New travel restrictions for Spain effective 23.11
Following issued by FCDO today ....
"On arrival, travellers entering Spain from the UK will not be required to self-isolate. However, from 23 November, all passengers (including children) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from ‘risk’ countries (the website is in Spanish, the list of ‘at risk’ countries is at the end of the document), as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control will be required to present a negative PCR (swab) test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to enter the country. The UK is currently on the ‘risk’ countries list and passengers arriving from the UK are therefore subject to this requirement"
Considering most crossings take 28 hours or more - this is going to make the obtaining of the PCR nearly impossible to get. Having spoken to a number of clinics today - most are unable to confirm even a 48 hour turnaround.
Brittany Ferries will find they are sailing empty if they are unable to get a waiver on this which I should imagine is going to be very unlikely.
Looks like anyone thinking of some winter sunshine will have to make alternative plans ... not sure if the requirement also applies to coming by road from France but you probably will need this PCR to enter France anyway once it opens.
Anyone found a way round this?
Comments
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I read somewhere, amongst all the other gubbins, that Boots are doing a 1 hour turnaround test for about £100 or so. Is there a Boots near ports or airports that could accommodate this?
To be honest it's only an inkling in my mind so best check to see if correct.
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Anyone found a way round this?
Yes dont travel to Spain, even when you arrive most areas are in lock down of some sorts, so e.g. if you live in the Murcia region you are not allowed to travel out of the region unless you have a valid reason and a signed letter authorising travel. how long this will continue, who knows, but little point in visiting for a holiday just yet, infections rates are still increasing in many areas.
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Just been speaking to my brother who lives in Spain and he confrims all the above. In addition there are border checks not only with other countries but also on Spanish internal movements and there are hefty fines if you do not have the right documentation to travel.
peedee
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The Spanish are actually doing this so you can visit this winter and as long as you prove a negative PCR you can carry on your journey,they are not doing this at the road borders at the moment because they don't have the men to cover all border crossings.
The two regions of Andalusia and Murcia have municipal restrictions where you can't travel even between municipalities we have friends who are stuck in Mazzaron at the moment but every other region like my own of Valencia you can travel within their borders, so where i live i can't travel 20 minutes south to Murcia but can travel four hours north too Benicassim where i have just spent a lovely week away.
You can get a PCR test here for around the e40 mark which takes just five minutes for the result so may be this is something Brittany ferries need to look into for its passengers.
Phil
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Lutz, where does it say that. That is not what I have been told or interpret from press articles.
quote:
The Spanish Health Ministry announced this week that Spain will demand a negative PCR test from travelers coming from 60 countries in high coronavirus risk zones. The measure goes into effect on November 23 and will affect residents from most European Union member states.
unquote
I can imagine a future scenario where you will have to carry vacination certification. This used to be the case in my travels in my early years. e.g. Typhoid, cholera etc.
peedee
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Thanks all for the comments which I am sure will be helpful for all reading and intending on travelling away for winter in the next few weeks.
Yes I agree that BF need to become involved but if you arrive in Espana without the PCR test and attempt to wing it - well you could be liable for a Euro 6k fine!!
Going by road from France makes sense I suppose but looks as if France wants a PCR test now too - so whichever way you go, you will need one. The French route would buy you time - as many of the labs offering the PCR test are saying 48 - 72 hours needed for them to email it back to you - with BF and a 30 hour crossing - your time window is very short and I am not sure I would wish to travel without actually having this PCR on my email......
All will be clearer in time but the chances are with the Spanish having extended this "emergency rule" to April - that this "fit to travel" certificate will be needed till then.
We shall see.
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Full details, albeit in Spanish, are given in the following bulletin:
https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2020/11/12/pdfs/BOE-A-2020-14049.pdf
From what I understand, according to paragraph 3 on page 98854 only air and sea travel is affected.
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We all want to travel, me included, but is it worth all the trouble what goes with it.
The way Governments keep changeing restrictions, I would not like to be stuck somewhere and not be able to get home.
Is it fun, not being able to go to a restaraunt for a meal even if its only the one on the campsite (We cook in the van is the normal answer to that one)
Not being able to move around as you would like, beaches closed.
question? what did you get up to on your holiday.
answer, sat in front of the van when the sun came out, otherwise watched Sky and had a bacon buttie. Got drunk on red wine?
I`ve booked spain for September next year, 4 weeks, hoping that a safe vaccine will be avaliable and that things have calmed down.
I would like to come to the UK to visit relatives and friends what chance is there of that? NONE
Or can someone truthfully tell me where I can go without restrictions in the UK using my van and without having to go into quaratine.
Nobody I suppose.
And if anyone can tell me where I can have a Covid free holiday with the van please let me know.
Some tounge in the cheek here
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think this may be some what irrelevant, if you drive thru France, which is going to be difficult under the present circumstanses, arrive in Spain, somewhere along the Northern border, then due to current local restrictions you would be confined to what ever region you arrived in, and it is my understanding that most of those northern regions have some very tough restrictions in place, even if you get as far as the Valencia region heading towards Murcia, you will still find yourself in deep do da if you tried to travel out of region. If you are looking for some winter sun you need to be well south of the Valencia region I would have thought.
So Little or no point at this time of year and with current restrictions in place, we are looking at next April , but not holding our breath 
P.s. daughter who lives in Villa Martin still showing temps 20 - 25 degs but cold at night
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Thanks Lutz. it is difficult to interpret that document but the reference to air and see refers to the initial controls implemented by the Spanish in June. Later in the document it refers to Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475, of October 13, 2020, on the justification for the restriction of free movement in the EU in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the control of all points of entry.
However you interpret it, it is as Rufs says largely irrelevent because of the internal restrictions on travel.
peedee
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Rufs wrote "P.s. daughter who lives in Villa Martin still showing temps 20 - 25 degs but cold at night"
When I had my apartment in Gran Alacant, over the years we visited in every month except July and August. In the winter months, it was always cold at night although the days could be pleasant.
Given the current travel problems, it seems we sold at a good time. Hopefully in the new year things may become a little clearer on our planned perambulations.
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Like i said in an earlier post the Spanish are doing this to help you visit this winter, they have found over the last few months that 4,330 covid infections were brought in by tourist mostly British/German.
Once you have proved negativity you can drive on to your destination, there are no restrictions on the motorway only when coming off into towns/municipalites, the campsite we visited in Calpe two weeks ago are advising people to have a copy of their booking with them when travelling, i can not vouch for other regions but in Valencia all the bars/restaurants are open till 11pm with the curfew from 12midnight.
The only thing that would stop me coming to Spain this year is the lack of insurance cover but it hasn't stopped a lot of Brits i would estimate there are about 30% over here then usual at the moment going on the three sites i have visited recently.
Phil
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Thank you Phil, I am glad things are well where you are - yet two weeks ago I read that Catalonia, Murcia and Andalusia were among the provinces which had closed their internal borders. Have things improved since then?
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Like Philnffc wrote 4,330 covid infections were brought in by MOSTLY British/German tourist`s.
It`s a good idea why don`t we all travel round and spread it.
I would not believe an english covid test anyway with what they are saying on the news.
Common sence should rule here.
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I have only just read all these posts so this may be a bit late... anyway we have been travelling to Spain every winter for a good few years and we were hoping to go this winter and have spent recent weeks researching and contacting various authorities to establish the exact rules and regulations regarding arrival on Brittany ferries from Spain and France. There are number of incorrect things above which I want to clarify and share with you, not to try to be clever but to help if it’s of interest to anybody.
France: A PCR test is NOT currently required for arrival into France from the UK however travel for leisure purposes is not allowed as the country is in lockdown and this criteria is not on the special circumstances list. Their lockdown has today been extended to 15 December.
PCR Test: has to be done privately, and must include fit to travel cert. Boots can not guarantee the timing of this.
we found the best option on:
Medicspot.com
It is £190 each however for 24hr guaranteed results (emailed).
Travel through Spain to the South:
you are allowed to transit through different regions of Spain even if they are confined as long as you are only stopping within them for petrol. there is no other acceptable reason to stop.
Valencia is currently confined until the 9th of December and Andalusia 10th of December because of a major bank holiday on 6 Dec.
once this date passes it is expected that these confinements will be lifted.Andalusia are offering free travel insurance including Covid cover from the 1st of January for anybody staying in officially registered accommodation.
regarding the Brits and Germans bringing Covid to Spain!....
“A coronavirus variant that originated in Spanish farm workers has spread rapidly through much of Europe since the summer, and now accounts for the majority of new Covid-19 cases in several countries — and more than 80 per cent in the UK.
An international team of scientists that has been tracking the virus through its genetic mutations has described the extraordinary spread of the variant, called 20A.EU1, in a research paper to be published on Thursday.
Their work suggests that people returning from holiday in Spain played a key role in transmitting the virus across Europe, raising questions about whether the second wave that is sweeping the continent could have been reduced by improved screening at airports and other transport hubs.“
Anyway if anyone requires the source of info post on here and I will post the main websites.1 -
We have recently arrived in Spain and are in Alicante.
We did manage to get a negative test (thankfully), and actually the whole journey was without incident - provided you stick exactly to the rules, which is completely reasonable.
On the way, we saw 7 people who believed the 'no one checks up on this stuff'. All were turned back. Potentially, they were fined, although I obviously wouldn't know that.
We plan to winter here without really moving around, so any inter provincial restrictions are not an issue. Lots of places to eat are open, virtually everyone is wearing a mask, and precautions are clearly set out and mostly complied with. It's feels safer than the local Asda did before we left.0 -
Brittany Ferries have confirmed that the current application of the rules require a test 72 hours before entry into Sapin.
Their full reply was"
At the time of writing the Spanish and French Covid Test regulations are different and as you have mentioned the French requirement is a negative result within 72 hours of departure and the Spanish within 72 hours of arrival. Both tests have to be valid at the point of check in. I have put a link below to the Spanish website (also accessible from our website) which gives the criteria in full. Please note as government regulations can change at very short notice we advise all passengers travelling to check the relevant Government webpages before travelling for the very latest information.
You will see that TMA and LAMP tests are also allowed as well as PCR tests. The benefit of TMA or LAMP tests is you will receive the result in a much shorter time frame which allows the result to be valid for your check in and arrival in Spain.
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/en/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/spth.htm
I suppose we will have to wait until the situation improves before attempting entry into Spain unless anyone has found a 24 hour testing service on the south coast.
Link Edited
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I suppose we will have to wait until the situation improves befroe attempting entry into Spain unless anyone has found a 24 hour testing servcie on the south coast
wouldnt be going to Spain right now, they are entering the crisis we are currently in, spoke to my daughter yesterday, teacher in Spain, 6 members of the teaching staff now off with covid-19, until last week she did not know anybody that was covid positive, now it would appear lots have it
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I rather agree.
We are in Spain, as we speak, and are likely to be here for some months - returning to the UK is just not practical.
And neither is coming here if you are in the UK
In all realistic senses, any thought of visiting Spain before August at the earliest is likely to meet with disappointment.
I suspect the same is true with regards to out returning to the UK!0 -
weather update to Mr Orange Tree on 9th February
Durham weather (out of my window) is snowing and cold - stay where you are!!
Have a safe travel back!
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I guess you could be in danger of outstaying your welcome, i guess you are now subject to the 90 days in 180 commencing as of 31st Dec 2020 and with tough new restrictions being imposed as of next week for entry into the Uk, things can only get worse
, certainly wont be venturing out of the UK in the foreseeable future 0 -
It's increasingly looking like I shan't be able to utilise my P&O IOU. Given that I am legally prevented from travel, I wonder what the chances are of actual cash back.
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Just in case anybody missed this, IOW ferry might be the best we can do for now
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Thinking of just cashing mine in, take whatever hit, and just not doing overthere until there is more clarity, both Spain and France still have heavy restrictions on travel so even if you get over there you could be in a state of flux, maybe just not worth the effort
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Report in the press today stating that the EU could demand you have a certificate of some sorts to prove you have been vaccinated before travel in the EU will be allowed and Angela Merkel saying that the technologoy to allow this to happen is at least 3 months away, add this to the tick list for travel overthere
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I’ll wait until the dust settles before I decide if it’s worth the hassle of visiting Europe, I dare say they’ve got more to lose than me. Until then I’ll visit more of the UK👍🏻🙂
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