Documentation for entry into Spain

[spikehcm681]

We're hoping to travel to Portugal via France and Spain at the end of next week.

The Spain Travel Health (SpTH) website informs us that we must download an FCS (Travel Health Contact) form.

There is an Aviation and a Maritime version but not one for overland access.

Has anyone driven from France to Spain recently (we'll be crossing near Irun)? If so - what happened?

I also understand that Portugal isn't accepting the UK Digital Vaccination Certificate - so we'll have to take a test at some point. Does anyone have experience of Spain accepting the UK certificate?

Thanks - in anticipation of any help.

Cheers
Spike

 

[jumar]

Nothing much to help you with other than, on a minor crossing in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago the Spanish Police were actively checking vehicles and asking for Covid Vax Documents....the day we crossed....from Spain into France no such activities were experienced for us and a free flow was seen in the other direction...

 

[Richard n Ann]

Don't think you need anything by road, they've abandoned the idea of borders and national security within the shenanigans zone

That wasn't my joke it was the phone's

 

[spikehcm681]

Nothing much to help you with other than, on a minor crossing in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago the Spanish Police were actively checking vehicles and asking for Covid Vax Documents....the day we crossed....from Spain into France no such activities were experienced for us and a free flow was seen in the other direction...

Thanks for the reply.

Have you got Spanish residency? What documents did you have to show - an UK one of the EU version? Did you have to fill out a declaration?

Sorry about the extra questions.

 

[spikehcm681]

Don't think you need anything by road, they've abandoned the idea of borders and national security within the shenanigans zone

That wasn't my joke it was the phone's

Thanks - I've got my suspicions too but if their wrong there'll be a lot of faffiing about to do at the Border. I'm looking for people who have actually made the crossing recently.

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[Richard n Ann]

Thanks - I've got my suspicions too but if their wrong there'll be a lot of faffiing about to do at the Border. I'm looking for people who have actually made the crossing recently.

We entered Spain the other day but it was from France. Nothing required.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The toll road in Spain is now free so we got on the French toll road at Le Boulou to miss out all the congestion at the Border town. Cost €1.50 then all the toll booths are abandoned all the way to Benidorm
Friday 3rd September...

 

[jumar]

Thanks for the reply.

Have you got Spanish residency? What documents did you have to show - an UK one of the EU version? Did you have to fill out a declaration?

Sorry about the extra questions.

Yes we are Spanish residents...we had on our phones the EU Covid paperwork...nothing else...one thing of interest....Covid paperwork is being requested in more public areas to enter..eg... Restaurants inside areas..

 

[spikehcm681]

Yes we are Spanish residents...we had on our phones the EU Covid paperwork...nothing else...one thing of interest....Covid paperwork is being requested in more public areas to enter..eg... Restaurants inside areas..

Thanks
I THINK the Spanish authorities are accepting the UK digital certificate - but the Portuguese aren't.

We were hoping to spend a week in the Picos.

So the plan is to 1, try to get into Spain - if test required get one and go straight to Portugal (it's only valid for 48.72 hrs.

Plan B - if Spanish test not required is to try to get into Portugal and get a test if required.

Cheers

Spike

 

[jumar]

Thanks
I THINK the Spanish authorities are accepting the UK digital certificate - but the Portuguese aren't.

We were hoping to spend a week in the Picos.

So the plan is to 1, try to get into Spain - if test required get one and go straight to Portugal (it's only valid for 48.72 hrs.

Plan B - if Spanish test not required is to try to get into Portugal and get a test if required.

Cheers

Spike

Try not to bypass the Pico's or the Northern coast of Asturias and Galicia...they totally outstrip Portugal.....a little biased you may say....yep...I suppose I am.....but I know what I like...

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[bladerunner]

Rode motorbike today over the Pyrenees.
No sign of border control at all

entry to France required declaration and covid QR proof.
Tous anticovid app QR requested and accepted at virtually all cafes and hotels.
masks in town and all public places.
alcohol gel everywhere.
general mood good.
Not been asked for any proof of vax yet in Spain.
Self declaration required for air and sea entry to Spain but not road.

 

[spikehcm681]

Thanks - that's helpful.

 

[Vanderek]

We are in Spain , a French couple arrived yesterday saying they crossed the border yesterday and nothing was requested.

 

[spikehcm681]

We are in Spain , a French couple arrived yesterday saying they crossed the border yesterday and nothing was requested.

Ta!

 

[BreweryDave]

Nothing required to enter portugal from spain by road. I did it last month.
You are supposed to show a vaccine cert to sit inside restaurants on fri/sat/sun but (a) who want to be inside, and (b) haven’t seen it happen anywhere yet

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[Barti Ddu]

As BreweryDave says, as of about a week ago, no restrictions for UK citizens arriving in Portugal by road, whether double jabbed with an EU approved vaccine or not.
See - https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

Good news for me, as although I'm double jabbed, the first dose was the non EU approved Indian AZ / Covishield.

We're planning on doing the same as the OP but a couple of weeks behind him.

 

[gus-lopez]

There is no requirement for a travel form when entering spain by road. The form is only for air or sea travel.

 

[C15HOD]

We're hoping to travel to Portugal via France and Spain at the end of next week.

The Spain Travel Health (SpTH) website informs us that we must download an FCS (Travel Health Contact) form.

There is an Aviation and a Maritime version but not one for overland access.

Has anyone driven from France to Spain recently (we'll be crossing near Irun)? If so - what happened?

I also understand that Portugal isn't accepting the UK Digital Vaccination Certificate - so we'll have to take a test at some point. Does anyone have experience of Spain accepting the UK certificate?

Thanks - in anticipation of any help.

Cheers
Spike

You can download a printed Vaccination Certificate with QR code from the NHS at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/get-your-covid-pass-letter/
It is available in English & other Languages so order French, Spanish & Portuguese

 

[jimbow]

Nothing much to help you with other than, on a minor crossing in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago the Spanish Police were actively checking vehicles and asking for Covid Vax Documents....the day we crossed....from Spain into France no such activities were experienced for us and a free flow was seen in the other direction...

0

 

[Abacist]

You can download a printed Vaccination Certificate with QR code from the NHS at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/get-your-covid-pass-letter/
It is available in English & other Languages so order French, Spanish & Portuguese

This was very helpful to find out that you can get it foreign languages. However I have just tried it and the letter gets posted to the address registered to your GP. There did not appear to be any facility to download the letters immediately. Clearly you need to do this a few weeks in advance of your trip. They say you should get it in 5 days if your information that you enter is correct but I'd allow some leeway on that!

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[Baldeagle7470]

I have travelled between France,Spain and Portugal by road several times recently and have not been stopped at any of the borders,my car is Portuguese registered.
If you are entering Portugal from Badajoz in Spain it is a dual carriageway and there are no border points open,you drive straight through.
I was asked on entering restaurant in France for certificate and just mentioning masks are still required outside in Portugal,think this restriction is being lifted sometime this month but not sure on that.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[Bigal1]

Entered Spain yesterday on the A9.....Nothing on the Border and just drove straight through.

And the tolls have been lifted on the AP7 all the way down to the Vega Baja I think.

 

[C15HOD]

This was very helpful to find out that you can get it foreign languages. However I have just tried it and the letter gets posted to the address registered to your GP. There did not appear to be any facility to download the letters immediately. Clearly you need to do this a few weeks in advance of your trip. They say you should get it in 5 days if your information that you enter is correct but I'd allow some leeway on that!

I have done this & was posted to my home address within 5 days.

 

[spikehcm681]

This was very helpful to find out that you can get it foreign languages. However I have just tried it and the letter gets posted to the address registered to your GP. There did not appear to be any facility to download the letters immediately. Clearly you need to do this a few weeks in advance of your trip. They say you should get it in 5 days if your information that you enter is correct but I'd allow some leeway on that!

Are you registered for the NHS app? If so you can download it.
BTW you can (through your GP) register for patient access to your files using the HNS app - maybe handy if you travel abroad a lot?

 

[spikehcm681]

I have travelled between France,Spain and Portugal by road several times recently and have not been stopped at any of the borders,my car is Portuguese registered.
If you are entering Portugal from Badajoz in Spain it is a dual carriageway and there are no border points open,you drive straight through.
I was asked on entering restaurant in France for certificate and just mentioning masks are still required outside in Portugal,think this restriction is being lifted sometime this month but not sure on that.
Enjoy your trip.

Thanks - and thank you to all the other very helpful replies to my question.

We usually use the crossing from Badajoz but were hoping to go from the Picos into Northern Portugal.
The last time we did this (in the dark) - we were flagged down by an army officer (i.e. peaked cap) and his oppo (carrying an automatic rifle). It was not long after a terrorist attack - where the perpetrator got as far a Belgium without detection. The officer just wanted to see my drivers licence. Big salute when he saw all the extensions on the back!

P.S. our worry now is the dissonance between our UK figures and what's happening in Europe. The N.I. and Scottish cases mean that the UK average is much higher than France, Spain and Portugal's - and going in the opposite direction. It would be just our luck if they required a quarantine period in France for all UK arrivals. so Fingers crossed that the "back to school" effect doesn't kick-in until after we get there.

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[Abacist]

Are you registered for the NHS app? If so you can download it.
BTW you can (through your GP) register for patient access to your files using the HNS app - maybe handy if you travel abroad a lot?

Yes I have downloaded the English version for us from the App but thought I’d like the foreign language versions as well but they get posted to you.

 

[Abacist]

At Plymouth waiting to board and am getting bored! Long, slow tedious process and they seem to be doing a lot of searching of people and vehicles today!

 

[Abacist]

Nothing to worry about - just security checking that you’ve packed everything yourself and are not carrying anything for anybody! If you are in a big tall Moho don’t rush to check in at 11:30am or you will be twiddling your thumbs for hours! We arrived at 12:30 and that was probably 1.5 hours too soon!

 

[spikehcm681]

I haven't seen the story (below) reported anywhere other than in The Guardian - but it's more good news.

I've been hoping that there might be some relaxation of the rules in the EU once the main part of the Tourist Season was over - but only if the stats were going in the right direction.

The latest figures that I've seen are showing that the Covid case numbers are dropping in France, Spain and Portugal - and all are significantly lower (per 100,000) than the UK's.

Added to the latest UK policy of allowing returning tourists to have a lateral flow test (instead of a PCR) and it's starting to auger well for motorhomers who want to travel thoughout the Continent (for 90 days) this winter.

The EU is expected to accept the NHS Covid pass as proof of vaccination across the union within days, as the Netherlands warned British tourists that they will otherwise need to take a daily test to visit Dutch bars, restaurants and museums.

Nearly two months after making an application to the European commission, UK officials said they believed Brussels would “shortly” recognise the NHS certificate as equivalent to the EU’s own digital pass.

Sources in Brussels suggested that agreement could be expected by the end of the month, with “significant progress” having been made in recent weeks on the technical tie-up of the systems.

The decision would ensure that all 27 member states and 16 non-EU countries automatically allow entry to visitors from England and Wales carrying the NHS Covid pass, which contains a QR code.

The app would also be recognised by hospitality premises in countries where proof of vaccination is necessary for entry to bars, restaurants and cultural events.

The lack of “equivalence” status has been a thorn in the side of British tourists seeking to visit a range of European destinations and for those people who were vaccinated in the UK but who live abroad.

The problem has become particularly acute as an increasing number of EU governments have introduced a need for a Covid pass to attend events or be admitted to places of hospitality.

As of 25 September, people vaccinated in the UK but visiting or living in the Netherlands, for example, face having to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken in the previous 24 hours in order to enter a restaurant, bar, museum, cultural event or sports stadium.

In Switzerland, expats spoke of being unable to attend sporting facilities, including gyms, due to the NHS Covid pass being regarded as invalid.

The NHS Covid pass has been accepted unilaterally by 19 EU countries, including France, as proof of vaccination at the border but even in some of these countries recognition was not always automatic for those seeking to go to a bar or restaurant.

 

[spikehcm681]

Portugal recognises the UK Vaccination Certificate

Portugal Now Recognises Vaccination & Recovery Certificates Issued by Third Countries

The Portuguese authorities have announced that vaccination and recovery certificates issued by third countries will now be recognised under reciprocal conditions, provided that certain requirements are met. According to a press release issued by the Portuguese Government, vaccination...

www.schengenvisainfo.com

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