HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The Spanish government has once again, extended its temporary entry restrictions for all non-essential travel, until June 15, 2022.

Brits, along with Americans, Canadians and other non-EU/Schengen visitors, who have not been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months, will not be allowed to holiday in Spain for another month.

The announcement on the extension of the entry rules was made on May 12, by the Ministry of Interior of Spain as well as by the official Government website,

The statement reads that “The border order to be issued by the Minister for Home Affairs extends all current restrictions on Spain’s external land, sea, and air borders under the recommendations of the Council of the European Union due to the health crisis caused by COVID-19 until 24:00 hours on June 15, 2022, and replaces the current one, which expires on Sunday, May 15.”

This means that all those wishing to enter Spain will still be required to abide by Covid entry rules on arrival, for another month.

British tourists are still the number one source of international tourists for Spain, so this extension will hit them hard, as they now have non-EU status. This means that they will be required to follow the same travel rules as all other third-country nationals.

Vaccinated or recovered third-country travellers

Travellers who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 more than two weeks prior to travelling to Spain will need to provide a valid vaccination certificate with an EMA or WHO-approved vaccine.

If their initial vaccination treatment was completed more than 9 months ago (270 days), they’ll need to show they have had a Covid-19 booster shot.

As for non-EU/Schengen travellers who have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months, they will need to produce a recovery certificate to prove this.

According to Spain’s Health Ministry, the recovery certificates that are accepted as valid are those that are “issued at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT or RAT, and up to a maximum of 180 days after the date of sampling”, as well as being issued by the relevant authorities.

There are exceptions to this ruling and that is that back in February, the Spanish authorities decided to allow unvaccinated teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years from non-EU/Schengen areas, to enter Spain, providing they presented a negative PCR test.

Other exceptions for non-essential travel, If you are not vaccinated or recovered from the virus, include:-

• You are a resident in the EU or Schengen country.
• 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 have a student visa for a country in the EU or Schengen zone.
• You are a highly qualified worker or athlete whose work cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
• You are travelling for duly accredited imperative family reasons.
• You are allowed entry due to force majeure or on humanitarian grounds.
• And as mentioned earlier in the article, if you have a vaccination certificate that Spain’s Ministry of Health recognises, as well as for any accompanying minors (unless they’re under 12 years of age).

Spain’s Ministry of Health clarifies that all visitors to Spain over the age of 12 years from the EU/EEA area are required to provide COVID-19 proof upon arrival.

Travellers from the EU/EEA are granted restriction-free entry as long as they are in possession of one of the passes listed below:

• A vaccination certificate that proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last nine months. Certificates proving that the holder received a booster shot are also accepted.
• A test certificate that proves that the holder took a PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 or 48 hours before arrival in Spain, respectively.
• A recovery certificate that proves that the holder tested positive for the virus in the last six months

Despite strict entry rules remaining, Spain has already lifted some of its domestic restrictions. The mandatory wearing of face masks came to an end on April 20. Tourists are no longer required to wear a face mask when accessing different public places and events whilst visiting Spain.

Spain’s ban on unvaccinated non-EU travellers is arguably the last major Covid-19 restriction in place in the country, as other EU countries such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Sweden all allow unvaccinated tourists in.

Source

https://www.thelocal.es/20220516/travel-spain-extends-ban-on-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-until-june-15th/
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-prolongs-current-covid-entry-rules-until-june-15/