Entry requirements for Spain: travel and COVID-19 restrictions
Bureaucracy can be extremely tedious sometimes, and it might even deter us from travelling to certain places just to avoid getting a headache. Moreover, with this global pandemic going on, we need to be particularly careful when we plan our holidays. This article will hopefully answer all your questions and help you enjoy a safe, anxiety-free experience. These are the basic entry requirements for Spain now.
Are you terrified of someone asking you for a document you have never heard of? Airports are recurring nightmare sceneries, but do not panic: these are the documents you need to bring with you in order to travel to Spain.
If you follow these entry requirements, you will be able to enjoy a safe flight without worries. | Shutterstock
The citizens of any country of the European Union—as well as those coming from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein—will only need their ID or passport. The minors travelling with an ID will also need to bring a document with their parents’ consent.
A visa is required for some nationalities. Here you can find the list of the countries whose citizens need to carry a visa when travelling to Spain, which include India, Morocco and China. People from Australia, Canada and the United States are not on that list.
Travelling during a global pandemic sometimes involves a series of restrictions. | Shutterstock
From 21 October 2022, the Spanish government has lifted all COVID-19 travel restrictions. However, this has changed in the past and it could happen again soon, hence we will go through the COVID-related requirements to enter Spain.
First of all, authorities suggest not to travel if you have COVID-19 symptoms, like fever, cough, tiredness, and so on. Most importantly, if the COVID-19 measures come into effect again, we will need to have a valid European Digital COVID Certificate or one of the following equivalents.
There are three types of health certificates that will allow us to enter Spain when there are COVID-19 travel restrictions. First of all, we have the vaccination certificate, which should prove that one has been fully vaccinated. This document must be official, and issued at least 14 days after the last shot of the full vaccination process. The certificate must include the following information: name and surname, date, type of vaccine, dose number, country and institution.
There are different kinds of tests and certificates one might need to travel to Spain. | Shutterstock
The second certificate would be a document that demonstrates that its holder’s last test results are negative. There are two types of diagnostic tests that will be accepted: the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), taken the 72 hours prior to the departure; or a rapid antigen test that has been recognised by the EU Health Security Committee, taken at max 24 hours before the departure. The certificate must include the following information: name and surname, date, type of test and country.
Lastly, there is the certificate of recovery: a document that ensures that, after being tested positive, the holder has been fully recovered from COVID-19. We have to take this test at least 11 days after getting the positive result, and it can only be conducted under the supervision of a health professional. This certificate will only be effective 180 days after being tested positive, and it must include the following information: name and surname, date of the positive test result, type of test and country. If you still have any doubts regarding the entry requirements in Spain, you can check here the guidelines of the Spanish Ministry of Health.
