Spain Prolongs Existing COVID-19 Entry Restrictions Until May 15 – Here’s What Travellers Should Know – SchengenVisaInfo.com – SchengenVisaInfo.com

The Spanish authorities have extended the current travel requirements on travellers from countries from the European Union and Schengen Area as well travel restrictions on visitors from third countries, up until May 15.

The decision has been announced by the Ministry of the Interior through an order published in the official Spanish Gazette BOE, extending the restrictions first imposed on July 2020, during the first months of the Coronavirus pandemic, which have been amended several times now.

“This order will take effect from 12:00 pm on July 22, 2020, until 12:00 pm on May 15, 2022, without prejudice to its eventual modification to respond to a change in circumstances or new recommendations in the field of the European Union,” the order reads.

The move means that travellers from the EU/EEA countries remain eligible to enter the Spanish territory, including its islands, completely restriction-free, as long as they hold one of the following documents:

• Proof of vaccination with one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO), with the last vaccine having been administered in the last nine months
• Proof of a previous infection with COVID-19 (PCR or rapid antigen test performed by professionals), issued in the last six months
• Negative Coronavirus test results (PCR or rapid antigen test performed within the 72 hours of 48 hours before travel to Spain, respectively)

As per travellers from third countries, only those holding a certificate that proves they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last 270 days with a vaccine approved by EMA or WHO, as well as those holding a certificate which shows that they have recovered from the virus, are eligible to enter the country. The validity of such certificates is the same as for travellers from the EU.

Travellers under the age of 12, however, can enter even if they are not vaccinated, or recovered from COVID-19, as long as they present negative test results, RT-PCR or similar, performed 72 hours before departure.

Though COVID-19 restrictions for travel to Spain will remain unchanged, recently, the country has facilitated some of the domestic measures, including here the obligation to wear a mask. Since April 20, the obligation to wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public areas in Spain has been lifted. The obligation to wear a mask remains effective for some specific places like healthcare facilities, pharmacies, public transport, and places, among others.

Spain remains amongst the few European countries still keeping entry restrictions in place. Only this week, five European countries have removed entry restrictions which are Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, and Switzerland.

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