Spain Is Open For Indian Tourists And Here’s Everything To Know

If you had been waiting for a Spanish holiday, it’s time to rejoice! Spain is now open for vaccinated Indian tourists who have taken their final dose of vaccine at least 14 days before entry to the country. If 270 days have passed from the administration of the final dose, the traveller needs to get a booster dose too. The vaccination certificate must contain the name and surname of the holder, dates of the doses, vaccine type, number of doses, issuing country name and identification of issuing body of the certificate.

Which Vaccines Are Accepted In Spain?

The accepted vaccines in Spain include AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222), Covaxin/Bharat Biotech, Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc), Moderna (mRNA-1273),  Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2), Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S) and Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm-Wuhan).

Are Children Without Vaccination Certificates Eligible To Travel To Spain?

Children in the age group of 12 and 17 years from nations outside the EU or the Schengen area can embark on non-essential travel to Spain without any vaccination certificate. Instead, they can show the reports of a molecular nucleic acid amplification test-NAAT (RT-PCR or similar) with a negative result carried out 72 hours before their arrival.

Children below 12 years of age can travel to Spain without any certificate.

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Can Unvaccinated Travellers Travel To Spain?

Unvaccinated travellers under exceptional situations must have a diagnostic or recovery certificate for travelling to Spain. Travellers falling under exceptional situations are as follows:

1. Ordinary residents of the European Union, Schengen Associated States, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican or San Marino (documentary proof will be required)
2. Long-stay visa holders
3. Health professionals
4. Transport personnel, seafarers and aeronautical personnel
5. Diplomatic and consular personnel of international organisations, military, civil protection and members of humanitarian organisations
6. Students studying in the Member States or the Schengen Associated States who have the corresponding permit or visa and medical insurance
7.  Highly qualified essential workers whose tasks cannot be accomplished remotely, including participants in high-level sports events taking place in Spain
8.  Those travelling for duly accredited imperative family reasons
9.  Those who document reasons of force majeure or need, or whose entry is allowed for humanitarian reasons

Travellers falling in the above exceptional categories need to show a diagnostic certificate ( a negative COVID-19 NAAT test taken within 72 hours or an antigen test taken within 24 hours before arrival) or a recovery certificate ( valid up to 180 days from the date of taking the sample)

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Spain Health Control Form (FCS) For Travellers

All travellers flying to Spain need to submit the Spain Health Control form (FCS) online before their journeys. The form can be accessed via Spain Travel Health Portal or through Android and iOS apps. Upon arriving in Spain, all travellers will have to undergo a health check at the first entry point. Travellers might be denied entry for public health reasons or if they are found flouting COVID-19 health protocols. Under exceptional cases, travellers arriving in Spain from India might be required to undergo a PCR / TMA / RT-LAMP test within 48 hours of their arrival in Spain. To know more, click here.