Irish holidaymakers have been given a glimmer of hope after Spain revealed it would allow tourists into the country from June.
Spanish officials have confirmed that Irish passengers will be free to visit their coasts in the near future as long as they carry a Digital Green Certificate while travelling.
However, because they have yet to implement the vaccine passport for European travellers, Spain’s government released guidance for anyone arriving in from Ireland before then.
European officials are working to pass the digital certificate as quickly as possible in order to see a safe return of international travel within the EU.
The Certificate is digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, has received a negative test result or has recovered from COVID-19.
Alfredo Gonzales, the Spanish General Secretary of Digital Health, said the system could be up and running as by June.
“It will allow for more people to arrive in a safer manner and facilitate the mobility of people in the European Union, guarantee public health protection and permit social and economic activity to resume free of charge”, he said.
The current travel advice states that all passengers arriving into Spain’s mainland, as well as Canary and Balearic Islands, from Ireland must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival as well as submit a completed Locator Form.
Spain recently adopted the EU traffic light system and, guided by ECDC data, set out a list of high-risk countries - which Ireland is currently on.
“Passengers arriving to a Spanish airport or port from Ireland or other countries included on Spain’s list of high-risk countries must provide evidence (electronically or hardcopy) that they have had a negative result on either a PCR, LAMP or TMA test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival.”
Once the Digital Green Certificates come into play, anyone that has one will not be subject to a Covid-19 test on arrival in Spain.
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