Did you just return from Spain?

Haven’t been there recently, but no tests are currently required to enter the country if fully vaccinated. You’ll upload a copy of your CDC card to your airline or the app it says to use. If you want to get an antigen test before going over it’s for your piece of mind only. Within Spain, each region has different COVID rules about mask wearing. As for testing to return, since we’ll be flying back from Madrid, I have a few testing sites to contact for scheduling a test.

Whether you need anything to transit through Germany, I have no idea. One contributor to the forum has been to Spain a couple times in the last few months and I’m sure he’ll respond.

Arrived Saturday, transiting DFW-Madrid-Barcelona.
No test, yes QR code, yes CDC card.
QR code and vax card check required at DFW check in.
QR code checked upon arrival with passport at immigration, and 3 more times at the Madrid airport during transit to Barcelona. Then it disappears and no more worries with cards - masks inside.
Where you get a test to return home depends on where you are leaving from.

My girlfriend and I were there for a couple weeks in February. All things pandemic considered, everything was totally normal. The PLF was a bit tricky for us compared to others- you can't check in without it, but it requires a seat assignment to complete, and we fly standby. Ha ha, we hadn't had that problem before. We flew into Madrid and came back from Barcelona. When not traveling, I only remember showing our CDC cards once, in Valencia. I had left mine in the room but they were happy with the scan I had of it on my phone. We always use the proctored Abbott kits to test before departure. Given how cheap and convenient they are, I can't believe there's so much chatter on this forum about doing it any other way. Anyway, I think it's a great time to go despite the chance of an extended stay. Hardly any other Americans and no lines (even during entrada gratuita at Museo Reina Sofía). It's like the 80's again, but with face masks. Don't worry about it too much. You'll have a great time.

Third to echo the previous statements.

Going in November I couldn’t check in with the QR but couldn’t get a sear assignment without checking in, which was a code-share issue. The AA agent made up a seat assignment for me. One quick scan of that QR upon arrival in MAD.

In January needed to show the QR both somewhere after customs, again n the transit process, and upon arrival in Gran Canaria. Canarias had the strictest protocols, including vax proof for venues, but that’s all been rescinded. I needed that multiple times a day, and the pic on my phone always worked. I never did and never would carry my CDC card daily.

I did tests at local clinics in Madrid prior to flying home. Taking Binax tests this time.

Spoilednonrev—lots of folks on this forum seem to actively reject the Binax proctored option. So strange to me!

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement. It sounds like the QR may come in handy after all. It is so much easier than constantly pulling out the vax card (and then keeping track of it until it is safely back where you keep it) I am reading these carefully and appreciate every one responding. I have researched the covid thing to death, but hearing my QR code may not work took me by surprise. It made me wonder if I had missed other things. So far now:
No test to go to Spain transiting through Germany (we have home tests if we are concerned before we go)
Fill out Spain health form (have to wait until 24 hours before to add documents and seat assignments)
Bring masks
Coming home:
Get covid test (I am going to check out the Abbott test)
fill out form attesting our status.
fly home

FYI: We fly in and out of Madrid an transit through Frankfurt both times

Please keep the information coming. I am reading it and even if I already knew something it is encouraging to know that people are traveling with minimum disruptions. If you google it, you get all the "horror stories" (mostly people who didn't know before going what they had to do)- I don't want to be that person!)

Happy travel everyone and thanks again.

Spain has one of the lowest rates of covid infection in the EU right now, accordingly most of the covid measures in Spain have been scrapped as of the last month, including checking for vaccination certification at bars/restaurants. Once you exit the airport the only measure you will probably notice are obligatory masks indoors. Our PM has hinted that they may even drop the indoor mask mandate in the coming weeks.

Carlos- We have had indoor masks dropped here in Washington State, so I have my fingers crossed it will happen there soon. If not, we won't let it interfere with our fun. It's our first trip to Spain. With only 2 weeks, we are seeing the Andalusian area. (Saving northern Spain for a September trip when we can enjoy hiking in the Pyrenees.

Sounds like a fun trip, happy travels!

Connie- to clarify- The QR code I referred to using in the airports was the one issues by the Spanish belt department app, SpTH. That QR code has no use outside of the airport.

Whatever QR code you got for your vax certificates also will not be any use for you. Simply not compatible systems.

I really would not carry my CDC card, but certainly have a photo of it handy on my phone. This from the experience of having spent 6 weeks in Spain over two trips since November.

Thank you Scudder. Do it is OK to just show a picture of your card? We will have a photocopy of it with us. Is that acceptable?

Connie - In January in the Canary Islands proof of vax was required, and I was just fine with only a picture of the card on my phone. Once someone asked for an ID to verify it against and I showed him my NY driver's license.

Proof of vax is no longer required for entry into individual venues, so I'm sure a photo and a photocopy would have you more than covered.

This week in Barcelona, no need for the CDC card at all. Not required. Once you are in the country with the QR code, you don’t need anything at all. However this may vary slightly region to region, so you need to be specific.

We just returned from 16 nights in Spain. Our connecting flight was through New Jersey so I have no information on transiting through Germany. We entered Spain with the printed copy of the required Spanish health form and the paper copy of our vaccinations, though we also had the qr codes on our phones. Once there, nothing more required. We used the BinaxNow proctored test kits for our test to return home. We did them the day before our flight as required. Much easier than looking for a testing site.

My wife and I just returned on Saturday (March 12) from a month in Spain. We landed in Malaga on Feb 9, flying from Montreal via Brussels. Vax certificates were checked by the airlines, but on arrival in Spain they were only interested in the competed SpTH QR code. Like others, I had a problem completing the process because of the seat number requirement. My ticket was with Air Canada, but my arrival flight was a code share on Brussels Airlines. The AC agent couldn’t give me a definite seat assignment, but told me some seats that were available, and “suggested” that I use those, and just say my seats were changed at the gate. The seat numbers were not an issue when our SpTH code was scanned on arrival.

When we landed, the universal masking everywhere rule had recently been lifted, but masks continue to be required outdoors when social distancing is not possible. In busy pedestrian areas, most people popped on their masks almost automatically. We were asked for proof of vaccination a few times early in the trip. Our Canadian QR code did not work, but they accepted the accompanying record of when vaccinations were received. For us, that’s all one document, which we have on our phones. Basically, they just wanted to see words like Pfizer or Moderna and at least two dates.
Returning to Canada our rules differ from yours, but we carried two RT-LAMP kits with us, which were proctored online, and the results photoed into our arrival apps. We flew Valencia to Zurich to Montreal. Switzerland required no testing for connections, and our arrival at Montreal was quick and easy.
Overall, I’d say that the people of Spain are a good model for how to deal with Covid. It’s around, but they are mostly vaccinated, and will wear masks when appropriate. Have your proof of vaccination in a form that can be read by a human eye, use a mask when needed, and you won’t have a problem. And enjoy your trip!

Thanks everyone for your responses (and Connie for asking!). I will be in Madrid end of month. Friend there is concerned I won't be allowed in to restaurants w/o QR code. Looks like i will be okay with cdc card/photocopy

Thanks everyone. I appreciate each and every reply. Connie

We are headed home from Spain today. Currently sitting in the Barcelona airport waiting to board our flight. Here was our experience: we had to show our Spanish health form QR code when we checked into our flight and we had to show it again at
The Barcelona airport. That was literally the only documents we had to show once we landed in Barcelona. They didn’t even check our passports. It was the most relaxed security/ passport control I’ve even seen.

We brought the Abbot Binax proctored test with us and tested in our AirBNB. It was easy and convenient.

We flew ATL to Frankfurt to Barcelona. Frankfurt was a cluster and very disorganized. I don’t know
If it was because we landed there at 7 am and they weren’t fully staffed yet or what. They did stamp
Our passports there.

All in all it’s been an easy experience.