Spain Prolongs Current COVID Entry Rules Until June 15 – SchengenVisaInfo.com – SchengenVisaInfo.com

The Spanish authorities have announced that the country has decided to prolong the existing COVID-19 entry rules for all travellers until June 15.

The announcement on the extension of the entry rules was made by the Ministry of Interior of Spain as well as by the official Government website, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“The border order to be issued by the Minister for Home Affairs extends all current restrictions on Spain’s external land, sea, and air borders under the recommendations of the Council of the European Union due to the health crisis caused by COVID-19 until 24:00 hours on June 15, 2022, and replaces the current one, which expires on Sunday, May 15,” the statement of the authorities reads.

The move means that all travellers will continue to be subject to COVID-19 entry rules when reaching Spain.

The Ministry of Health of Spain explains that currently, all travellers over the age of 12 from the European Union/European Economic Area are required to present COVID-19 proof upon their arrival.

Travellers from the EU/EEA are permitted restriction-free entry as long as they hold one of the passes listed below:

• A vaccination certificate that proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last nine months. Certificates proving that the holder received a booster shot are also accepted
• A recovery certificate that proves that the holder tested positive for the virus in the last six months
• A test certificate that proves that the holder took a PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 or 48 hours before arrival in Spain, respectively

On the other hand, the Ministry explains that stricter rules apply to travellers from third countries. Third-country travellers are permitted entry to Spain for travel purposes only if they hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate or if they fall into the exemption list.

Nonetheless, it has been emphasised that certain groups of travellers can enter under facilitated rules. Travellers from third countries between the age of 12 and 18 can enter Spain by presenting a negative PCR test result. This means that this group of travellers does not need to present a vaccination or recovery certificate.

It is believed that the Spanish authorities took the decision to extend the entry rules after considering the infection rates.

The data from the World Health Organization shows that Spain has registered 65,897 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reveals that they are quite high. According to ECDC, Spain has administered a total of 101,399,274 vaccine doses as of May 12. In addition, the same shows that 85.8 per cent of the population have completed primary vaccination, and 63.4 per cent have received an additional vaccine dose.

Despite keeping its entry rules in place, Spain has already facilitated some of its domestic restrictions. Spain lifted the mask requirement on April 20. Travellers are no longer required to wear a face mask when accessing different public places and events while in Spain.