Spain updates list of countries from which arrivals need a negative PCR test

The list of countries and regions from which travelers arriving in Spain need to provide evidence of a negative PCR test has been updated.

The rule came into force on November 23, with the latest changes made on November 30.

With regard to EU and EEA countries, Iceland and Ireland have been removed from the list, while there have been changes to the regions of Norway, Greece and Portugal included.

Outside of the EU and EEA, Aruba, Bahrain, Libya, Tunisia are no longer on the list, while Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Curaçao and Iran have been added.

On the first day the measure came into force confusion was reported by travelers arriving at Barcelona airport.

The test must be acquired in the country of origin and be taken no more than 72 hours before travelling. 

The measure will require all arrivals to present an original document, either digital (through the Spain Travel Health App) or paper, in Spanish or English proving the negative result of their test.

For EU countries and those within the Schengen area, risk levels will be determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The ECDC will publish a map every week with the current risk status of regions indicated by a traffic light system of green, orange or red, as determined by the 14-day incidence and positivity rates of Covid-19.

As confirmed by Spanish health minister Salvador Illa, arrivals to ports and airports in Spain from countries in the orange category will not have to provide evidence of a negative PCR test.

The EU has published recommendations on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the pandemic, but each member state can decide on what exact measures to apply to the countries in each of the various risk categories. 

Airlines and ferry companies when be asked to double-check that PCR tests have been performed before boarding. Existing controls such as temperature checks, paperwork and visual observation will continue as before. If anything unusual is noted, an antigen test will be performed.

Travellers could face a potential fine if they cannot present a valid PCR test certificate, or, in the case of coming from a third country, denied entry to Spain if they fail an antigen test.

People arriving from the rest of the world will be labelled 'at risk' when the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days is above 150.

The full list of countries affected will be published on https://www.mscbs.gob.es/ and on https://www.spth.gob.es and will be updated every two weeks – every new update will come into force seven days after being published.

Here's the latest list of countries from December 28 to January 10:

EU-EEA countries

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark (except for Greenland)

Estonia

Finland (except for Åland, Etelä -Suomi, Länsi-Suomi and Pohjois-Ja Itä-Suomi)

France (except for Brittany and the islands of Corsica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion)

Germany

Greece (except for the Ionian Islands, Crete, and Notio Aigaio)

Hungary

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

The Netherlands

Norway (except for Agder, Innlandet, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland,

Rogaland, Trøndelag, Troms og Finnmark, Vestfold og Telemark and Vestland)

Poland (except for Podkarpackie)

Portugal (except for Madeira)

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Sweden

Non EU-EEA countries

Albania

Andorra

Argentina

Armenia

Aruba

Azerbaijan

Belize

Bermuda

Belarus

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil

British Virgin Islands

Cape Verde

Canada

Colombia

Costa Rica

Curaçao

French Polynesia

Georgia

Gibraltar (United Kingdom)

Guam

Iran

Isle of Man (United Kingdom)

Israel

Jersey (United Kingdom)

Jordan

Lebanon

Moldova

Monaco

Montenegro

Morocco

North Macedonia

Palestine

Panama

Paraguay

Puerto Rico

Russia

Saint Martin (The Netherlands)

San Marino

Serbia

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States of America