What covid tests do I need to travel to Spain? Here's the latest FCDO travel guidance for UK travel to Spain

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With new countries on the UK’s green list and travel restrictions to some of Europe’s hottest destinations like Ibiza and Mallorca changing in recent UK travel updates, here’s what you need to know about travelling to Spain.

As people in Scotland prepare for Covid-19 restrictions to lift from Monday August 9, more and more of us are eagerly awaiting the chance to finally travel abroad to the sunnier, warmer destinations which have remained closed off to travellers for much of the pandemic.

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The most recent announcement from the UK Government about which countries Brits can travel to without having to quarantine has seen several new countries, including Germany and Norway, added to the green travel list for the UK’s traffic light travel system.

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What countries are on green list? Holiday destinations on quarantine-free travel...

The latest travel update for the UK also saw the removal of France from the controversial ‘amber plus’ list, which previously required those returning from France to the UK to quarantine whether they had been double-jabbed or not.

With seven countries now added to the green list and Bahrain, India, Qatar and UAE downgraded from the red list to amber, the latest list changes will come into effect on Sunday August 8 at 4am.

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But is Spain among the new countries on the UK’s green list?

Here’s everything you need to know about travelling to Spain and its neighbouring Balearic Islands after the latest travel update.

What covid tests do i need to travel to Spain? Here's the latest FCDO travel guidance for UK travel to Spain (Image credit: Getty Images)What covid tests do i need to travel to Spain? Here's the latest FCDO travel guidance for UK travel to Spain (Image credit: Getty Images)
What covid tests do i need to travel to Spain? Here's the latest FCDO travel guidance for UK travel to Spain (Image credit: Getty Images)

What’s the UK travel guidance for travelling to Spain?

Spain is currently on the amber list in the United Kingdom, meaning that it is one of the countries which people are advised not to travel to in order to prevent the spread of covid-19 or its new or more highly transmissible variants such as the Delta variant, Beta variant and Lambda variant.

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For travel to Spain, the Spanish government requires that those arriving from the UK present either a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination on entry into the country.

But the latest UK travel update also saw the UK Government warn those travelling to Spain to use a PCR test as their confirmed negative test for entry ‘wherever possible’.

While the country avoided being moved onto the red list, UK Transport Secretary told Sky News on August 5 that he could not rule out the possibility of Spain and France moving to the red list if cases continued to rise.

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Proof of vaccination must show that you have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arriving in Spain as well the date of your vaccine, easily identifiable personal information and that you have been vaccinated with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation.

The NHS Covid Pass can be used as proof of vaccination status for travellers from England and Wales, while NHS letters and covid-19 vaccination certificates will be accepted for those travelling from Scotland.

You will also have to complete a pre-travel Health Control declaration form to enter Spain.

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On returning and re-entering the UK, current coronavirus travel guidelines state that those returning from amber list countries to the United Kingdom will have to self-isolate for 10 days either at home or wherever they are staying.

You also have to take a Covid-19 test prior to travelling, as well as book day two and day eight travel tests with the provider in your country.

But from July 19, those who have been fully vaccinated will no longer have to quarantine for ten days when returning from an amber list country, and will only have to complete one test on day two upon arriving back in the UK.

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Unfortunately, if you have not yet been fully vaccinated you will need to abide by the rules set out above, with the main requirements being that you self-isolate for 10 days upon return and take two PCR tests on day two and day eight of your isolation period.

Can I travel to Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca?

The UK Government's travel update on July 15 saw the Balearic Islands, including popular party destinations like Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca put back onto the amber list after cases doubled in the two weeks following their move onto the UK green list.

The sudden switch came as a reminder that with Covid-19 cases still rising in many locations across the world, countries on the green list can quickly be moved into higher categories on the UK’s traffic light travel system.

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UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that cases in the Balearic Islands had almost doubled since being added to the green list two weeks ago.

Madeira is one of several countries currently on the UK green watchlist, meaning it is at risk of moving to amber along with mainland Portugal.

Since Monday July 19, the same quarantine rules for Spain have applied to the Balearic Islands – with only those who have been fully vaccinated able to avoid 10 days of self-isolation upon return.

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Once again, you will also have to take a test before travelling home, two tests as per government requirements, with different providers depending on whether you live in Scotland, and England and Wales.

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