sallylillian
LIFE MEMBER
I started my ES health form several weeks before departure expecting it to hold completion until the 48hr window specified. It went straight through to approval and an email sent with a QR code PDF. It seems that they have no link between the date you enter for arrival in Spain to the date you are signing the form for the status of your health. 
However I knew that BreweryDave had done the same and used his original form maybe 2 weeks before.
This bothered me however and several times in the interim I attempted to modify my entry data. They seemed to have introduced a region of departure which had previously been excluded and my form froze at that point of the modification process. I was concerned at what exactly the QR code contained and how this was interrogated.
Therefore on the day before departure I completed start from scratch forms for Sally and I. Received new emails with access codes and then completed the form. This time the region drop down was live and I could complete the region. So we then got our new 2 emailed QR coded forms. I felt relaxed now as I was within the window and had all the correct data.
At the Plymouth BF check-in I watched from my perch and he scanned the code into a device that looked like a phone but no sure. He then appeared to check another page on its screen against our Vaccination certificates. I asked him if the scanner was linked to Spain he said he did not know as they had only been using them for a week or 2. He said that before that they just looked at the form to check there was a code
All cleared and tickets issued we went through more or less the same customs check.
On the Pont Aven the self service buffets in the main restaurant and the SS restaurant were not in operation or were with a waitress dishing what you selected. Other than mask wearing and this much the same.
Approaching Santander the tannoy announced that the crew would be checking our documents and ID in the garage before disembarkation. In point of fact they did not, however they did come to check our temperatures, but were fairly relaxed and only did occupants they could see. When coming off the ferry there was an Ambulance and several paramedics in an area and I suspect high temperature cases would be sent for further medical examination as I had seen last year in Genoa.
The passport control in Santander was much the same but all 4 kiosks in operation with what appeared to be officers of a higher IQ than we had been used too. They did not want our vaccination certificates or the ES health form just passports which were stamped. Good job that I got the extra pages version when I renewed last year, I will need it over the next 10 years, and by year 5 good luck with them finding the correct stamp!
The place where customs used to be is no more, further down the docks, maybe 1/2 mile or so was a large pull in with tents and such, marked "Goods to Declare" and significantly in HUGE letters, PETS! We did not see anyone being pulled in for random inspection although clearly vehicles with pets had chosen to follow the instruction for whatever exam they need. As I have no wish to take a pet I drove on past and out through the docks and on our way.
In conclusion our experience was in terms of time just as efficient as normal. The boat was not full and as is very often the case because of our height we were near the bow and exit so probably 10th off or so.
Hope this helps those about to do the trip. I suspect that the code scanning may become more intrusive and the online form more interactive, but I suppose that depends on how long these regimes will persist. Please don't spoil this informative post with a discussion on that point.
Michael
However I knew that BreweryDave had done the same and used his original form maybe 2 weeks before.This bothered me however and several times in the interim I attempted to modify my entry data. They seemed to have introduced a region of departure which had previously been excluded and my form froze at that point of the modification process. I was concerned at what exactly the QR code contained and how this was interrogated.
Therefore on the day before departure I completed start from scratch forms for Sally and I. Received new emails with access codes and then completed the form. This time the region drop down was live and I could complete the region. So we then got our new 2 emailed QR coded forms. I felt relaxed now as I was within the window and had all the correct data.
At the Plymouth BF check-in I watched from my perch and he scanned the code into a device that looked like a phone but no sure. He then appeared to check another page on its screen against our Vaccination certificates. I asked him if the scanner was linked to Spain he said he did not know as they had only been using them for a week or 2. He said that before that they just looked at the form to check there was a code
All cleared and tickets issued we went through more or less the same customs check.
On the Pont Aven the self service buffets in the main restaurant and the SS restaurant were not in operation or were with a waitress dishing what you selected. Other than mask wearing and this much the same.
Approaching Santander the tannoy announced that the crew would be checking our documents and ID in the garage before disembarkation. In point of fact they did not, however they did come to check our temperatures, but were fairly relaxed and only did occupants they could see. When coming off the ferry there was an Ambulance and several paramedics in an area and I suspect high temperature cases would be sent for further medical examination as I had seen last year in Genoa.
The passport control in Santander was much the same but all 4 kiosks in operation with what appeared to be officers of a higher IQ than we had been used too. They did not want our vaccination certificates or the ES health form just passports which were stamped. Good job that I got the extra pages version when I renewed last year, I will need it over the next 10 years, and by year 5 good luck with them finding the correct stamp!
The place where customs used to be is no more, further down the docks, maybe 1/2 mile or so was a large pull in with tents and such, marked "Goods to Declare" and significantly in HUGE letters, PETS! We did not see anyone being pulled in for random inspection although clearly vehicles with pets had chosen to follow the instruction for whatever exam they need. As I have no wish to take a pet I drove on past and out through the docks and on our way.
In conclusion our experience was in terms of time just as efficient as normal. The boat was not full and as is very often the case because of our height we were near the bow and exit so probably 10th off or so.
Hope this helps those about to do the trip. I suspect that the code scanning may become more intrusive and the online form more interactive, but I suppose that depends on how long these regimes will persist. Please don't spoil this informative post with a discussion on that point.
Michael
