COVID FAQ

SPAIN

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can Americans travel to Spain? 

Spain lifts its health controls at entry points for travelers from countries outside the European Union or Schengen partners.

Even if there are no health controls, travelers from outside the European Union are still required to travel with one of the 3 certificates:

U.S. citizens can travel from the United States to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result (NAAT or RAT) performed either within 72hours prior to departure to Spain for a NAAT (e.g. – PCR test) or within 24 hours prior to departure to Spain for a RAT (e.g. – rapid antigen test).

Minors up to 12 years of age do not have to show proof of vaccination, a recovery certificate, or a negative COVID test.

Please read the Spanish Ministry of Health’s website for more detailed information. www.sanidad.gob.es/en/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/spth.htm

U.S. citizens who are traveling to Spain from a country that is not the United States should make sure they follow the guidance published by Spanish authorities on their local Spain Embassy website.

All passengers arriving in Spain by air from the People’s Republic of China, must undergo a health control at the first point of entry that will include, at least, a temperature control, a documentary check and a visual check on their condition.

Documentary control:

All passengers arriving in Spain by air from the People’s Republic of China, must have an EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent which can be:

a. A vaccination against COVID19 certificate

b. A certificate of SARSCoV2 diagnostic test

c. A COVID-19 recovery certificate

Passengers who do not have a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent, must have a certificate of SARSCoV2 diagnostic test with negative result. The admitted tests will be:

a. Molecular nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), whose sample has been obtained within the 72 hours prior to departure.

b. Rapid antigen detection tests, whose sample has been obtained within the 24 hours prior to departure. The admitted tests are those authorized by the European Commission.

This certificate must be the original, must be written in Spanish or English and may be presented in paper or electronic form. If it is not possible to obtain it in these languages, the certificate must be accompanied by a translation into Spanish, made by an official body.

The document will contain, at least, the following information: passenger’s name, passport or ID number, test date, identification and contact details of the centre that performs the analysis, the used technique and a negative test result.

Diagnostic test for active infection at points of entry:

In addition to the previously described requirements, all passengers arriving in Spain from the People’s Republic of China may be subjected to a diagnostic test for active infection at the point of entry and, if necessary, a medical assessment on epidemiological and clinical aspects of the passenger.

Exceptions:

Children under 12 years of age and passengers who arrive in Spain in transit to other countries, provided they do not leave the airport environment, will be exempt from complying with all the measures described above.

2. What documents are required to travel to Spain?

All travelers aged 12 and over, regardless of their country of departure, must provide one of the following documents:

• Proof of full vaccination

Validity: between 14 and 270 days after the last scheduled dose of the primary vaccination series was administered. After 270 days, vaccination certificates must include a booster dose. For people younger than 18, vaccination certificates with a full primary schedule have no expiration date.
Only vaccines authorized in the European Union and by the World Health Organization (WHO) are accepted. Certificates with other vaccines will also be considered valid if the last dose was administered with an authorized vaccine.

• Negative result to a pre-departure molecular test (valid 72 hours) or rapid antigen test (valid 24 hours and included in the list of rapid tests approved by the European Commission).

• Proof of recovery from COVID-19

Validity: from day 11 after the first positive molecular test and up to 180 days after the sample date. The rapid tests accepted are those approved by the European Commission.
Travelers who provide certificates of recovery different from the EUDCC and from the equivalent documents must also provide the negative test result confirming their recovery from COVID-19.

Travelers can provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test result with one of the following documents, meeting the requirements listed above:

• An ‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’ (EUDCC) or equivalent documents;
• Other official certificates in Spanish, English, French or German, meeting the same requirements listed for the EUDCC. In this case, for proof of recovery, travelers must also provide the negative test result confirming their recovery from COVID-19.

Children younger than 12 are exempt from the obligation to provide these documents.

3. Am I required to quarantine on arrival? 

No

4. What are the current restrictions in place?

Use of facemasks:

In Spain, from February 8, 2023, it is not mandatory to wear a mask outdoors or indoors, with some exceptions. You must wear a mask in health centers, services, and establishments such as health care centers, hospitals, or pharmacies/drugstores.

5. Can I Travel from Spain to Portugal??

No restrictions in place.

6.Is there anything I need to do to travel back to the US?

Beginning June 12, 2022, travelers to the United States, regardless of citizenship, no longer must present a negative COVID-19 test or certificate of recovery before boarding their flight.

ALL non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.

There is no mandatory quarantine period required.