Changes to COVID Requirements When Travelling to Spain from 4th October
From today, (4th October 2021) travellers will no longer need to shell out on expensive PCR tests before returning from Spain to England and the UK. For many owning second homes in Spain and for those Brits living in Spain, the new COVID rules mean a smoother journey when making the trip between the UK and Spain.
What Are the Current Rules When Travelling From Spain to the UK?
As of the 4th of October, travellers who have been fully vaccinated for more than 14 days will no longer need to take a pre-departure test before leaving Spain or a Covid-19 test on day eight after arriving in the UK. With the new travel system, only those travelling from the remaining ‘red list’ countries will need to face the harsher regulations of the old ‘traffic light’ system.
Instead, those travelling from Spain will now only have to book and pay for a day two Covid-19 test to be taken after they have arrived in England and complete a passenger locator form within the 48 hours before arriving in England or Scotland. These PCR tests could also be phased out later on in October and replaced by lateral flow tests. Welsh testing rules may still apply and non-vaccinated travellers will still need to undergo testing and home quarantine.
What Are the Current Rules for Travelling to Spain from the UK?
The good news for those making the journey to Spain from the UK is that the journey is now even more simple, whether you are moving permanently or planning on returning to the UK after a short stay. If you are planning on travelling to Spain from the UK, whether you are viewing your potential future home in Spain or moving there, you will need to provide proof of vaccination on your arrival in the form of an NHS COVID pass. If you are not fully vaccinated, a PCR test will still need to be taken within the 72 hours before you travel and display a negative result.
Keeping up to Date With the Latest Covid Rules for Spain
As always, if you are planning on travelling to Spain or moving to Spain, always look at the latest guidance for travel from the UK on the government website. This will detail any recent changes to travel guidance and contain countries that have been added to the red travel list. For any other questions on finding a new home in Spain, contact our team.
