Spain will require negative PCR for travelers from risk areas

On November 23rd, 2020, the resolution of November 11th, 2020, of the General Directorate of Public Health, regarding the health controls that must be carried out at the entry points of Spain, will come into force.

This resolution updates the health controls that all international travelers arriving by air or sea must undergo when Spain is their final destination.

In addition to temperature control and document control through the form the resolution now adds the need to submit a negative result for the diagnostic test of active infection RT-PCR-COVID19, made within 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain to any passenger from a country or area at risk.

This document may be requested at any time upon arrival at the airport by the authorities. It must be original and written in Spanish and/or English. It can be presented in paper or electronic format.

What information should be included in the document to be submitted to the authorities?

1. Traveler's name.
2. Number of passport/document or national identity card. This number must coincide with the one included in the document control form.
3. Date of the test.
4. Identification and contact details of the center performing the test.
5. Technique used and negative test result.

What tests are accepted?

COVID RT-PCR19 only. Diagnostic tests such as rapid antibody tests, rapid antigen detection tests or serologies will not be supported.

Who should take the test?

Those travelers who come from countries or areas considered of risk. These zones will be reviewed every fifteen days and the application will become effective seven days after the publication of the update on the Spain Travel Health platform.

Currently, as of November 23rd, travelers from the following countries must present a negative PCR test result:

What happens when a passenger, coming from a risk zone, does not adequately prove that the PCR was performed with a negative result in the 72 hours prior to the trip?

These passengers must undergo the test established by the foreign health services in Spain.

Likewise, those passengers who, after carrying out temperature, visual and documentary checks, may suffer from COVID-19 should be tested.

Alternatively, passengers may be required to undergo a COVID 19 RT-PCR test within 48 hours of their arrival in Spain, which must be reported to the Spanish Foreign Health Service.