Entry Requirements for Spain

Requirements for entry into Spain

updated February 10, 2023

While it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask in Spain, some exceptions still apply:

    • Workers, visitors and patients must wear a mask at health centres and in pharmacies, with the exception of people who have been hospitalised when in their room.
    • Workers and visitors in shared areas of socio-sanitary centres such as nursing homes must wear a mask.
    • Bear in mind that children under the age of six are not required to wear a mask under any circumstances and effective February 8, 2023 it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask on public transport under any circumstances.

    Currently, there are no restrictions to travel to Spain by air, so it is not necessary to present any type of health certificate or control form. Only if the epidemiological situation were to worsen or worrying new variants of the virus were to appear will new measures be recommended.

    There is one exception: starting January 3, 2023, all persons arriving in Spain from the People’s Republic of China must carry an EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent (vaccination, negative diagnostic test or certificate of recovery). If they do not have this document, they must carry a test certificate confirming the absence of an active COVID-19 infection. Further information on the requirements that each certificate must meet in order to be valid.

    Entry is allowed to travellers entering from China who are unable to present these health documents but belong to one or other of the following categories:

    a) habitual residents of the European Union, Schengen-associated states, Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican (Holy See) or San Marino en route to that country;
    b) holders of a long-stay visa issued by a Member State or Schengen-associated state en route to that country;
    c) crew members of national and international means of transport needed to carry out transport operations;
    d) persons who provide documentary evidence of force majeure or urgent need, or whose entry is permitted on humanitarian grounds;
    e) travellers under 12 years of age;
    f) passengers arriving in Spain in transit to other countries, provided they do not leave the airport environment.

    More information on the requirements to travel by sea in this section.

    Sanitary controls for COVID-19 are no longer carried out on entry to Spain.

    Currently, and also as an exceptional measure, all passengers arriving in Spain by air from the People’s Republic of China may have to undergo a health check at the first Spanish point of entry. This inspection will include, as a bare minimum, taking their temperature, a document check and a visual check of their condition. A diagnostic test for active infection may also be carried out.

    Types of control on arrival according to means of travel

    If you travel by air:

    You will not be required to present an SpTH health check form or a COVID-19 certificate.

    There is currently an exception for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China. See information above.

    If you travel by sea:

    If you are arriving by sea from an EU/Schengen country there are no COVID-19 restrictions.

    If you are arriving by sea from non-EU/Schengen countries and you are over 12 years of age, you must present one of the following documents:

    -Proof of vaccination (EU Covid digital certificate, equivalent or other).

    -COVID-19 test (PCR taken 72 hours before departure or antigen detection test taken 24 hours before departure).

    -Recovery certificate (issued at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or antigen detection test with a positive result. The certificate will be valid for 180 days from the date of the first positive COVID test result).

    If you travel by land:

    1. There is no requirement to submit a health control form.

    2. Travellers entering Spain or Portugal by land from France are no longer required to provide any type of health certificate (vaccination, diagnostic test or recovery).

    3. There are currently no health restrictions for access through the land borders of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco.