Spain Removes Vaccination Requirement For U.S. Tourists

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Last Updated 3 years ago

Spain has removed its vaccination requirement for US travelers on Friday in a push to attract more American tourists this summer. 

The country has been closed to US travelers since the pandemic began, but it reopened to vaccinated U.S. travelers on June 7th. The European nation also reopened to vaccinated tourists from Canada, U.K, and hundreds more worldwide. 

Spain’s Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, called Spain “a safe destination. We are in a position to soon recover our world tourism leadership. The excellent vaccination data places us closer every day to return to normality.”

The Entry Requirements 

From June 7th until June 25th, U.S. travelers could enter Spain, but only if they had proof of vaccination. The Spanish government has dropped this requirement with immediate effect, and travelers will no longer need proof of vaccination. However, to qualify for this exemption, travelers must fly directly from the U.S. and not any other country. 

The only requirement for U.S. travelers is a health questionnaire before departure. The questionnaire is relatively straightforward, and you can complete it online or download it from here. Once travelers have signed the health questionnaire, they will receive a QR code which they must present when boarding and arriving in Spain. 

U.S. travelers that visit Spain will still need a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of departure back to the U.S. In addition, they will need documentation of this test result to board the plane. 

The COVID-19 Situation In Spain 

Spain is averaging around 3,574 cases per day, a 30 percent decrease from two weeks ago. The nation has reported 3,782,463 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began with over 80,000 deaths. However, following a massive third wave in February, the country has the pandemic under control. 

The country has given at least one vaccine dose to 51 percent of its people and has fully vaccinated 33 percent of its population. That puts it behind many European neighbors and the U.S, but the vaccination rates are increasing daily, with an average of 465,061 vaccination doses every day. 

The Current Restrictions In Spain 

Although Spain sees a decrease in COVID-19 cases and higher vaccination levels, there are still restrictions inside the country. All tourists must legally adhere to these restrictions, even if they aren’t Spanish citizens. Face masks are compulsory indoors, and from today, face masks are no longer obligatory outdoors. Until June 26th, everyone had to wear face masks outside, despite the blistering summer heat. 

When Spain has vaccinated 75% of its population – and it’s still quite far from that target – they will drop mandatory face masks indoors. Certain towns within Spain (those with over 1000 cases per 100,000) will still face restrictions. However, the number of local lockdowns is falling every week. The average case rate in Spain is 94 per 100,000, so most places are far from the local lockdown threshold.  

Nightclubs still face restrictions, even in the party hotspots. All nightclubs must close by 2 am, and local authorities only allow dancing in outdoor places. Most bars, shops, and restaurants are exempt from curfews but still have restrictions on the number of people allowed inside at one time. 

Spain ended its State of Alarm on 9th May 2021, meaning travelers are free to travel around the country without restrictions on movement. However, Spain has also banned smoking in public places, and if you want to smoke in restaurants, the staff will ask you to smoke outside the building. 

Although there are still restrictions in the country, it won’t be too different from most of the U.S or the U.K. The removal of mandatory vaccination means tens of millions of U.S citizens can enjoy the beautiful country this summer.

READ MORE:

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Italy Drops All Restrictions For Vaccinated US and Canadian Travelers

Countries Open For Vaccinated Travelers: The Complete List

EU Set To Allow Cross-Border Travel For Vaccinated Travelers

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