HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Spain has extended restrictions for all non-essential travel from most non-EU countries until September 30, 2021.

The new extension was published on Tuesday, August 31 in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) and means that many tourists from outside of the EU, who haven’t been vaccinated, are still prohibited from visiting Spain.

Those who can prove they have been vaccinated with one of the vaccines accepted by Spain can however visit the country for both non-essential and tourism reasons.

The BOE states that “since the epidemiological situation has not changed substantially at the global level, its effects should be extended for another additional month”.

A new list of third countries was established on June 30, 2020, and has been adjusted on more than one occasion due to the changing epidemiological situations. The residents from countries on the list were exempt from travel restrictions for the EU, as well as a set of specific categories of people who are also exempt from these restrictions, regardless of their place of origin.

The current list of travellers from third countries who are exempt from the restrictions and can enter Spain without the need for a negative Covid test or a vaccination certificate includes Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, United States and Qatar.

They are, however, still required to fill out a health control form on arrival.

Because the list is monitored and can change at short notice, it is very important that you keep an eye on the Spanish Government website to see what the travel restrictions and requirements are regarding travel from your country. 

Also make sure to check first, whether or not you require a visa or any other documents to enter Spain, then contact your nearest Spanish embassy to find out if they are currently issuing visas.

There are several reasons why you can enter Spain if a third country is not mentioned on the list and they are:-

• If 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 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 work in transport, such as airline staff or are in the maritime profession.
• You work in diplomatic, consular, international organisations, military or civil protection or are a member of a humanitarian organisation.
• You have a vaccination certificate that the Ministry of Health recognises for this purpose, after verification by the health authorities, as well as minors who are accompanied by the Ministry of Health (under 12 years of age).
• You are travelling for duly accredited imperative family reasons.
• You are allowed entry due to force majeure or on humanitarian grounds.

If you are travelling to Spain from the UK or the US, it is important to note that on July 2, the UK was removed from Spain’s restriction-free list for non-EU countries where you were required to show either a negative PCR test or hold a vaccination certificate. In May and June however, neither of these was a requirement.

British residents in Spain can produce a negative antigen test instead.

At the end of June 2021, the United States was put on Spain’s low-risk non-EU/EEA country list. This essentially allows non-essential travel, which includes tourism, from the US to Spain. Passengers also do not need to provide a negative Covid test or provide proof of vaccination to be able to fly.

It is not however clear how long the US will be kept on Spain’s restriction-free list, as doubts were raised by the EU on Monday, August 30, where it was recommended that Member States should tighten restrictions for arrivals from the US.

Source 

https://www.thelocal.es/20210902/spain-extends-restrictions-on-non-essential-travel-from-most-non-eu-countries-until-october/
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/en/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/spth.htm