UK tourists travelling to Spain from Friday (2 July) will be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival or that they are fully vaccinated. For the past month, British visitors have enjoyed special status when booking flights to Spanish summer hotspots including Murcia and the Costa Cálida.
However, bowing to pressure from Germany and other EU countries to harmonise travel protocols, Spain has now decided – at least temporarily – to tighten its travel rules.
With a significant proportion of British people already vaccinated, Spanish tourism authorities are hoping the impact of the re-introduced measures will be minimised, even though all people returning to the UK must still undergo double-testing and stay self-isolated for 10 days – as Spain remains on the “amber list” until the next scheduled review in July of overseas holiday travel recommendations.
More detailed information about the requirements for Spanish travel are available, and regularly updated, on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s GOV.UK website.
The main points are:
- From 12am 2 July, all arrivals to Spain from the UK (excluding children under the age of 12 years) will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival (e.g. PCR, TMA, LAMP, NEAR); or proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days previously with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or World Health Organisation.
- Documents can be in English, Spanish, French or German, and in paper or electronic format (documentation information here).
- For those living in England, Spain will accept the NHS app or NHS letter to demonstrate COVID-19 vaccination status; and for Scotland or Wales, the respective NHS letter.
Recognition of Vaccination Certificates
Meanwhile, talks between the UK and EU to ensure mutual recognition of the NHS Digital COVID Pass and the EU Digital COVID Certificate are believed to be progressing well.
According to the Guardian newspaper, “Hopes have been raised of summer holidays in Europe for fully vaccinated Britons as a deal with Brussels on COVID passports neared completion and Germany failed to convince popular destinations to pull an ‘emergency brake’ on UK visitors.
“For travellers from the UK who have had both doses of an approved vaccine, the prospect of a relatively normal summer break appears brighter, with popular destinations loath to shut the doors on those who are unlikely to be infectious. According to the latest data, 61.9 per cent of UK adults are now fully vaccinated and 84.4 per cent have had at least a first dose.”
British and other international tourists visiting the Murcia region can take advantage of free travel insurance to cover COVID-incurred and other medical costs.
