Tourists visiting Spain need Covid-free certificates from today – or face a £2.6k fine

TRAVELLERS arriving in Spain from today face a fine of up to £2,600 if they arrive without a negative coronavirus certificate – and they could be sent home.

The Spanish government has confirmed it will take tough action on people who don't abide by the new rules, which are designed to stem the spread of Covid-19.

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Anyone heading for Spain from today will need to take a PCR test up to 72 hours before their departure and be able to show it in paper form or electronically on their arrival.

As well as filling in a detailed health questionnaire and providing a coronavirus-certificate, airport arrivals will still be required to have their temperature taken electronically.  

The Spanish government says anyone who arrives without a covid-free certificate will be fined up to €3,000 (£2,600) because they are taking the situation "very very seriously".

The traveller must then pay to take a test on Spanish soil and wait for the result.

Anyone who gets involved in a more serious situation, such as refusing to take a test or becoming obstructive with officials, could be fined up to €60,000 (£53,000) and faces being deported from Spain.

People in England are currently prohibited from taking a holiday in Spain under the UK government's lockdown, which lasts until at least December 2nd.

Before this, they could travel to Spain but had to go into quarantine for 14 days on their return to the UK, except in the Canary Islands where the UK government has lifted the quarantine restrictions.

It is not yet known  what will happen about international travel from December 2.

However, airports throughout Spain are now ready to enforce the new rules.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism in Spain said: "As of November 23rd, the Spanish government is requiring anyone travelling to Spain including from Britain to show they have tested negative for coronavirus by taking a PCR test up to 72 hours before their departure.

"This will apply to all passengers coming from a risk country or zone (ie the country/zone in which they started their trip) whose final destination is a port or airport in Spain, regardless of their nationality or place of residence."

"The list of countries or risk areas will be published every 15 days on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Health (www.mscbs.gob.es) and on the website of Spain Travel Health -SpTH (www.spth.gob.es). Any change in the affected territories will be effective seven days after its publication."

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