I'm lost. Scenario: my wife and I are both US citizens. We are fully vaccinated and boosted. We will be traveling from Portugal (where the entry requirements seem clear enough) to Spain on May 12th. As fully vaccinated Americans, it looks like we have to complete Spain's SpTH form and get a QR code to show when we board our flight from Lisbon and arrive in Madrid. What is not clear to me is if we also have to get tested. I see conflicting and unclear guidance on this issue at every website I read. Anyone with very recent or current experience? Thank you!
Posted by
1226 posts
No you do not need a test. Just your proof of vaccination, QR code, and passport (and ticket)
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6525 posts
I’ll echo Jessica’s comment; no test required.
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Thanks so much for your quick replies! One clarification please; are your responses based on recent experience or your interpretations of the rules? Either is fine of course, I'm just trying to get where you're coming from.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6525 posts
Based on people who recently returned, the U.S. Embassy in Spain website, Spain Ministry of Health website, and Travel Safe Spain website.
Posted by
1 posts
What about the reverse? Understand SpTH forms for entry to Spain from US , but how about travel by bus from Spain to Portugal? I think just a test 24-48 prior to entry but not super clear to me. Realize things may change
FissoriC
Posted by
OP
17 posts
For going to Portugal, I found it more straight forward, for those flying anyway. You need to have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure, OR a negative antigen test taken 24 hours prior to departure plus a passenger locator form from https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card. That is, for flying. I don't know about buses.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
moorehdg- I've been to Spain three times since November and can vouch for the above. I will add that there will be a control in the arrival airport to scan that QR code. One of the three times I was then asked to show my vaccine proof—I think it was a random verification.
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Scudder - great feedback along with the others. By proof of vaccination, I assume that means the CDC card. Also assuming that I have to fill out the SpTH form for myself and my wife separately, thereby generating two QRs.
Posted by
Detroit, MI
985 posts
I went to Spain in March, 4 to 6 weeks ago. Entry requirements are simple enough. I might have been asked for my card the pharmacist filled out, the card with the logo of the Center for Disease Control. I don't remember if anybody looked at my Spain health form with the QR code. The effort to get in is minimal. On the way back to Detroit I had to show my test result from less than 24 hours before my plane left. I was successfully able to use the Abbot Binax Now test, the one that comes with a supervised remote session.
Posted by
Michigan USA
343 posts
Husband and I just entered Spain (Malaga), a few days ago. We filled out the SpTH form for each of us and had our QR codes ready. No one asked for them 🤷
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
Moorehdg- Yes, proof of vax = CDC card. I’m honestly not sure how the QR code/SpTH works for couples or families. If you don’t find that answer easily, each of you having the app and your own code would be simple enough.
One note on the SpTH app- it will ask for the seat number on your flight arriving into Spain, which, for any number of reasons, you might not be able to get prior to actually checking in for the flights. An agent in the US recognized the chicken/egg conundrum, and told me just to put in “12 A“.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5257 posts
Flew to Mallorca last Saturday from the UK. No testing required for entry into Spain, the only requirement is to complete the SpTH form. You can complete a group form that will enable you to enter you and your wife's details to avoid both having to complete a form. Your wife will be e-mailed the QR code required for entry. You will need to upload evidence of your Covid vaccination (ours was easy, we simply scanned the QR code). The form can only be completed 72 hours before entering Spain although you can part fill it, save it and complete 72 hours before arrival. It will ask for a seat number on your flight but this just seems for tracking purposes, no-one checks so if you don't know it put in anything.
Upon arrival in Spain once you are through immigration you will be directed to a checkpoint where your SpTH QR code will be scanned, you can either print it out or display it on your phone. There are random checks for proof of vaccination status so be prepared for that.
Masks are no longer mandatory for inside or outside spaces but continue to be required for public transport and medical facilities.
Posted by
OP
17 posts
See, this why these public forums can be so valuable. Real life experiences that can be shared with folks facing the same questions. I used to write contracts for the government and I am so trained in parsing out words that I find contradictions and lack of clarity at every turn. I found bunches of them relating to this subject! So thanks to all of you for your feedback!