Spain reaffirms entry rules for UK travelers after mistake announcement

The Spanish tourism board in the UK has confirmed that unvaccinated British travelers cannot travel to Spain after mistakenly announcing on Wednesday that they could.

Yesterday, the Spanish tourist board in the UK tweeted that unvaccinated travelers were permitted to travel to Spain if they provided a negative test ahead of the Easter break. The tweet said the move was a "step in the right direction" and it led to multiple reports appearing across the media recounting the new rules.

However, later on Wednesday evening, the tourist board removed the tweet and said that it had been sent in error. It confirmed that the current rules still stand, unvaccinated British travelers are not permitted to enter Spain, even if they test negative for COVID-19. There is an exception for those who have recovered from the virus within the last six months and children between the age of 12 and 17.

Pedro Medina, deputy director of the Spanish tourist office in the UK said: "We apologise unreservedly for the miscommunication earlier today which was due to a misunderstanding of the new entry requirements."

What are the current rules for traveling to Spain?

If you are coming from the EU or Schengen Zone, you can provide either a certificate of vaccination, a certificate of recovery, or a negative PCR (72 hours prior to arrival) or antigen test (24 hours). Children under 12 are exempt from the rules.

If you are coming from a country outside the EU/Schengen Zone, including the UK, the US, and Canada, you must be fully vaccinated, show a certificate of recovery (issued within the last six months), or provide an essential reason for traveling to Spain.

Traveling to the Canary or Balearic islands in Spain? Here’s what to expect

Anyone over 18 who received the last dose of a primary vaccine course more than 270 days (nine months) ago must receive a booster to be considered fully vaccinated. At least 14 days must have passed since the last jab. Those aged between 12 and 17 just need to show proof of a complete primary vaccine course to be considered fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated teenagers (between the age of 12 and 17) who are traveling from the UK, US, or any country not in the EU/Schengen Zone, can take a negative test to travel to Spain.

When will Spain relax entry rules?

Many countries in Europe such as Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, and the UK have dropped all COVID-19 entry rules at their borders. Spain's entry rules are in place until at least April 30, 2022. However, the government has given no indication that the rules will change after that date.

You might also like:
Japan loosens travel ban - but don't make holiday plans yet
Greece is easing another entry requirement ahead of its tourist season
Wish you could work from Italy? You might soon with this new digital nomad visa