Spain Does A U-Turn Causing Confusion For Unvaccinated British Travellers
Spain News
Published: 08 April 2022 16:38 CET
Travellers from the UK have been dealt another bitter blow in the run-up to Easter after the Spanish authorities backtracked on their decision to open the country up to those who had not been vaccinated.
On Wednesday, Spain’s Tourist Office said that they would permit entry to British nationals, including those who had not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus, stipulating that those travellers would just be able to present a negative COVID-19 test which would need to be taken prior to entry.
However in a u-turn, just a few hours later, the Spanish authorities reversed their decision, causing confusion for many thousands of holidaymakers looking to book their Easter holidays in the sun.
The country’s tourist board apologised for what they called a “miscommunication” which they put down to a “misinterpretation” of the entry requirements published by the Spanish health department.
Pedro Medina, deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK said in a statement.
Following the mishap, Pedro Medina, the deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, said “We apologise unreservedly for the miscommunication earlier today which was due to a misunderstanding of the new entry requirements.”
It means that the rules have not changed with UK travellers still having to meet certain requirements in order to enter the country.
What are the current rules?
Anyone over the age of 12 travelling from the UK to Spain will still be required to show proof of either being fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain, or be able to provide a valid certificate to show that they had recovered from the virus.
The tourist office states that any traveller needs to have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine within the last 270 days.
Anyone vaccinated more than 270 days ago will need to have had a booster shot in order for their certificate to remain valid.
Children between 12 and 17 years are still able to enter the country if they are not fully vaccinated provided that they can produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival in Spain.
This followed an announcement by the Spanish authorities in February which stated that anyone aged between 12 and 17 from non-EU countries would no longer need to be vaccinated to enter the country.
Source
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/07/spain-reverses-plan-to-open-up-to-britons-without-covid-vaccine
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-causes-confusion-as-country-revokes-plan-to-open-up-to-unvaccinated-uk-travellers/
