The latest update for South African residents wanting to travel to Spain, reveals that we’re on a list of ‘high risk’ countries. Not only are South African travellers subject to quarantine but not very many categories of travel are permitted. This is according to information on the Pretoria section of the Spanish Government's Foreign Affairs website.
According to a Spanish government regulation dated July 31, it means that, although there are no more restrictions on flights from South Africa (there have been no direct flights in place between the two countries since September 2019 anyway) a 10-day quarantine will apply for persons coming from South Africa to Spain.
“A quarantine of 10 days from date of arrival shall apply, or for the entire stay in Spain should the latter be less than the 10 days. Quarantine could be finalised sooner if on the 7th day a negative result for an infection-diagnostic test can be shown.”
What’s more, travellers from South Africa to Spain, are limited to the following categories:
*Residents of Spain or Andorra.
*Spouses of Spanish citizens or partners with whom there has been a recorded union in the public registry or those parents or children who are under their charge, as long as they travel with or to reunite with the Spanish citizen.
*Persons included in categories a), b), d), e) and i) of the Order INT/657/2020: These are…
a) Habitual residents in the European Union, States associated with Schengen, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican (Holy See) or San Marino that are travelling to that country, accrediting this with documentation.
b) Holders of a long-stay visa issued by a member State or State associated with Schengen that are travelling to that country (National Visa: study, work...)
d) Transportation personnel, seamen and aeronautical personnel required to carry out air transportation.
e) Diplomatic, consular or international organisation personnel, military, civil protection, members of humanitarian organisations, in exercise of their functions.
i) Persons who can demonstrate, with documentation, reasons of force majeure or a situation of necessity or whose entrance is permitted on humanitarian grounds.
The government notice states: “it is important to highlight category f) Students who undertake their studies in the member states (…) do not find themselves necessarily included within the categories that are exempt as per ORDER INT/657/2020, of the 17th of July, for the individual who travels from countries who are required to quarantine, as per the requirements set out by these countries of which the exceptions are reflected in section b). Holders of long-stay visas issued by a member state associated with Schengen that are travelling to these countries, entry into Spain will be permitted to holder of study visas longer than 3 months (Long-stay Visas).”
The notice reminds travellers that nationals of third countries are obliged by visa regulations that to cross borders they need to have the corresponding visa.
See the full notice here.
