Spain has announced that UK tourists will soon need to provide a negative PCR test, or proof of double vaccination to gain entry.
In May the country removed all entry restrictions for Brits, but with rising Covid infections in the UK, it has decided to reimpose the need for testing or proof of vaccination status to enter. This will begin on 1 or 2 July but the exact date has not yet been confirmed.
Spain remains on the UK’s amber list too – except for the Balearic Islands (which includes popular hotspots such as Ibiza and Mallorca) which has been added to the green and green watchlists.
English residents have been advised not to travel to amber list countries unless for an essential reason and on return you must quarantine. Scottish residents have been told to ‘think carefully before booking travel to a country or area on the amber list for holidays’. In Wales, you are advised to holiday at home. Northern Ireland residents are also advised not to travel abroad.
See more on amber list country travel advice
Will Spain let me in for a holiday?
Spain is welcoming British tourists. To gain entry though from 1 or 2 July (waiting for the date to be confirmed by Spanish officials), you will need to show proof that you’ve been fully inoculated or tested (PCR) negative for coronavirus. Children under 12 are not required to do this.
What is the travel traffic light system?
Countries have been rated by the UK government as red, amber or green. Ratings indicate how many tests you need for travel on return to the UK and whether you need to isolate at home or in a hotel.
The green watchlist identifies countries on the green list which are in danger of being moved to amber or red.
Read in detail about what red, amber and green means for tests and quarantines in traffic light Q&A.
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Will Spain be a green list country when the traffic light list is next updated?
The Balearic Islands are already on the UK’s green list (and green watchlist). Mainland Spain and the Canary Islands remain amber-rated.
Nobody knows which countries will be added to or taken off the green list at each traffic light update. It is best to assume mainland Spain and the Canary Islands will remain amber until told otherwise. It’s risky to book a holiday to Spain hoping it will be added to the green list.
The Balearic Islands are on the green watchlist, so they are in danger of being moved to amber but there’s no way of knowing if or when this will happen.
Key factors in the assessment of whether it will be listed as ‘green’ will include vaccination rates in Spain, rate of infection, the prevalence of variants of concern and whether the country has access to reliable scientific data.
Find out which countries are currently on the green list.
Should I book a holiday or travel to Spain?
Because mainland Spain is rated as amber, you shouldn’t travel there for a holiday. If you travel for an essential reason, you will have to quarantine for a period of 10 days on your return to the UK. You will also need to pay for a test before you depart home to the UK, plus two PCR tests on day two and eight after landing. Alternatively, you can pay for an additional Test to Release on day five to end self-isolation early.
However, the Balearic Islands is on the green and green watchlists. This means you can travel there for leisure. You must be willing to show proof that you’ve tested negative for Covid-19, or proof of your vaccination status (being double-jabbed is essential if you do not take a test) to gain entry.
Because the Balearics is on the watchlist, it is at risk of being downgraded to an amber-rated country. If you book a holiday there, you need to be prepared for that and be willing to quarantine on your return (and pay for an extra test).
If you’re not able to quarantine, you shouldn’t book, or you should ensure the company you book through will refund if its status changes to amber before you go. There is always a chance the Balearics will turn amber while you’re already on holiday though. If this happens you’d have to quarantine on return to the UK, or book a flight home at your own expense to ensure you’re in the UK before new amber list rules begin. There is risk involved with green watchlist countries.
If you’re wondering whether to book for later in the summer, in the hope Spain will be added to the green list, be aware this is a risk. Not many package holiday companies will refund you if Spain remains on the amber list when you’re due to travel. Most will offer a date change or refund but not all – check the contract carefully. If the FCDO advises against travel at the time of the trip however, almost all package holiday companies will offer a refund – though this excludes some online travel agents. Find out which companies offer flexible booking.
If you book flights separately to Spain and it’s still amber at the time of travel, or the FCDO advises against travelling there, the flight will likely still run. This means it will not be cancelled and you could be faced with the decision to fly against government advice (and possibly without insurance), or lose the cost for the flight.
If you do decide to book, make sure you choose a package holiday with a well-rated provider and ask questions about flexibility – we’ve listed important questions to ask travel agents.
Read our travel agent reviews to help you decide who to book with
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/06/is-it-safe-to-book-a-holiday-to-spain/