ARCHIVED - Rules change again for UK visitors to Spain; a PCR test or proof of vaccination now required

The Spanish Prime Minister has given 72 hours’ warning that British tourists will now have to provide a negative PCR test result or proof of vaccination against Covid before being allowed to enter Spain

The authorities in Spain have announced that as of Wednesday June 30, citizens travelling from the UK will have to meet the same entry requirements as visitors from the rest of Europe, meaning they will have to prove that they have tested negative for Covid, or have been vaccinated against the virus.

The news comes as hundreds of hopeful holidaymakers rush to book breaks in the Balearics .

The British authorities announced last week that the islands would be put on the green list for travel as of Wednesday (30 June), removing the need for tourists to self-isolate when they get home again, but the Spanish mainland and Canary islands would remain on amber level, meaning that British travellers returning to the UK after visiting Spain will need to self-isolate for 10 days. 

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez announced during a radio interview on Monday morning (28 June) that the measure will be included in the BOE (official state gazette) on Wednesday, thus allowing tour operators and tourists time to adapt to the new rules. 

Previously, visitors from the UK who had not travelled to any high-risk areas in the 14 days before their trip to Spain were not required to meet the same conditions as those coming from other countries (negative PCR test result, proof of full vaccination or proof of having recovered from Covid within the previous six months). Now, however, they will be treated the same as all other visitors from outside of the EU. 

The change comes, Sr Sánchez said, as a precaution in light of a worrying increase in the UK’s coronavirus infections rate, which he said was “well over 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days”  due to the growing number of cases due to the Delta (Indian) variant.

As of Friday, the rate in Spain was 95.03 across the country, with some areas, such as Galicia reporting a level of 44.16, the Balearic Islands 51.98 and the Valencia region 55.98.