From April 6, 2022 and until the Government of Spain declares the end of the sanitary crisis situation caused by COVID-19, the General Directorate of Public Health has established new sanitary controls, to be carried out at the entry points of Spain according to the evolution of the internal epidemiological situation and at international level, which leave without effect the Resolution of June 4, 2021.

The new guidelines are covered by the Resolution of June 1, 2022 and allow the alternative use of the EU digital COVID Certificate or the use of the QR code obtained after completing the health control form, through SpTH. In addition, it establishes that all persons arriving in Spain by air or sea from countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU) or are not considered Schengen countries may be subjected to a health control at the first point of entry that will include, at least, taking a temperature, a documentary control and a visual control of their physical condition.

The improvement of the epidemiological situation is leading many EU Member States to no longer require travelers within the EU to present COVID certificates or impose other travel restrictions. In the case of Spain, due to the high vaccination coverage rates, above the EU average, and the favorable situation of the health system, the authorities also consider it appropriate to eliminate travel restrictions for persons from countries belonging to the European Union or Schengen associated countries.

Temperature controls

Your temperature will be checked routinely in order to identify travelers with fever. A temperature equal to or higher than 37.5 °C is established as the detection limit.

The temperature should be taken with non-contact thermometers or thermographic cameras. And no personal data will be stored, nor the images captured by the thermographic cameras, to guarantee your privacy at all times.

Documentary control

All persons arriving in Spain from countries outside the European Union or Schengen associated countries must have one of the following certificates:

• Vaccination certificate: confirming that you have received a full course of vaccination against COVID-19. Certificates of vaccination issued by competent authorities in the country of origin will be accepted as valid 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule, and if no more than 270 days have elapsed since the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule. If you do not comply with the above, your vaccination certificate must reflect the administration of a booster dose, with the exception of vaccination certificates for persons under 18 years of age, which will continue to be valid after 270 days have elapsed since the first full course of vaccination.
• Diagnostic test certificate: confirming that you have had a negative diagnostic test. A negative diagnostic test certificate for active COVID-19 infection from one of the following groups will be accepted as valid: i) Molecular Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT), with sample obtained within 72 hours prior to departure. ii) EU-approved rapid antigen detection tests, with sample obtained within 24 hours prior to departure.
• Certificate of recovery: confirming that, following a positive diagnostic test result, you have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Certificates issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT or antigen detection test will be accepted as valid. The certificate shall be valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive result. And all antigen detection tests must be approved by the European Union and must have been performed by healthcare professionals or qualified personnel.

Passengers on international cruise ships

If you are traveling on a cruise-type passenger vessel, performing international voyages and sailing through territorial sea waters with the purpose of entering Spanish ports open to international navigation, you must comply with the Sanitary Measures for the restoration of international cruises, prepared by the Ministry of Health of Spain.

Suspected COVID-19 passengers

If, in the process of the health control carried out upon arrival in Spain, it is detected that you are a person suspected of suffering from COVID-19 or another pathology that may pose a risk to public health, then you will undergo a medical evaluation in which all your epidemiological and clinical aspects will be assessed.

If after this assessment your clinical situation requires it or if it is confirmed that you may pose a risk to public health, the established communication protocols with the health services of the autonomous communities will be activated for your referral and follow-up.

The personnel of the Foreign Health services may perform a diagnostic test to all those passengers coming from a high-risk country or to those established within the framework of the active surveillance system linked to the risk assessment processes of the Spanish Ministry of Health.

Exceptions

The following are excluded from the scope of application of this Resolution:

• The crews of international air or maritime means of transport.
• Children under 12 years of age.
• Passengers arriving in Spain in transit to other countries, provided that they do not leave the port or airport environment and that their stay in Spain does not exceed 24 hours.

In addition, sea workers and crews of international means of transport arriving in Spain as passengers, when they are returning from their campaign on board a vessel, on a return trip to their home base or in transit to embark or disembark, are exempt from the presentation of the aforementioned certificates, provided that they justify their status as crew members and the impossibility of obtaining the aforementioned certificates.

Conclusion

In case of non-compliance, the authorities may deny entry for public health reasons to all those third country nationals who, after verification by the health authorities, did not comply with the health control requirements for COVID-19 established by the Spanish Ministry of Health, according to Title VI of Law 33/2011, of October 4.

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