Spain changed the travel entry rules – How it affects British Tourists

Spain has just introduced changes to their travel rules and it could make it more difficult for British tourists to visit Spain. The UK is on the Spanish Government’s high-risk list and they are now requiring to see proof that UK travellers have had both vaccinations, a negative test result or a recent recovery from COVID-19.

The new regulations came into force on the 6 September and the Spanish Government will be regularly reviewing the rates in the UK, to determine how high a risk they believe British travellers to be. Compared to the rates in Spain, the COVID-19 rates in the UK are much higher.

Spain is on the UK’s amber list, which means that travellers must take a test before leaving Spain and they must also have a PCR test before day 2 of arriving back in the UK. This PCR test must be paid for by the traveller.

Read more about ETIAS application documents: ETIAS Application form

The UK’s traffic light system is due to be reviewed before October 1 and some experts are predicting that double-vaccinated travellers would not have to take the tests once arriving back in the UK.

Many people in the UK book holidays to the Canary Islands over winter as these islands are more likely to provide a winter sun holiday but with the changes coming into place, would-be holidaymakers are being more cautious. Rules can change very quickly and with an expected increase in COVID-19 infections over winter, Spain could take the decision to ban UK tourists until the rates reduce.

Read more: What are the ETIAS requirements?

Spain’s borders have been open for UK travellers since 24 May but winter is likely to see a large increase in COVID-19 infections across the UK. The Spanish Government will be taking into account how much their tourism industry has been impacted by travel restrictions and instead of placing a ban on UK travellers, they could decide to only allow double-vaccinated travellers into the country.

If you are thinking about booking a holiday to Spain from the UK, you should make sure that there is a COVID-19 cancellation policy that will guarantee you a refund, to ensure that you do not lose out financially if Spain bans UK holidaymakers.

Read more: What is ETIAS?

Double-vaccinated people may be more confident that any rule changes will take their vaccination status into account and therefore, booking a holiday in Spain would not be a big risk, especially if there is a free cancellation policy. Before booking, you should consider the cost of the PCR tests, especially if you are going as a family, as this could make your holiday considerably more expensive.

You should also be aware that Spain still has some restrictions in place that could affect your holiday and if you tested positive for COVID-19 in Spain, you would need to self-isolate in your accommodation.