DEMAND FOR ACTIVE INFECTION DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (AIDT) FOR COVID-19 FOR TRAVELLERS FROM HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES WITH SPAIN AS THEIR DESTINATION
From 23 November 2020, all passengers arriving in Spain by air or by sea must undergo a health check before entering the country. This check may include temperature measurement, document inspection, and a visual inspection of the passenger’s state of health* (see exceptions for travellers with accommodation in the Canary Islands). Furthermore, those coming from a high-risk country/area with regard to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, must present a certificate of a NEGATIVE PCR test (COVID-19 RT-PCR) administered 72 hours before their trip. The list of at-risk countries or areas is updated every 15 days on the Spain Travel Health (SpTH) website www.spth.gob.es
Any change in the affected territories shall be effective after 7 days of publication.
The pre-entry health inspection will consist of the following steps and will take place at the first Spanish port or airport to which the passenger arrives, when it is his/her final destination:
1. Temperature measurement: will be carried out by means of non-contact thermometers or thermographic cameras. In the case of passengers on an international trip arriving at a Spanish port, the shipping company will take their temperature before arrival, under the supervision of the Foreign Health Department.
In addition, passengers must undergo an AIDT when their temperature and any visual or documentary inspections make it suspected that they could be carrying COVID-19. Alternatively, passengers may be required to undergo an RT-PCR COVID-19 test within 48 hours of arrival. The result of that test must then be sent to the Foreign Health Department by the means requested for such purpose.
Document inspection:{1} all passengers departing from any airport or port located outside Spain must complete a public health form called “Health Check Form”, the content of which differs according to whether the passenger is travelling by air or by sea. In the event that the passenger arrives by air, he/she must fill in this form through the website https://www.spth.gob.es/ or through the free application SPAIN TRAVEL HEALTH-SpTH (available for Android, iOS).
3. PCR negative accreditation for passengers from high-risk countries and regions: On arrival in Spain, if during the health document inspection, passengers coming from a high-risk country or region do not adequately certify a PCR for SARS-CoV-2 with a negative result, carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival, they must undergo an Active Infection Diagnostic Test (AIDT) established by the foreign health services. Until their use is officially standardised in the European Union, other diagnostic tests such as the rapid antibody test, rapid antigen tests and high performance serology tests (ELISA, CLIA, ECLIA) will not be accepted.
Passengers must undergo a health evaluation when their temperature reading is higher than 37.5ºC, as must those suspected of carrying COVID-19 or another transmittable sickness, following a visual inspection or when the information they have included on the Health Control Form indicates the presence of symptoms of COVID-19 or close contact with someone who has it. This health evaluation includes a review of the person’s clinical and epidemiological status and an Active Infection Diagnostic Test (AIDT), if necessary.
If the health evaluation confirms the suspicion that the passenger could present a risk to public health, in the case of close contact with COVID-19, or if a positive result is obtained after administering an AIDT for SARS-CoV-2 upon arrival, the health alert protocols established in coordination with the health authorities of the specific autonomous communities shall be activated. For this purpose, the health authority may ask for the collaboration of other administrative bodies, public officials or other institutions.
The cost of any AIDT carried out at the point of entry when the health inspections detect a suspicion of COVID-19 will be assumed by the Spanish State.
However, when this is due to the passenger not having an AIDT, as established in the regulation, this means non-compliance with the regulations, and the provisions of Title VI of Law 33/2011, of 4 October, on Public Health, which refer to violations and sanctions, shall apply.
INFORMATION ON THE RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT AT THE DESTINATION
Due to the changing situation in the competent authorities’ application of restrictions of movement, we recommend that before travelling, you contact the hotel to ask them about changes to the measures taken by the regional or local authorities.
All of our hotels have detailed and fully updated information.
CRITERIA FOR THE APPLICATION OF TEMPORARY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FROM THIRD COUNTRIES TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SCHENGEN-ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES DUE TO THE COVID 19 HEALTH CRISIS
(Order INT/552/2021, of 4 June, amending Order INT/657/2020, of 17 July, which modifies the criteria for the application of a temporary restriction on non-essential travel from third countries to the European Union and Schengen-associated countries for reasons of public order and public health due to the COVID-19 health crisis).
Spain currently has a list of third countries whose residents are exempt from travel restrictions to Spain, as well as a set of specific categories of people also exempt from these restrictions, regardless of their place of origin.
At the present time it is recommended to allow the entry into Spain of persons with a vaccination certificate recognised by the Ministry of Health for this purpose, after verification by the health authorities.
Therefore, will be subject to refusal of entry , on grounds of public order or public health, any person who is a national of a third country to the European Union, except belonging to one of the following specific categories:
a) habitual residents of the EU, Schengen associated States, Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican (Holy See) or San Marino who are en route to that country, with documentary proof of such residence
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(b) Holders of a long-stay visa issued by a Member State or Schengen-Associated State who are en route to that country.
c) Health professionals, including health researchers, and nursing home workers going to or returning from work.
(d) Transport staff, seafarers and flight staff required to carry out air transport activities.
e) Diplomatic and consular staff, workers from international and humanitarian organisations, military and civil protection personnel, in the exercise of their duties.
f) Students who are studying in the Member States or Schengen-associated States and who have the necessary long-stay permit or visa, provided that they are going to the country where they are studying, and that entry takes place during the academic year or the 15 days prior to the academic year. If the destination is Spain and the duration of the stay is up to 90 days, it must be accredited that the studies are to be carried out in an authorised teaching centre in Spain, registered in the respective administrative register, following a full-time, on-site course during this phase, and leading to the award of a degree or academic certificate.
g) Highly qualified workers whose work is essential and cannot be postponed or carried out remotely, including participants in high-level sporting events taking place in Spain. Such circumstances must be supported by documentary evidence.
(h) Persons travelling for duly accredited urgent family reasons.
(i) Persons who can provide documentary evidence of force majeure reasons or necessity, or whose entry is permitted on humanitarian grounds.
(j) Residents of third countries listed in the Annex provided that they come directly from such countries, have travelled exclusively through other countries included in the list or have only made international transits at airports located in countries not listed in the Annex.
- Countries :Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and China.
- For residents of China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR, reciprocity remains to be verified.
(k) Persons in possession of a vaccination certificate recognised for this purpose by the Ministry of Health, subject to verification by the health authorities, as well as accompanying minors to whom the effects of the certificate are extended by the Ministry of Health. Note: New criterion introduced by this Order.
Any third-country national, even those belonging to one of the above categories, who, after verification by the health authorities, does not comply with the health control requirements for COVID-19 established by the Ministry of Health (referred to below), shall also be refused entry on public health grounds.
Efficacy: from 00:00h of 07.06.21 and the criteria for refusal of entry to a national of a third country of the EU who does not comply with the above exceptions are in force until next 30.06.21 by provision of Order INT/519/2021, of 27 May.
HEALTH CHECKS TO BE CARRIED OUT AT POINTS OF ENTRY INTO SPAIN
Resolution of 4 June 2021, of the Directorate General of Public Health, regarding health checks to be carried out at points of entry into Spain.
From 7 June 21, conditions will be made more flexible for the entry of travellers from the EU or third countries, who will have to provide:
1. Health check form. All passengers arriving in Spain by air or sea, including those in transit to other countries, must complete a health check form before departure through the website www.spth.gob.es or the Spain Travel Health application -SpTH- (hereinafter SpTH), available on Android and iOS.
The information contained in the form is set out in Annex I to this resolution.
After completing the health check form, SpTH will generate an individualised QR code that the traveller must show to the transport companies before boarding, as well as at the health checks at the point of entry into Spain.
2. Health checks. All passengers arriving in Spain as a final destination must undergo a health check on arrival at the first point of entry.
This check shall include at least a temperature measurement, a document inspection and a visual inspection of the passenger’s state of health.
As a general rule, passengers arriving in Spain in transit to another country will be exempt from the health check when changing international means of transport in the same port or airport.
However, when the flow of these passengers in the airport passes through a health checkpoint, they may be asked to show that they have the specific QR for transit passengers generated by SpTH with the denomination TRANSIT.
3. Temperature check. Passengers arriving in Spain must undergo a temperature check, which will be carried out routinely in order to identify travellers with fever. A temperature of 37.5°C or higher is set as the detection limit.
Temperature measurements shall be taken by non-contact thermometers or thermographic cameras. Neither personal data nor the images captured by the thermographic cameras shall be stored, and the passenger's privacy shall be guaranteed at all times.
4. Document checks. Document checks shall be carried out in accordance with the information provided by passengers as a responsible declaration on the health control form through SpTH, on the basis of which, where appropriate, the necessary actions may be taken, as described below.
HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
In the event of coming from a high-risk country or region, the passenger must provide the information and documentation that proves compliance with the entry requirements for high-risk countries.
Passengers coming from high-risk countries or regions , considered as such according to the assessment of their epidemiological situation at any given time, shall be required to certify any of the following health requirements:
a. Certificate confirming that the holder has received a COVID-19 vaccination (vaccination certificate).
b. Certificate showing the result of a COVID-19 Active Infection Diagnostic Test undergone by the holder (diagnostic certificate).
c. Certificate confirming that the holder has recovered from COVID-19 (recovery certificate).
The list of high-risk countries or regions, as well as the criteria for inclusion therein, is published on the Ministry of Health website: https:// www.mscbs.gob.es/ and on the SpTH website: https://www.spth.gob.es As a general rule, the lists will be reviewed every seven days
a. Vaccination certificate. Vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin shall be accepted as valid 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the full vaccination schedule.
Eligible vaccines shall be those authorised by the European Medicines Agency or those that have completed the WHO emergency usage process.
b. Diagnostic certificate. COVID-19 Active Infection Diagnostic Test certificates with a negative result issued within 48 hours prior to arrival in Spain shall be accepted as valid:
- Molecular nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA);
- Antigen detection tests included in the common list of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19 published by the European Commission on the basis of Council Recommendation 2021/C 24/01.
c. Recovery certificate. Recovery certificates issued by the competent authority or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT diagnostic test shall be accepted as valid.
The certificate shall be valid for 180 days after the date the sample was taken.
