Flying into Spain from Lisbon

The Spanish government website on the topic states if you’re coming from the US, yes, you do have to fill out the Health Form online and get the QR code to show authorities when you arrive in Spain. It also says if you’re coming from a Schengen country in the EU you do not need to fill out the form. It does not give any timelines and it doesn’t specify that your citizenship or residency determines which rule you fall under. The U.S. Embassy’s website says Spain is requiring “US citizens” to complete the health form online and provide proof of vaccination or recovery from covid.
The U.S. Embassy website does not say anything about what country you’re arriving in Spain from. Moreover, in a previous thread concerning this subject, an American planning to go to Portugal first before going to Spain e-mailed the Spanish consulate for clarification and received a reply which essentially said if you will be in Portugal for “14 days before arriving in Spain” then you do not need to complete the Health form or have proof of vaccination,—but if you are just in Portugal for a flight connection you do.

Because the Spanish were probably trying to apply the rules equally to their fellow EU citizens and honor open borders within the Schengen zone, they exempted their fellow EU citizens from any rules not required of Spanish citizens. I do not think they had any intention of allowing citizens from every country on the planet to avoid the rules by first staying one night in another European country.

While technically you are arriving from Portugal, which is in the Schengen zone, there’s the possibility the Immigration officer who looks at your passport cover will assume you’re coming from the US. They can see inside the passport that the stamp you received at Lisbon’s airport shows you were in Portugal the day before you arrived in Spain. ( Be sure that stamped date can be clearly read when they hand back your passport because sometimes there’s not enough ink on the stamp or it smears on the page). You may have no problem. On the other hand, if their supervisor has told them that Americans must show a QR code and a vaccination card, then there could be a problem. At their discretion, they also could require that you undergo a Covid Test at the airport and, if it shows positive for either one of you, you may be required to quarantine for several days. No one wants to do that. Because these rules have been poorly written, I would go ahead and fill out the Health Form and get the QR code so there are no surprises or delays when you arrive in Spain.
The other requirement for those entering from the US is that they want to see proof of either a first Covid vaccination or booster shot in the last 270 days ( 9 months) It seems illogical that you can enter a Schengen country for one day and the proof of vaccination no longer applies. And it’s the vaccination requirement that puts the Health Form in context and indicates the prudent thing to do is bring your CDC Vaccination Cards with you to Spain- just so all your bases are covered.
Alternatively, there are 30 Spanish consulates in the US and e-mailing one of them would get you an answer directly from the Spanish government Their e-mail addresses are listed at www.spainvisa.eu

The form takes 3 minutes to complete. Easier to just do it had have it than drilling down for the nuanced answer of whether or not you need it.

Thank you! Will go ahead and fill out the form to be on the safe side.

Camille,

According to the Spain Travel Health portal, it looks like you will need to complete the health form to enter Spain (and get your SpTH QR code) despite the fact that you will be spending an overnight in Portugal.

My understanding is that if you’re traveling from the U.S., and you don’t have an “EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) or EU Equivalent”, you will need the SpTH QR code to enter Spain.

Here’s an excerpt from the Spain Travel Health Portal that explains it better:

What should I do if I arrive in Spain from another country?

Passengers (except children under the age of 12 and international transits), who arrive in Spain from countries that do NOT belong to the European Union or do NOT have the status of Schengen associated countries, must show an EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) or EU Equivalent. If you do not have one, you must fill in the Health Control Form and obtain your SpTH QR, to show at boarding and at the health controls upon arrival in Spain.

Enjoy your trip!