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News Spain Drops COVID-19 Vaccine, Test Requirement For Entry — What To Know
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Spain Drops COVID-19 Vaccine, Test Requirement For Entry — What To Know

Spain travel restrictions: The country no longer requires travellers from any origin to present a negative COVID-19 test.

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By: Alison Fox Published: Oct 22, 2022 01:00 PM IST

Spain Drops COVID-19 Vaccine, Test Requirement For Entry — What To Know
Image Credit: Carlos Lujan/Europa Press via Getty Images

Spain dropped all COVID-19-related entry rules on Friday, becoming one of the last European countries to do so. By Alison Fox

Going forward, Spain will no longer require travellers from outside the European Union to show proof of vaccination, a negative test, or proof of recovery to enter, according to the government. That puts Spain in line with nearly every other country in Europe that has dropped pandemic-era travel restrictions.

Spain drop all COVID-related travel restrictions for travellers

Previously, Spain required travellers 12 and older to show proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test, or proof they contracted COVID-19 and recovered within six months. In September, the Spanish government dropped the requirement for travellers to present a health control form upon arrival.

Spain travel restrictions
Image Credit: Henrique Ferreira/Unsplash

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“Once the acute phase of the pandemic has been overcome, surveillance and control measures have been updated at the national level… justified, in large part, by the high levels of immunisation achieved in the Spanish population and in neighbouring countries, which have led to a significant decrease in severe cases and mortality from SARS-CoV-2,” the government wrote in an advisory.

The new rules mirror those of several other EU countries that have done away with pandemic-era entry rules altogether, like Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, and Ireland.

The relaxed restrictions come on the tail end of Spain’s busiest tourism season: summer and early fall. Over 8.5 million international visitors travelled to Spain in September, an increase of over 87 percent compared to September 2019, according to SchengenVisa.

Beyond the EU, several other countries have dropped travel restrictions, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Earlier this month Japan relaxed many of its COVID-19 restrictions and began to allow international travellers back into the country, although travellers are still required to be triple vaccinated and provide a negative test.

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In the United States, however, while pre-arrival testing rules were eliminated in June, international travellers are still required to show proof of being fully vaccinated before boarding a flight to the country.

Main and Feature Image Credit: Carlos Lujan/Europa Press via Getty Images

This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com

Related: Thailand To Eliminate All Pandemic-Related Travel Restrictions This Week — What To Know

Written By

Alison Fox

Alison Fox

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