At the end of June 2022, the first year of the digital EU Covid certificate with which residents of the EU countries can demonstrate whether they have been vaccinated, tested or cured with regard to the coronavirus will end. The certificate is currently mainly used for traveling within the EU. What does this extension mean for traveling to Spain?
On July 1, 2021, the EU digital covid certificate was officially put into use in the 27 EU countries. This document indicating whether someone has been vaccinated, recovered or tested has made traveling within the European Union safer and easier. Since its inception, more than 1.7 billion digital EU Covid certificates have been issued, allowing for travel between the 27 EU countries as well as 35 other countries that accept the European certificate.
On February 3, 2022, the European Commission proposed to extend the digital EU Covid certificate by one year, until June 30, 2023. That advice was adopted by the European Parliament, so there will be an extension of 12 months.
What does this mean for traveling to Spain?
What does this 12 month extension mean for the use of the EU digital covid certificate for Spain? At the moment, having a digital EU covid certificate is the only corona requirement to enter Spain after the mandatory completion of the SpTH health form is no longer necessary and the mouth mask obligation has been abolished in practically all indoor areas.
For the time being, having the digital EU Covid certificate remains mandatory to travel to Spain. This means that anyone entering Spain must show through this document whether they have been vaccinated, tested or cured. For the time being, there is no discussion in Spain about abolishing this entry requirement.
Covid certificate at this time
To enter Spain by plane or boat, you must have a valid digital EU Covid certificate or corona pass. This consists of 1 of the following 3 documents that are mandatory for travelers older than 12 years of age to enter Spain: vaccination certificate or test certificate or recovery certificate.
All travelers aged 12 years and older, regardless of the country of departure, must provide one of the following documents. A valid EU Digital COVID Certificate or EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) or equivalent documents containing one of the following: (information from ReOpenEu website and TravelSafe)
Proof of complete vaccination
Validity: Between 14 and 270 days after the last scheduled dose of the primary vaccination series was administered. After 270 days (9 months), vaccination certificates must contain a booster dose. For people under the age of 18, vaccination certificates with a full primary schedule do not have an expiration date. This means that the booster shot is not mandatory after 270 days for children aged 12 to 17 (until 18) who have been fully vaccinated (with two shots).
or
Negative result of a pre-departure molecular PCR test (valid for 72 hours) or rapid antigen test (valid for 24 hours).
or
Evidence of recovery from COVID-19. Validity: from day 11 after the first positive molecular test and up to 180 days after the sample date.
Travelers who do not have a valid digital EU certificate must complete the Spanish health check form SpTH and manually enter data on vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or negative test result, which meet the same requirements as for the digital EU covid certificate.
Having a valid digital EU certificate applies to all travelers from the age of 12, regardless of whether you travel by plane, own transport or boat. But only air passengers and boat travelers are checked for these documents. Theoretically, the police can also check travelers on land, but in practice this almost never happens.
(With big thanks to the source: Spanje Vandaag)
