Travel restrictions extended
SPAIN has prohibited people from entering the country by air from Brazil and South Africa, unless they are citizens or residents of Spain or Andorra.
Government spokeswoman María Jesús Montero announced this after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and said the measure was due to the new strains of coronavirus in these countries. The 14-day ban came into force at 09.00 on Wednesday and will end at the same time on February 17, but could be extended depending on how the pandemic situation evolves.
The only other passengers allowed on flights from Brazil and South Africa are those who are changing flights to continue to another country outside the EU’s Schengen area, in which case the stopover must be less than 24 hours and they cannot leave the transit zone of the airport. Since January 31, the Portuguese authorities have been enforcing checks at the land border with Spain and only granting passage to cross-border workers, goods traffic and those entering or exiting Portugal to return to their usual place of residence.
Rail and ferry connections between Spain and Portugal have been suspended.
Since November 23, Spain has required passengers entering the country by sea or air from high coronavirus risk countries to provide a negative Covid-19 test result, which must have been carried out within the previous 72 hours.
Currently this affects 58 countries around the world, including the UK (currently until February 16), but from Monday it will also include Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Only Spanish nationals and those legally resident in Spain are allowed to enter from the UK, and should carry their residence document (the green paper EU residence certificate or the new TIE), as well as their valid passport.