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Update: No test or vaccine proof required, Spain has fully reopened to Americans

June 30, 2021
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3 min read
Puerta del Sol (Madrid)
Update: No test or vaccine proof required, Spain has fully reopened to Americans
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Editor's Note

This story has been updated with new information.

It's official: Spain is reopened to American tourists, and as of June 28, Americans no longer have to even show proof of vaccination or test results.

On Monday, June 7, Spain reopened its borders to those coming from the U.S., as well as a host of other countries, in an effort to restart its summer tourism season.

Currently, there is no requirement for U.S. travelers to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test as the U.S. is no longer considered to be a risk area as of June 28, 2021, according to the Spanish Government. Per the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Spain and Andora, this applies to all U.S. citizens traveling to Spain from the U.S., including those who transit through a third country. The U.S. Government also notes that this is subject to change with little notice, so it's best to ensure this information is accurate at the time of your planned trip.

All other passengers coming from high-risk countries are still required to submit a negative Active Infection Diagnostic Test (AIDT), or PCR test, carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival.

All arrivals in Spain must fill out the Spain Travel Health (SpTH) form at least 48 hours prior to departure to the country.

Spain has said that the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be accepted for those arrivals coming from other EU countries. The EU Digital COVID Certificate scheme (formerly called "green passports") went live on June 2. Some countries, such as Greece, Germany, Poland and others have already made the digital pass available to citizens. All EU nations are expected to have the EU Digital COVID Certificate available by July 1.

"Spain is a safe destination and we are in a position to soon regain our world tourism leadership," Minister of Health Carolina Darias said.

There was initially extreme confusion about whether Spain would be reopening as of the planned June 7 date. That was later cleared up by the Ministry of Health and Spain opened as expected.

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Related: Country-by-country guide to reopenings

Travelers from the U.K., Spain’s biggest market for visitors, have already packed their bags for a summer visit. Given that the U.K. is not considered a risk area, arrivals don't need proof of vaccination or negative test result. This is despite the fact that Spain remains on the amber list of the U.K.’s traffic light system. That means any travelers who go to Spain must quarantine for 10 days upon their return to the U.K.

Resuming its tourism industry is crucial to Spain’s economic health. Tourism accounts for about 12% of the country’s GDP.

Additional reporting by Clint Henderson, Emily McNutt and Caroline Tanner.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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