Spain Extends Covid Entry Requirements On Third-Country Nationals Until November 15

Spain has announced that it will be extending the current restrictions on third-country nationals in a bitter blow to many UK holidaymakers.

With the restrictions set to remain in place until at least November 15, those looking to get away for the half-term or a late season break could be impacted as a result.

Back in May, the restrictions on unvaccinated travellers were lifted for third-country nationals arriving in the country. A month later, all restrictions were lifted for EU nationals.

Although many thought that the restrictions would be removed for the UK and other third-country nationals they were not.

This means that those from outside of the EU and Schengen Area still need to provide proof of full vaccination, recovery from Covid, or a negative antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure. Alternatively, a negative PCR test may also be provided which needs to be taken within 72 hours of departure.

For British travellers, Spain currently accepts the NHS Pass as proof of Covid status.

Along with other EU countries, there remains a 270-day expiry on vaccine passports. Passengers will also need to provide proof of a booster jab if the second vaccine was more than nine months previous. There is no expiration date for booster vaccinations.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from having to provide a test result, proof of vaccination or complete a health control form to enter Spain or any of its territories including the Canary and the Balearic Islands.

Those between 12 and 17 who have not received the booster jab, but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine which is approved by Spain, will be classed as fully vaccinated. However, 14 days must have passed since the last dose was received.

Furthermore, they will continue to be recognised as fully vaccinated more than 270 days after the last dose and will not need to show proof of having received a booster to travel.

Spain recently reported a huge uptick in the number of holidaymakers visiting the country with the country’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) reporting that overnight stays in July had totalled 42.3 million. A figure that was above pre-pandemic levels.

The report also showed that 26.7 million nights were by foreigners with more than a quarter of those attributed to British travellers.

Source

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/spain-extends-tough-covid-entry-25032506
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements