 14, it was no longer obligatory for those aged under 18 years of age, to show proof of their Covid vaccination status.

Up until that date, travel to Spain had been hard for many families who had either planned to travel to Spain in the first two months of this year or had an Easter holiday break booked. The regulation was however lifted after several Spanish, British and other international media sources reported on the issue.

SchengerVisaInfo.com also reported last Friday ‘that the Spanish authorities had extended the current entry rules that apply to 29 European Union/European Economic Area countries for another week’.

According to the rules, ‘travellers from the EU and Schengen Area can enter Spain if they present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, or negative results of a COVID-19 test taken pre-departure’.

As a consequence, the current travel restrictions for those travelling from the EU and non-EU countries are the same, except that those travelling from third countries cannot enter on the authority of a negative Covid test result.

Source

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-permits-entry-for-travellers-from-third-countries-with-covid-19-recovery-certificates/