Ban on entry to Spain from outside EU extended until June 15

The ban on entry to Spain from outside the European Union and the Schengen Area, introduced on March 21, will be extended until June 15.

On Friday, the day the measure expired, the state's official gazette (BOE) confirmed the prolongation, saying that it was following the European Commission's recommendation to do so on May 8.

All nationals of countries outside the EU or the Schengen Area will not be permitted entry "for public order or public health," except for those living in any of the countries in this area or Andorra, those having a long-term visa for any of these countries who are heading to the country that issued the visa, cross-border workers, on duty health workers and cargo drivers and transport crew, diplomats, and those arguing "imperative" family reasons or force majeure.

The regulation does not apply to Andorra and Gibraltar.

This extension comes three days after Spain imposed a 14-day quarantine for everyone entering its borders, which came into effect on Thursday at midnight.

Ports and Airports

Also on Friday, the official gazette further regulated the entry of people by airplane or boat by limiting it to five airports and eight ports.

In Catalonia, only Barcelona's port and airport will be allowed to accept people coming from abroad – the airports in Madrid, Gran Canaria, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca are also permitted to do so, as well as the ports of Bilbao, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma, Tenerife, Valencia and Vigo.

Exceptions to the rule include state aircrafts and vessels, or boats sailing for humanitarian purposes.

According to the BOE, the regulation aims to "guarantee that the risk of importing cases are minimized during the de-escalation process and the loosening of the restirctions on free movement."

This order is in force until midnight of May 23 or until the end of potential new extensions of the state of alarm.