ARCHIVED - From Monday 23rd PCR test for all travellers to Spain from risk countries is mandatory

No PCR test is required for those arriving by road or rail

From this Monday, international travellers arriving in Spain via air and sea from an area considered "at risk" must present a negative PCR, carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to enter the country.

Overland travellers to Spain are exempt from the entry requirements and are therefore not currently required to present a PCR test or Health Control Form on entry by road or rail (see bottom of article for more info about driving to Spain).

Travellers to the Canary Islands will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test when checking-in to regulated tourist accommodation.

This requirement is in addition to the health controls to be carried out at points of entry, so travellers from the 65 risk countries -both by air and sea-, must provide a negative PCR in addition to completing the standard Health Control Form that is requested from all foreign passengers.

If you are travelling by air or sea to Spain, you must declare on the mandatory ‘Health Control Form’ that you have undertaken a PCR (swab) test within 72 hours of arrival, have tested negative for COVID-19, and can show on request evidence certifying your results. The document you provide must be the original, be written in Spanish or English, may be submitted in paper or electronic format and must contain the following information:
• name of passenger
• passport number or ID card number (the number provided must match the one provided on the Health Control Form)
• test date
• name and contact details of the testing centre
• testing method applied (i.e. PCR)
• test results

You will also be subject to the following additional requirements at the point of entry:
• it is mandatory for all passengers travelling to Spain to fill out and sign a Health Control Form 48 hours prior to travel, providing the Spanish Ministry of Health with:
• contact information;
• details of any known history of exposure to COVID-19; and
• confirmation that you are able to provide evidence, certifying that you have undertaken a PCR (swab) test within 72 hours or arrival and have tested negative for COVID-19.
You can do this on the Spain Travel Health website or downloadable app. On completion, you will be issued a personal and non-transferable QR code which you must show (electronically or hardcopy) at airport health controls on arrival. Anyone who has not completed this form electronically via the Spain Travel Health website or app, may submit it in paper format prior to boarding.

Are any other types of test accepted?
No. Other diagnostic tests such as rapid antibody tests, rapid antigen detection tests or high-throughput serologies will not be considered valid.

What happens if a PCR test is not presented?
If a traveller does not have a negative PCR upon arrival in Spain "they must submit to the PDIA established by the foreign health services", as specified in the BOE. This is an antigen test that will be carried out at the airport and the result of which will be obtained in a period of approximately one hour. In addition, if it is suspected that a passenger may be infected after temperature controls (has a temperature higher than 37.5 ºC) and / or it is suspected that they may be infected or have had close contact with a positive, they should also undergo a sanitary evaluation and a new PCR.

To do this, waiting areas have been set up, one for before taking the test and another to wait for the result; a series of rooms in which the medical personnel will carry out the tests and another isolation space. If the passenger tests negative for the antigens, they will be able to continue their trip as normal, and if they test positive, the health alert protocols established in coordination with the autonomous communities will be activated to refer them to a health center.

Is there a fine for arriving without PCR?
Yes. According to the Government, by not presenting the required document, it will be "not complying with a health requirement for entry to Spain". In addition, having declared in the form that there is a negative PCR that is not presented later, the passenger may be accused of having made "a documentary falsification in a responsible declaration", for which he will be sanctioned as contemplated in Title VI of Law 33/2011, of October 4, General Public Health.

Non-compliance with current health regulations is considered a minor offense, if the repercussions produced "have had little or no direct impact on the health of the population", the commission of which will lead to penalties of up to 3,000 euros.

A serious offense, on the other hand, it includes "failure to comply with the instructions received from the competent authority, if it involves damage to health, when it does not constitute a very serious offense", for which fines of 3,0001 to 60,000 euros will be imposed. .

Which travellers are required to submit a PCR?
A negative PCR will be requested from all passengers who come from a country or risk zone - due to their accumulated incidence - and whose destination is a port or airport in Spain. According to the list published in the BOE on November 12th, which will be updated every 15 days, the countries included are: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (except the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Slovenia , Estonia, France, Greece (except Kitri, Ionia Nisia, Dytiki Ellada and Sterea Ellada regions), Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway (except Rogaland, Møre og Romsdal regions , Nordland, Viken, Innlandet, Vestfold og Telemark, Agder, Vestland, Trøndelag and Troms og Finnmark), the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (except the autonomous region of the Azores Island), Romania, Sweden, Liechtenstein and Slovakia.

Also on the list are Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Bahrain, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, United States, Russian Federation, Georgia, Gibraltar, Guam, Jordan, Kuwait , Lebanon, Libya, North Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Palestine, Panama, French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, San Marino, Saint Martin, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia and Ukraine.

Travelling by road through France:
Entry to Spain
Spain’s borders are open to European Union and Schengen-area countries.

Travellers arriving from the United Kingdom are not required to self-isolate on arrival in Spain.
From 5 November to 2 December 2020, travelling away from home, including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited circumstances such as for work or for education. Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You must follow all the rules that apply to you.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance on COVID and non-COVID risks overseas. The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to France and Spain.
If you are transiting Spain by road or via a Spanish airport or port on route to your final destination, the above mentioned PCR test requirement and Health Control Form to enter the country does not apply. You should however, be prepared to show evidence of your onward journey (i.e. connecting flights, ferry tickets etc.).

The French government has implemented additional entry requirements for those travelling to and transiting through France. If you are planning to drive from Spain through France, check the latest FCDO travel advice for France ahead of your journey.

Travelling through Spain:
Bear in mind that most regions of Spain currently have their external regional borders closed and in some cases have also closed internal borders between local municipalities as well. Those who are RESIDENT in Spain are only allowed to cross borders for essential reasons, and although holidaymakers or second home owners who were in the country when borders were closed have not been advised to leave, the authorities are not happy about travellers driving to second homes or travelling for leisure purposes, as the whole point of the restrictions is to stop movement and slow down the spread of coronavirus. Residents of Spain are permitted to return to their principal place of residence.

Those transiting Spain are permitted to drive through regions on main arterial roads without any problems, but once off the main roads there is a greater chance of being stopped. There is no problem for anyone returning to England and departing from Spain, but those who are in the country and driving to anywhere other than the ferry port or border crossing must be able to prove that there is a valid reason for their journey.

Some non-residents have reported on social media that they made the journey to their holiday homes without being stopped anywhere, but if you are stopped, and the agent believes that your journey is non-essential, then fines are hefty.

At the moment, the Foreign Office advises against travelling to Spain, and that is sound advice. Should you choose to disregard that advice and decide to drive through France to Spain in order to avoid having to provide a PCR test, be aware that case numbers in France are extremely high at the moment and France is on a full lockdown.

Once in Spain, the wearing of masks in public is mandatory at all times and all of the regions have some sort of restrictions in place; in some of these all bars and restaurants are closed, so carry snack food at all times. These change regularly and at very short notice, so consult local media.