6,000 fine for passengers entering Spain without PCR after 23 November

Travellers arriving in Spain by air or sea will need a negative PCR certificate after 23rd November.

Entering Spain without a negative PCR test for COVID-19 could cost €6,000, according to Spain’s minister for external affairs,

Arancha González Laya said the fines would be ‘serious’ and ‘dissuasive’, though without interest, in a televised interview with Antena 3 last Friday.

Spain approved the measure following guidelines laid down the European Commission – most EU states already demand negative PCR tests to enter their territories, and avoid quarantine.

González Laya said that 0.08% of travellers entering Spain since July have brought COVID-19 cases – or 4,800 out of 5,200,000.

The new rules only affect travellers arriving by sea of air.

The negative PCR result must have been taken within 72 hours prior to arrival.

Read more about high-risk countries and rules in our write-up last week here.