Spain announce travel ban for UK flights amid coronavirus strain
Spain holidays 2021 and onwards are set to be different from what holidaymakers were used to pre covid and Brexit. Strict new measures are now in place to tackle the deadly virus while other restrictions have come in after the UK left the EU. This is the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice update.
Spain travel advice
The latest guidance, issued yesterday, concerning new information on restrictions on personal food items and on entry.
Now Brexit has taken place once and for all, there are new measures around taking food and drink into Spain.
“You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries,” said the FCDO.
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“There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example, certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons.”
Travellers can check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.
As for covid restrictions, Spain banned UK arrivals last month after a mutant strain of highly-transmissible covid was identified in Britain.
“Spain have announced they will be restricting passenger travel from the UK (by air and sea) from December 22 2020 until 6pm (GMT+1) on January 19, 2021 (5pm / GMT in the Canary Islands), with the exception of Spanish nationals and those legally resident in Spain,” detailed the FCDO.
“International transit through Spanish airports by passengers on flights departing from the UK is not permitted.
“This includes flights from the UK to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.
“If you were due to travel, or transit through, Spain, please contact your travel operator before departure.”
Strict covid testing rules are also in place.
“From November 23, 2020, all passengers (excluding children under the age of six years old) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from ‘risk’ countries (as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control) will be required to present a negative PCR swab test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to enter the country,” the FCDO explained.
“From 10 December 2020, a TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification) swab test or a LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) test are also accepted by Spanish authorities, again taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.
“While TMA and LAMP tests are not currently widely available in the UK, you should refer to testing facilities directly for specific information on the types of tests available to you, prior to booking an appointment.
“The UK is currently on the ‘risk’ countries list and passengers arriving from the UK are therefore subject to this requirement.”
The FCDO continued: “This requirement applies to all passengers arriving in Spain by air or sea, regardless of your residency status in Spain and the length of time you intend on staying.
“Property owners in Spain are subject to this requirement.”
The Foreign Office added: “If you are travelling by air or sea to Spain, you must declare on the mandatory ‘Health Control Form’ listed below, that you have undertaken a PCR, TMA or LAMP test within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, have tested negative for COVID-19, and can show on request evidence certifying your results.”
Travellers are urged to not use the NHS for testing for travel. “You should arrange to take a private test and should confirm with the testing facility the type of tests available prior to booking an appointment,” advised the FCDO.
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