UPDATE: Has Spain backtracked on its plan to welcome all vaccinated tourists in June 2021?
Spain’s Prime Minister had offered to welcome all vaccinated tourists regardless of their country of origin from June 7th, but a state bulletin extending the ban on non-essential travel from outside the EU is calling into question this statement. Here's the latest on the situation.
(Scroll down for June 4th and June 5th update)
On Saturday May 29th, the Spanish government announced it will extend the ban on non-essential travel from outside the EU and the Schengen Area until June 30th 2021.
The non-EU countries that this does not apply to are Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, China and the recently included United Kingdom and Japan.
However, the June 30th 2021 date is contrary to the one recently announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez only two weeks ago.
“From June 7th, all vaccinated people and their families will be welcome in our country, Spain, regardless of their country of origin,” Sánchez said at an international tourism fair in Madrid on May 21st.
Published in Spain’s BOE state bulletin, the official message from Spain’s Interior Ministry makes no mention of exceptions for vaccinated travellers from outside the EU.
Exceptions only apply to nationals and residents of the EU, Schengen Associated States, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican or San Marino, holders of a long-term visa issued by a Member State or Schengen Associated State, health professionals, transport workers, diplomatic/consular staff and international organisations, military and civil protection personnel, students and people with documented force majeure reasons.
The lists of third countries where non-essential travel to Spain is allowed and not allowed are based on the Schengen Borders Code and the EU’s common “Traffic Lights” mapping for global risk areas.
When the Spanish embassy in Santiago de Chile tweeted the news, numerous people complained about how confusing the information being given was, as they had assumed that June 7th was the official opening date for vaccinated non-EU travellers.
⚠️📢 Se prorrogan al menos hasta el 30 de junio de 2021 las restricciones de entrada a España establecidas en la Orden INT 657/2020 por la que no se permite la entrada de extranjeros por motivos no imprescindibles ➡️https://t.co/2FdgZvJOvo
— Consulado General de España en Santiago de Chile (@ConEspSantiago) May 29, 2021
When The Local contacted Spain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for clarification, we were directed to the Health Ministry website which details Spain's current travel restrictions.
Under the category "risk countries/areas", there is a section which links to where non-essential travel from third countries is still not possible, a list that's "valid from 12:00am (midnight) on June 7th, 2021 and will be valid until 12:00am (midnight) on June 20th".
The countries that are exempt from the ban on non-essential travel remain the same and there is no mention of exceptions for vaccinated travellers from non-EU/Schengen nations.
June 4th update
It's worth noting that as things stand there is no official state bulletin (BOE) confirming the Prime Minister's June 7th entry date, whereas the ban extension on non-EU travellers until June 30th 2021 is published on the websites of the Health Ministry and several Spanish embassies abroad.
This document titled "Mobility Restrictions And Travel To Spain (Until June 30th, 2021)" states "only Spanish citizens, foreign citizens with valid residence in Spain and citizens of European Union countries can enter the Spanish territory" from outside the EU and they will still have to provide a negative Covid test to enter Spain. Being fully vaccinated does not exempt them from having to get a test either.
There also a section for spouses and family members: "Regarding the relatives of Spaniards and EU citizens (...), they may enter the Spanish territory as long as they accompany and/or meet with the Spanish and /or EU citizen, and prove their marriage and/or parent-child relationship with a Public Registry certificate of marriage/birth apostilled (if the document is not Spanish), if the relationship falls within the condition of Article 2 of Royal Decree 240/2007 of February 16th.
However, on Thursday June 3rd, El País ran a article in which it reported that the June 7th entry date for vaccinated travellers from around the world will be included in a separate BOE state bulletin, which according to government sources will in theory be published on Saturday June 5th, just 48 hours before it comes into effect.
Among the conditions that will reportedly be included are that vaccinated travellers will only be able enter Spain 14 days after receiving their final vaccine dose and that further clarification on which vaccines Spanish authorities will accept for entry will be added.
The Local Spain will keep you updated when this information is made available and confirmed, so stay tuned.
Spain is also due to launch its ‘Covid passport’ in June to work in tandem with the EU’s Green Digital Certificate, but it remains unclear if either of these will be made available for travel to Spain from outside the bloc from June 7th, June 30th or another date.
June 5th update:
As expected, the Spanish government on Saturday June 5th published a state bulletin confirming that it will modify the entry rules for vaccinated non-EU/Schengen citizens from June 7th. FIND OUT MORE HERE
READ MORE:
See Also
(Scroll down for June 4th and June 5th update)
On Saturday May 29th, the Spanish government announced it will extend the ban on non-essential travel from outside the EU and the Schengen Area until June 30th 2021.
The non-EU countries that this does not apply to are Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, China and the recently included United Kingdom and Japan.
However, the June 30th 2021 date is contrary to the one recently announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez only two weeks ago.
“From June 7th, all vaccinated people and their families will be welcome in our country, Spain, regardless of their country of origin,” Sánchez said at an international tourism fair in Madrid on May 21st.
Published in Spain’s BOE state bulletin, the official message from Spain’s Interior Ministry makes no mention of exceptions for vaccinated travellers from outside the EU.
Exceptions only apply to nationals and residents of the EU, Schengen Associated States, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican or San Marino, holders of a long-term visa issued by a Member State or Schengen Associated State, health professionals, transport workers, diplomatic/consular staff and international organisations, military and civil protection personnel, students and people with documented force majeure reasons.
The lists of third countries where non-essential travel to Spain is allowed and not allowed are based on the Schengen Borders Code and the EU’s common “Traffic Lights” mapping for global risk areas.
When the Spanish embassy in Santiago de Chile tweeted the news, numerous people complained about how confusing the information being given was, as they had assumed that June 7th was the official opening date for vaccinated non-EU travellers.
⚠️📢 Se prorrogan al menos hasta el 30 de junio de 2021 las restricciones de entrada a España establecidas en la Orden INT 657/2020 por la que no se permite la entrada de extranjeros por motivos no imprescindibles ➡️https://t.co/2FdgZvJOvo
— Consulado General de España en Santiago de Chile (@ConEspSantiago) May 29, 2021
When The Local contacted Spain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for clarification, we were directed to the Health Ministry website which details Spain's current travel restrictions.
Under the category "risk countries/areas", there is a section which links to where non-essential travel from third countries is still not possible, a list that's "valid from 12:00am (midnight) on June 7th, 2021 and will be valid until 12:00am (midnight) on June 20th".
The countries that are exempt from the ban on non-essential travel remain the same and there is no mention of exceptions for vaccinated travellers from non-EU/Schengen nations.
June 4th update
It's worth noting that as things stand there is no official state bulletin (BOE) confirming the Prime Minister's June 7th entry date, whereas the ban extension on non-EU travellers until June 30th 2021 is published on the websites of the Health Ministry and several Spanish embassies abroad.
This document titled "Mobility Restrictions And Travel To Spain (Until June 30th, 2021)" states "only Spanish citizens, foreign citizens with valid residence in Spain and citizens of European Union countries can enter the Spanish territory" from outside the EU and they will still have to provide a negative Covid test to enter Spain. Being fully vaccinated does not exempt them from having to get a test either.
There also a section for spouses and family members: "Regarding the relatives of Spaniards and EU citizens (...), they may enter the Spanish territory as long as they accompany and/or meet with the Spanish and /or EU citizen, and prove their marriage and/or parent-child relationship with a Public Registry certificate of marriage/birth apostilled (if the document is not Spanish), if the relationship falls within the condition of Article 2 of Royal Decree 240/2007 of February 16th.
However, on Thursday June 3rd, El País ran a article in which it reported that the June 7th entry date for vaccinated travellers from around the world will be included in a separate BOE state bulletin, which according to government sources will in theory be published on Saturday June 5th, just 48 hours before it comes into effect.
Among the conditions that will reportedly be included are that vaccinated travellers will only be able enter Spain 14 days after receiving their final vaccine dose and that further clarification on which vaccines Spanish authorities will accept for entry will be added.
The Local Spain will keep you updated when this information is made available and confirmed, so stay tuned.
Spain is also due to launch its ‘Covid passport’ in June to work in tandem with the EU’s Green Digital Certificate, but it remains unclear if either of these will be made available for travel to Spain from outside the bloc from June 7th, June 30th or another date.
June 5th update:
As expected, the Spanish government on Saturday June 5th published a state bulletin confirming that it will modify the entry rules for vaccinated non-EU/Schengen citizens from June 7th. FIND OUT MORE HERE
READ MORE:
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