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Book about Spain
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► Consult the “Guide for French tourists in Spain” (at the time of the Covid-19), by the French Embassy in Spain
Favorite destination of the French for the holidays, Spain has officially reopened its external borders with all the Member States of the European Union since June 21, 2020. No quarantine measure is required at the national level.
The second tourist destination in the world allows all vaccinated people to enter its territory “since June 7, regardless of their country of origin, announced head of government Pedro Sanchez. If you are not vaccinated, an antigen test remains mandatory entering Spanish territory by air, sea and land. Spain now allows travelers arriving by road if they have a vaccination certificate. International ships are again allowed to dock in Spanish ports.
To enter Spanish soil, however, tourists must comply with certain rules and strict controls:
New regulations also came into force on June 7. Travelers from a country classified at risk, including France, must present one of the following three documents to be able to enter Spain, whether they arrive by air (airports), sea (ports) or land, details the Quai d’Orsay: a certificate justifying a complete vaccination against Covid-19 for at least 14 days (which must mention the date of vaccination carried out, the vaccine administered and the country of vaccination or a test certificate for active infection, with negative result, issued within 48 hours prior to arrival on the territory (PCR or antigen test) or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, valid for 180 days after the 1st positive diagnostic test. This document must in particular mention the date of the first positive test the type of test carried out as well as the country where this certificate was issued.
The authorities have raised to 12 years the minimum age from which a negative test for Covid-19 is necessary to enter the territory. Spain accepts both PCR tests and antigen tests for travelers over 12 years old.
No, no quarantine is imposed on foreign tourists arriving in Spain. Subject to the presentation of the required health documents on arrival on Spanish soil, no fortnight or quarantine is required to travel to Spain.
The curfew was lifted on May 9, 2021 in most parts of Spain following the end of the state of emergency across the country. Check with the tourist office of your destination before booking your plane tickets, some autonomous regions have requested an extension of the curfew or certain restrictions.
Spain deplores more than 80,000 deaths from Covid-19 as of June 8 according to the latest Worldometers figures. The incidence rate continues to fall in Spain, mainly thanks to the progress of vaccination. Seven million Spaniards received the two doses of the vaccine according to Health Emergencies, between the vaccinated (15% of Spaniards) and the immunized people who have already had Covid-19 , it is estimated that around 40% of the population “has some degree of immunization”. The Ministry of Health is putting all its hopes on the next phase: mass vaccination from June of those under 50 with the arrival of 17 million doses.
Anyone arriving in the Canary Islands to enjoy their vacation will have to pass a health check: complete and sign a FCS form telematically, present a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours and take the temperature and visual check at the airport to verify the absence of symptoms. A curfew is in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Lanzarote) or from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) and from midnight to 6 a.m. (Fuerteventura). The maximum number of people that can meet is six (Lanzarote), four (Tenerife, Gran Canaria) and ten (La Gomera). Cafes and restaurants can only accommodate on the terrace. There is a limitation on entering and leaving Lanzarote, however, as exceptions, any tourist having a reservation in an accredited establishment can visit this island.
The Balearic Islands (an archipelago comprising Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) are subject to traffic restrictions just like mainland Spain. The French government is discouraging all travel to the Balearics at this time, but the borders are open. Each Balearic Island has different restrictions. A PCR test carried out within 72 hours before departure is requested on arrival from any person over 6 years old. Note that this measure does not apply in the case of domestic trips if the duration of the trip is less than 72 hours, for trips between islands or for travelers in transit. Wearing a mask is compulsory in bars and restaurants as long as the order has not arrived at the table and as soon as the meal is finished. The reception capacity of all places open to the public is reduced for shopping centers, gymnasiums and churches in particular. Nightlife venues remain closed, as well as beaches and parks from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Hygiene and social distancing measures must be observed during your holidays in Spain. In hotels and tourist accommodation, but also in restaurants, shops, cultural centers and performance halls, managers must guarantee a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between customers and also with employees.
In Spain, bars, restaurants and shops categorized as “non-essential” have reopened for the most part, with varying restrictions depending on the region. May vary: capacity gauges, schedules or if access is possible indoors or only on the terrace.
Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve until midnight, with gauges of four people per table indoors and six people per table outdoors. The 17 autonomous communities can, however, always limit the opening hours or capacity of bars, restaurants or shops. They can also ask for the reinstatement of a curfew or the closure of their territory but now need the approval of a court. If the Balearic archipelago or the region of Valencia have obtained the green light to maintain a curfew, the Basque Country (north), one of the regions most affected by the country by the pandemic, has seen its request refused.
In Madrid as in Barcelona, everything is open: bars, restaurants, cultural places and museums. Following the end of the state of emergency, bars and restaurants now close at midnight, with gauges both indoors and outdoors. The terraces are taken by storm while the discos are also open. Museums are open with a maximum capacity of 30 to 50% depending on the region. Cinemas and theaters are also open, with varying gauges.
The San Fermin celebrations in Pamplona, traditionally held in July in northern Spain, have been canceled for the second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The mayor explained in particular that the holding of the holidays “represented a really very high risk”.
Wearing a mask is compulsory from the age of 6 on public roads, in open air spaces, closed public spaces if it is not possible to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters. It is also compulsory in public transport, planes, trains or boats as well as in private vehicles if the occupants do not live under the same roof. Failure to comply with this measure results in a penalty of up to 100 euros.
The beaches of the Balearic Islands and Canaries , the Atlantic and much of Andalusia have reopened for swimming, always with strict safety measures. The Ministry of Health recommends limiting crowds on the beaches, delimiting spaces for each group and spacing out parasols by 4 meters. It is then up to the municipalities to prohibit access if the beaches are too busy. You can find advice and recommendations on the site of the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE) which launched a Safe Tourism Certified label in collaboration with the Ministry of Health .
Newsletter
Seville, Menorca, Ibiza, Lanzarote-César Manrique, Fuerteventura, Tenerife Sur, Alicante-Elche, Valencia, Barcelona-El Prat, Gran Canaria, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca … All Spanish airports are open and welcome travelers. For this summer 2021, Air France has stepped up its flight program to Spain, with additional flights planned to Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga, Alicante, Ibiza and Las Palmas.
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