Authorities in Spain have extended restrictions on unnecessary travel from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Zone until April 30 in order to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus disease.
Initially, such preventive measures imposed by Spain’s government were set to last until 31st March. However, in a decision published in Spain’s State Bulletin (BOE), the government announced that, due to the Coronavirus situation, the decision will be kept in place until 30th April. Citizens of foreign countries will not be permitted to make non-essential trips to Spain by air, land, or sea over Easter and the rest of the month.
Countries with recently reported low rates of Coronavirus infection will be eligible to make trips, including New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, China (subject to interchange), as well as the areas of Hong Kong and Macao. Such permission is reached under the Schengen-wide agreements in this regard.
Spain introduced the list for the first time on 30th June; however, it has been updated several times, based on the Coronavirus pandemic rate in other countries. On 28th January, authorities in Spain excluded Japan from the list after considering the Coronavirus situation in this country.
Spain’s government has clarified that citizens coming from the following countries will be required to present a negative result of the COVID-19 test upon their arrival.
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark (except the Faroe Islands and Greenland)
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway (except the Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag regions)
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
The requirement mentioned above will not include the following countries:
• Australia
• China
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China (excepted)
• Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of Macao
The country has reported 3,270,825 infection cases since the Coronavirus started to spread widely, while 75,199 persons have died. Over 3,038,170 persons have fully recovered from the virus in Spain, while the country faces 157,451 active cases, Worldometers’ figures reveal.
On 23rd March, the Spanish government spokesperson, Maria Jesus Montero, stressed that the country lifted travel restrictions imposed for citizens of the United Kingdom, as the latter recently reported fewer cases of COVID-19 infection. However, the UK’s government has prohibited holidays abroad, including in EU countries, and all persons who violate such a rule risk facing a fine of up to £5,000 (€5,800).
Authorities in Spain recently announced that they would require PCR test results for persons who plan to cross the land border from France in an effort to contain the virus’ spread during the Easter holidays.
Earlier this month, Spain’s government announced that persons reaching the country from Brazil and South Africa must follow quarantine rules upon their arrival. Such an order will be valid until April 4, 2021.