Travellers face €6,000 fine for arriving in Spain without negative Covid test
Travellers from high risk countries arriving in Spain by sea or air will face fines of up to €6,000 if they disembark without a negative PCR test.
Spain’s government announced last week that those arriving from some 65 countries currently considered ‘high risk’ for coronavirus would have to show a negative result on a test carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival.
The new rules stipulate that airlines and ferry/cruise companies face responsibility for ensuring travellers have the correct test documentation before check-in but the foreign minister insisted individual travellers will be liable and will have to pay the penalty and take a test locally.
“These are serious fines, deterrent fines; it’s not about the money,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez Laya said in a in interview with Antena3.
#LoMásLeído | Hasta 6.000€ de multa para los viajeros que lleguen a España sin PCR https://t.co/bnzBE3KNAM
— Europa Press (@europapress) November 14, 2020
“At any time, the passenger may be requested to accredit the test result. The document must be the original, written in Spanish or English, and may be presented in paper or electronic format,” Gonzalez Laya said.
"While the numbers do not present a problem, for now, we need to ensure that they won’t create a problem in the future either. The measures are aimed at building trust and gradually opening up areas for safe free movement,” the minister said.
The list of high risk countries is drawn up according to criteria set by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and updated every 15 days.
Testing is only required for all those arriving at Spain's airports or ports (including people who live in Spain and are returning home) and not those who cross over its land borders, according to details provided in the BOE.
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Spain’s government announced last week that those arriving from some 65 countries currently considered ‘high risk’ for coronavirus would have to show a negative result on a test carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival.
The new rules stipulate that airlines and ferry/cruise companies face responsibility for ensuring travellers have the correct test documentation before check-in but the foreign minister insisted individual travellers will be liable and will have to pay the penalty and take a test locally.
“These are serious fines, deterrent fines; it’s not about the money,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez Laya said in a in interview with Antena3.
#LoMásLeído | Hasta 6.000€ de multa para los viajeros que lleguen a España sin PCR https://t.co/bnzBE3KNAM
— Europa Press (@europapress) November 14, 2020
“At any time, the passenger may be requested to accredit the test result. The document must be the original, written in Spanish or English, and may be presented in paper or electronic format,” Gonzalez Laya said.
"While the numbers do not present a problem, for now, we need to ensure that they won’t create a problem in the future either. The measures are aimed at building trust and gradually opening up areas for safe free movement,” the minister said.
The list of high risk countries is drawn up according to criteria set by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and updated every 15 days.
Testing is only required for all those arriving at Spain's airports or ports (including people who live in Spain and are returning home) and not those who cross over its land borders, according to details provided in the BOE.
READ MORE:
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