Spain will reopen its borders to visitors from Europe’s passport-free Schengen travel area on June 21, bringing forward the original date by 10 days, the country’s prime minister has announced.
Spain will also drop its requirement for people arriving from abroad to stay in quarantine, either at home or in a hotel, for 14 days on arrival, Pedro Sanchez said.
The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen zone
In an exception, the border between Spain and Portugal will remain closed to non-essential crossings until July 1.
Spain’s government had already announced that on June 21 it would end the nation’s state of emergency to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
From then on, Spaniards will be able to move freely around the country without restrictions, but face masks will remain mandatory on public transport and in crowded spaces.
On Monday, Spain’s Balearic Islands will test their reopening strategy by accepting the first flights from Germany of tourists who will be exempt from a quarantine. The islands plan to welcome up to 10,900 Germans during the trial.
More than 27,000 Spaniards have died in the country’s pandemic.
