Spain to allow inbound travellers from high-risk countries to arrive with negative COVID-19 diagnosis or Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA) test

Spain will allow inbound travellers from high-risk countries, aside from a PCR test, to alternatively substantiate a negative COVID-19 diagnosis of active infection with a Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA) test carried out 72 hours before their arrival.

Accordingly, the resolution that came into force on 23 November has been amended, which originally only permitted a negative PCR test. The TMA test is a molecular technique to detect the viral RNA with a level of reliability similar to that for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

This new resolution, which will come into force on Thursday, also establishes that children under the age of six will not be required to show a negative result in these diagnostic tests to enter Spain. This type of exception has been introduced in many of our peer countries.

Furthermore, to facilitate obtaining the document substantiating the negative result of the diagnostic test of active infection, this may be written in French or German, apart from in Spanish or English.

In the event that it is not possible to obtain the result in these languages, the substantiating document must be accompanied by a translation into Spanish by an official body.

As has been the case to date, the Health Control Form that passengers must fill in before their arrival in the country will include a question on whether the passenger has had a negative diagnostic test carried out within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Spain. Passengers may be asked to produce this test result at any time.

In addition, the health controls performed on all inbound passengers at arrival points will be maintained, such as temperature and visual controls.

The Official State Gazette will publish the resolution on Thursday, and hence the amendments it contains will come into force as of that moment in time.

Non official translation