Spanish PM confirms Brits can come to Spain with no PCR test from Monday

The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has confirmed this afternoon that Spain is looking forward to welcoming back British tourists in to Spain, and will do so without the need for quarantine or a PCR test, speaking at the Fitur tourism fair, he said in English that the country “will be delighted to receive British tourists again.”

The Spanish government has opted to add the United Kingdom to the list of countries whose residents will not be subject to coronavirus restrictions when travelling to Spain, including the requirement to present a negative PCR test on arrival.

That’s according to an order that was published today in the Official State Gazette (BOE), which justifies the decision arguing that Spain usually receives a large number of visitors from the United Kingdom, “meaning that many economic sectors need to adapt their capacities in advance to the changes that will take place at the borders.”

The order will come into force on Monday (May 24^th), and will mean that the UK will no longer be subject to the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the European Union via external borders when their destination is Spain. The order makes reference to the fact that the European Council is currently engaged in a debate to lift the restrictions for the same countries across the entire bloc, something that is likely to happen soon.

Sánchez confirmed that from Monday, travellers from the UK and the other countries already on the list “will be able to enter in the country without health controls on arrival.” He also added that, from June 7th, “tourists from other countries with which there is not complete free movement, among them the United States, will be able to enter Spain provided they count on a certificate showing they have received their full Covid vaccinations.”

The prime minister also conveyed these messages in English, so that, in his own words, they reached the international press. “I am pleased to inform you that the ministerial order will be officially published today exempting citizens from the UK and other countries such as New Zealand, South Korea or China from temporary restrictions for non-essential trips to Spain,” he said. “I can therefore announce that from next Monday, May 24th, Spain will be delighted to receive British tourists again into our country.”