Spain has made a sudden U-turn on its strict Covid entry rules for most foreign visitors - just days after confirming restrictions on British holidaymakers will remain until mid-November. The country's Ministry of Health confirmed the changes on Tuesday but arrivals from the UK will still need to show proof of recovery or evidence of being fully-vaccinated.
However, it will no longer be necessary for foreign visitors - even those from so-called third countries such as the UK - to complete a Spanish Locator Form before travelling. The Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement: “It will no longer be necessary to full in the health control form to travel to Spain nor to present the SpTH (Spain Travel Health) QR code when boarding or at the arrival airport.”
The SpTH portal – both the website and mobile apps – will no longer be operational from today (Tuesday). But the Ministry of Health underlined that all travellers over the age of 12 from non-EU countries must present a vaccination certificate, a negative Covid test result or a recovery certificate upon their arrival. It states: "Passengers (except for children under the age of 12 and those in international transit) arriving from countries that do not belong to the European Union or are NOT considered Schengen associated countries must show an EU Digital Covid Certificate or EU equivalent or the SpTH QR, in order to pass the health controls on arrival in Spain."
A vaccination certificate is recognised as long as it proves that the holder has completed a primary programme of doses in the last 270 days or has received a booster shot.
The Schengenvisainfo website states: "It is believed that the Spanish authorities decided to extend the Covid-19 entry requirements for travellers from third countries in order to prevent an increase in infection cases now that the colder months are approaching."
Regulations requiring everyone to wear a face covering on Spanish public transport, such as planes, buses and taxis remain in place until November 15 at the earliest.
