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Spain lifts quarantine for arrivals for Latin American and African nations

Spain on Monday lifted the ten-day quarantine requirement for travellers arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Namibia and South Africa. 

Published: 24 August 2021 09:35 CEST
Spain lifts quarantine for arrivals for Latin American and African nations
Photo: Jaime Reina/AFP

The Spanish government on Monday chose not to renew the quarantine requirement for arrivals from the non-EU nations on its highest risk list due to their Covid epidemiological situation. 

For varying time periods, travellers from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Namibia and South Africa were not travel to Spain except for exceptional reasons, and even if they were vaccinated, had to remain at their address or accommodation in Spain for ten days and limit their contact with others and movement to the strictly essential.

The ten-day quarantine could end earlier if the traveller got a negative NAAT or similar test result on the seventh day after landing in Spain.

The news effectively means that Spain is now a quarantine-free country for all international arrivals. 

With the emergence of Covid-19 variants in February 2021, Spanish authorities even went as far as banning all travel from Brazil and South Africa, a restriction which was lifted and replaced with a quarantine requirement in late July.  

Travellers from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Namibia were not banned from travelling to Spain but were added to the quarantine list in late July as well. India, which had originally been on the quarantine list, was taken off at that time. 

The criteria used by Spain to put a country on its high risk list is the same as the EU: high infection rate, R number, the rate of testing and vaccination. 

Travellers from these six nations still have to factor in that non-essential travel to Spain (such as tourism) is still not allowed for unvaccinated tourists or those with vaccines not recognised by Spain. 

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Those who are allowed to travel (Spanish nationals, residents and others with justified reasons) have to meet the same requirements as most other non-EU nations: proof of vaccination with EMA or WHO-approved vaccines or proof of negative PCR taken within 72 hours before travel to Spain. They also have to complete a health control form before flying to Spain.

Unvaccinated non-EU/EEA travellers (except for those from countries Spain doesn’t have on its risk list) have to prove duly accredited reasons such as being students, health or diplomatic staff, hold a long-term Schengen visa and other imperative reasons that are listed here. They also have to provide a negative NAAT test (PCR, TMA, LAMP or NEAR) taken within 72 hours before travel to Spain.

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EU

How would a ‘youth mobility scheme’ between the UK and EU really work?

The EU and the UK could enter into a 'youth mobility' scheme allowing young people to move countries to work, study and live. Here's what we know about the proposal.

Published: 18 April 2024 17:09 CEST
How would a 'youth mobility scheme' between the UK and EU really work?

Across the 27 countries of the EU, people of all ages can move countries to work, study, spend a long visit or chase the possibility of love – and all this is possible thanks to EU freedom of movement.

That freedom no longer extends to the UK. As a result of Brexit, a UK national who wants to move to an EU country, or an EU citizen who wants to move to the UK, will need a visa in order to do so.

However, a new ‘mobility scheme’ could re-create some elements of freedom of movement, if the EU and UK can come to an agreement.

The European Commission on Thursday announced proposals for a ‘youth mobility scheme’.

Who would benefit?

First things first, it’s only for the youngsters, older people will have to continue with the time-consuming and often expensive process of getting a visa for study, work or visiting.

The Commission’s proposal is for a scheme that covers people aged 18 to 30. 

Their reasoning is: “The withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in decreased mobility between the EU and the UK. This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges.

“The proposal seeks to address in an innovative way the main barriers to mobility for young people experienced today and create a right for young people to travel from the EU to the UK and vice-versa more easily and for a longer period of time.”

How would it work?

We’re still at an early stage, but the proposal is to allow extended stays – for young people to be able to spend up to four years in the EU or UK – under a special type of visa or residency permit. It does not, therefore, replicate the paperwork-free travel of the pre-Brexit era.

The Commission states that travel should not be ‘purpose bound’ to allow young people to undertake a variety of activities while they are abroad.

Under the visa system, people must travel to a country for a specific purpose which has been arranged before they leave – ie in order to study they need a student visa which requires proof of enrolment on a course, or if they intend to work they need a working visa which often requires sponsorship from an employer.

The proposal would allow young people to spend their time in a variety of ways – perhaps some time working, a period of study and then some time travelling or just relaxing.

It would also not be subject to national or Bloc-wide quotas.

It seems that some kind of visa or residency permit would still be required – but it would be issued for up to four years and could be used for a variety of activities.

Fees for this should not be “excessive” – and the UK’s health surcharge would not apply to people travelling under this scheme.

Are there conditions?

Other than the age qualification, the proposal is that young people would have to meet other criteria, including having comprehensive health insurance, plus financial criteria to ensure that they will be able to support themselves while abroad.

The visa/residency permit could be rejected on the ground of threats to public policy, public security or public health.

Will this happen soon?

Slow down – what’s happened today is that the European Commission has made a recommendation to open negotiations.

This now needs to be discussed in the Council of Europe.

If the Council agrees then, and only then, will the EU open negotiations with the UK on the subject. The scheme could then only become a reality if the EU and UK come to an agreement on the terms of the scheme, and then refine the fine details.

Basically we’re talking years if it happens at all, and there’s plenty of steps along the way that could derail the whole process.

Don’t start packing just yet.

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