Given that India was one of the countries hardest impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, with record numbers of infection cases and deaths, most of the EU Member States agreed to maintain an entry ban on arrivals from the country.
However, on August 6, Spain decided to accept Indian visitors. Furthermore, the Spanish government said at the time that the consular offices for visa applications, which had been temporarily shuttered owing to the Coronavirus outbreak, had reopened.
As a result, Indian nationals with a valid long-stay visa, health professionals, students, highly qualified workers, persons traveling for essential family-related reasons, diplomatic and consular personnel, transport personnel, and persons demonstrating that they are traveling for necessary reasons may enter Spain.
Nonetheless, the Spanish authorities have stated that arrivals from India will be authorized only if the travelers can demonstrate that they have been completely vaccinated, with several exceptions listed below in the text.
Entry requirements for vaccinated Indian nationals
According to the information published by the Spanish official tourist website, Travel Safe, for Indian nationals to enter the country, they must demonstrate that they have been completely vaccinated with one of the vaccination dosages recognized by Spain.
As a result, Indians must obtain a vaccination certificate indicating that they have completed the vaccination process with one of the following jabs:
- PfizerBioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (mRNA1273)
- AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- Sinopharm (BBIBPCorV, SinopharmWuhan)
- Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
- Covishield (Serum Institute of India)
Indian travelers should be aware that, while the Covishield vaccine is accepted as proof of immunity, the Covaxin vaccine is not.
Furthermore, it has been stressed that the immunization certificate should state that 14 days have passed since the last vaccine dosage, as well as include all the following information:
- Name and surname of the holder
- Date(s) of vaccination, showing when the last dose was given
- The type of vaccination used
- The pending vaccination doses
- Issuing country
- Issuer, i.e., health authorities
When a vaccination certificate is not needed
Although the Spanish authorities require confirmation of vaccination, they have revealed that travelers who visit Spain under special circumstances can enter the country without being immunized against the COVID-19 disease.
They must, however, have one of the following two documents:
- A negative PCR or fast antigen test obtained within 72 hours of arrival
- A recovery certificate is issued within 180 days of sample collection
Some other regulations for Spain’s prospective India Immigrants
Aside from the procedures listed above, Indian travelers must complete and sign a Health Control form before their trip. The form is accessible and signable via the Spain Travel Health Portal or mobile app devices.
After filling out the form, a QR code will be created, which must be presented to the health authorities upon arrival in Spain. Travelers should keep in mind that paper formats are not accepted; only digital formats are accepted.
Furthermore, all passengers traveling in Spain must undergo a health examination at the first point of entry. Temperature measurement, documentation verification, and visual monitoring of passengers’ overall health are all part of this control.
