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COVID Questions for Spain Trip Feb 3-18?

My wife & I are both vaccinated w/ Pfizer plus booster. I tested positive for Covid on Jan. 4, she was negative. I had a very mild case similar to a cold with symptoms for 3 days. We leave for Barcelona on Feb 3 from Memphis to Atlanta to CDG to BCN on Delta & Air France. After a week in Barcelona, we fly to Paris for a week on Air France.

The CDC says a PCR test might come back positive for 90 days after infection. Rapid antigen test would be better to clear me as negative for flight & on trip. Requirements keep changing in both countries.

1) Do I get a Dr’s. clearance note for my positive?
2) Test w/ a rapid antigen test & hope for a negative? 3) Take a PCR then get a Dr’s. note if it is still positive?

If I have had all the required vaccines & omicron, would I still need a test entering or leaving any of these countries? Help would be appreciated!

Posted by
46 posts

I had COVID around the same time as you. I've already tested negative with a rapid antigen. That shouldn't be a problem. Why not purchase some rapid tests and test yourself? Also, go get a PCR to see if you test negative for that.

That being said, you should also have a doctor's note to be on the safe side. Things are changing all of the time and COVID rates are horribly high in Spain and France. Be prepared for just about anything.

Posted by
10120 posts

The 90 days is for people with very heavy cases, hospitalized, etc.

Posted by
70 posts

Thanks Alex. I’ll get a PCR test tomorrow. We also have two IHealth rapid antigen tests each. I haven’t been able to determine if Spain &/or France will accept that test. I also have a Dr’s appt on the 25th. That will give us time to get test results before the Dr’s appt so hopefully he can approve if I’m clear of Covid. I like the, “be ready for anything” advice.

Also thanks to Bets. I kept seeing the 90 days but didn’t know any details.

Posted by
6386 posts

Go to your doctor and get a certificate of recovery to be on the safe side.

From the U.S. Embassy of Spain website:

Entry and Exit Requirements for Spain

Effective February 1, 2022, U.S. citizens can travel from the United States to Spain on non-essential travel (such as tourism) if they show proof that they are fully vaccinated and have received the last required dose of their COVID-19 vaccine no less than 14 days, and no more than 270 days (9 months), prior to arrival in Spain. If more than 270 days (9 months) have passed since receiving the last required dose of their COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. citizens must show proof of having received a booster shot at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain. Please read the detailed information on the Spain Ministry of Health’s website. U.S. citizens entering Spain on essential travel (such as residents, students or workers) must show either proof of vaccination as shown above, a negative COVID test, or a certificate of recovery.
Additionally, all travelers from the United States to Spain must present a QR code generated through the Spain Travel Health portal, obtained through the website or by downloading the SpTH app in Google Play or App Store for each traveler.
U.S. citizens who are traveling to Spain from a country that is not the United States should make sure they follow the guidance published by Spanish authorities on their local Spain Embassy website.

Posted by
7 posts

We just returned from 2 weeks in Spain on he 15th. We downloaded the Spain health app and entered our info less than 48 hours before leaving. We had to show that when we landed in Amsterdam, boarding to Spain and arriving in Spain. No other info was asked. You add all the info to the app and it generates a QR code to show. We also used this is we wanted to sit inside at a restaurant.
It seems the bigger issue is coming home as you need a negative test.