Explaining Spain’s New Entry Rules for Travellers From Third Countries
The decision was announced by Spanish Ministry of the Interior Affairs, which on the same day published an order in the Official State Gazette (BOE) amending the regulation on entry into the country amid COVID-19.
The move has been welcomed by many, including the Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, who said that “this is good news, long-awaited by the tourism sector, facilitating the arrival of tourists from outside the European Union for the high season and guaranteeing safe mobility”.
According to him, the reopening of borders for non-vaccinated travellers will be an indicator to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector in Spain, adding that the country is emerging as one of the world’s most desirable destinations.
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Spain Entry Rules for Vaccinated Travellers From Third Countries
Travelling from third countries to Spain has so far been possible only for vaccinated travellers whose vaccination meets the criteria set by the Spanish authorities to enter the country. The rules on travelling to Spain as a vaccinated person have not changed, and travellers who want to enter the country with such status must make sure that they meet the criteria explained below.
The rules on travelling to Spain as a vaccinated person depend on whether the traveller’s certificate is recognised by the EU as equal to the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate (DCC) or not.
Travellers from non-EU countries that have reached an agreement with the EU on the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates can enter Spain without the need to complete any additional forms or requirements. These countries are:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Benin
- Cabo Verde
- Colombia
- El Salvador
- Faroe Islands
- Georgia
- Israel
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Malaysia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Togo
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- The United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Vietnam
- The Vatican
They, however, need to make sure that their certificates have been issued for a vaccination that took place within the last nine months or for a third or booster dose. Only certificates issued to persons vaccinated with one of the following COVID-19 vaccines are accepted for entry into Spain:
- Comirnaty (developed by BioNTech and Pfizer)
- Jcovden (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen)
- Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine (SARS-CoV-2 rS [Recombinant, adjuvanted])
- Spikevax (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna)
- Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)
- Covishield (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant])
- CoronaVac (Vero Cell), Inactivated
- Covovax (SARS-CoV-2 rS Protein Nanoparticle [Recombinant])
- Convidecia (Ad5.CoV2-S [Recombinant])
Those that travel to Spain from countries that still haven’t reached an agreement with the EU on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates can also enter Spain. They must make sure their certificate is valid and the vaccine they have been vaccinated is accepted too, as explained above.
Travellers from the latter group also have to complete the SPTH Health Control Form by manually entering the details regarding their vaccination.
Spain Entry Rules for Non-Vaccinated Travellers From Non-EU Countries
Travellers who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 or whose vaccination is not accepted for travel to Spain can either enter the country by showing proof of recovery from the Coronavirus or negative COVID-19 test results.
Those entering the country on the basis of a recovery certificate must show a document issued by relevant health authorities in his/her country of residence in the last 180 days. The document must have been issued at least 11 days after confirmation of COVID infection by PCR or antigen test.
Travellers entering Spain with negative test results can do so with two types of tests:
- NAAT type tests, which include PCR tests, carried out within 72 hours prior to departure for Spain
- An antigen test carried out within 24 hours before departure for Spain
Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the obligation to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate in order to enter Spain. However, those aged 12 and older are subject to the same entry rules as adults.
Spain Domestic Coronavirus Restrictions
The majority of COVID-19 restrictions in Spain have been put to an end earlier in April. COVID-19 certificates are no longer required to enter anywhere.
Travellers visiting Spain as well as citizens of the country are no longer required to wear a face mask when attending different outdoor and indoor places, not even in places like cafes, bars, restaurants, museums, theatres, shopping centres, and other venues.
Yet, the requirement to wear a mask will remain mandatory in some areas in order to protect those that are the most vulnerable, like elderly houses, healthcare facilities, and pharmacies, among others.
“There are certain exceptions where it is still necessary to wear them, such as in health centres, services and establishments (for example, in health centres, hospitals or pharmacies) and in socio-sanitary facilities (workers and visitors in communal areas),” the Spanish authorities note.
Masks are also obligatory for travellers on flights from and to Spain, in spite of a recommendation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to the Member States to remove the requirement since May 16.
