New Entry Requirements for British Travellers

[James]

Section 7(1) also states:

Vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin will be accepted as valid from 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination regimen. The accepted vaccines will be those authorized by the European Medicines Agency or those that have completed the emergency use process of the World Health Organization.

The diagnostic tests of infection for SARS-CoV-2 admitted will be the following:

1. Molecular nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA);

2. The antigen detection tests included in the common list of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19, published by the European Commission based on Council Recommendation 2021 / C 24/01."

The law published this morning for travellers from the UK only applies Section 7(1) criteria above from the Ministry of Health’s 4 June 2021 Resolution for NATT (i.e. PCR, LAMP or TMA) tests in addition to double vaccination certification. Antigen tests are in Section 7(2) as referenced by the (1) and (2) sub section numbering.

 

[lovethepinewalk]

Hiya All,

After having to cancel two previous holidays to our favourite place on this Earth PP this year due to COVID, we decided to wait a bit and have re-booked to come over for the whole of the month of October.
What with all the requirements needed to access the island at this moment in time re jabs and certificates etc, and bearing in mind that the jabs must be ‘approved’ by the EMA, can any forum member confirm that the AstraZenecajab is acceptable to the authorities?
Three months to October is I know a fair distance away, and a lot can change, but if anyone can answer this question, that would be most appreciated.

Thanks a million..

 

[Luckyone]

Hiya All,

After having to cancel two previous holidays to our favourite place on this Earth PP this year due to COVID, we decided to wait a bit and have re-booked to come over for the whole of the month of October.
What with all the requirements needed to access the island at this moment in time re jabs and certificates etc, and bearing in mind that the jabs must be ‘approved’ by the EMA, can any forum member confirm that the AstraZenecajab is acceptable to the authorities?
Three months to October is I know a fair distance away, and a lot can change, but if anyone can answer this question, that would be most appreciated.

Thanks a million..

Yes Astra Zeneca is EMA approved
You should see this on your digital or paper certificate e.g
EU and numbers next to the doses and dates.

 

[car77]

Somone posted on this thread previously the following?

It's interesting to note that separately the EU are saying they won't accept people as being double jabbed who had the AZ vaccine manufactured in India - that's about 5m brits. If you look at your vaccine certificate on the NHS app (England only) and it says the product you've had 'Vaxzevria' or 'Comirnaty' you're fine, if it says 'Covishield' it won't be recognised as this was never approved by the EMA.

 

[roig cat]

I’ve been reading the Maltese and Portuguese Trip Advisor forums. There is concern that the Downloaded vaccine record from the NHS App is not accepted as proof of vaccination and both countries are only accepting the official letter from the NHS which is bar coded rather than QR coded. This can be obtained in 5 working days by calling 119, you need your NHS number.
The Balearic Authorities are asking for Vaccination Certifucates issued by competent authorities, I strongly suggest that those travelling soon request this paper copy if relying on vaccination status for entry

 

[Sparky]

Please, if you are travelling to Mallorca go to the UK and Spanish government websites, this is the only way you can be sure of the exact requirements, do not take what is posted on TA, FB or any other site as this is often not completely accurate.

 

[Disorderly]

Please, if you are travelling to Mallorca go to the UK and Spanish government websites, this is the only way you can be sure of the exact requirements, do not take what is posted on TA, FB or any other site as this is often not completely accurate.

Absolutely right Sparky. So many people are asking questions and there’s very often conflicting answers posted. It really isn’t hard to look on the British and Spanish government sites to find all the information needed.

We’ve fallen foul of the rule requiring both doses 14 days before arrival in Spain. We’re coming out next week and all of us are double jabbed, but two of our group had the last vaccination 13 days and 6 hours before arrival…..so need a PCR test!

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why Spain didn’t impose these rules when they first allowed Brits back in. Makes no sense at all with the Delta variety being so well established in the U.K. This constant tinkering with the rules makes it so difficult to plan. I bet our government changes Green Watch list to Amber list while we’re there.

That said, the U.K. rates are so high compared with other countries because we’re carrying out 10 times more tests than anywhere else in Europe. So we’ve become victims of our own success!

 

[alcanadakid]

Please, if you are travelling to Mallorca go to the UK and Spanish government websites, this is the only way you can be sure of the exact requirements, do not take what is posted on TA, FB or any other site as this is often not completely accurate.

It is not that simple Sparky, the GOV UK and the Spanish websites are contradictory with regards to the type of test. On the Spanish government website I agree with James that only PCR tests are now acceptable, whereas the GOV UK website says antigen tests are also allowed.

Interestingly, on the EasyJet website yesterday it showed antigen test allowed but today only PCR.

Another factor is that the test has to be conducted within 48 hours (UK entry is 72hours). The majority of UK testing sites only guarantee a result within 48hours, or 24 hours after receipt. a small number do a rapid PCR test at a much increased price.

We are currently on day 9 of our quarantine back in the UK and used "testing for all" for day 2 day and day 8 tests. While all the test kits arrived on time it took 3 days to get a result for day 2, as Royal Mail supposedly took longer than their guaranteed 24 hour delivery. Not sure who to believe there.
The moral of that story though is not to trust the guaranteed response time, which then presents a dilemma with the short Spanish 48 hour requirement.

While we are both double vaccinated some of our visiting family will need a certificate as anyone who is unvaccinated and over 12 years old will need one.

Hopefully it will sort itself out, but at the moment it is a nightmare.

 

[Sparky]

Surely if you are entering Spain you should follow the Spanish website and follow the UK website when going back to the UK .

I agree it is crazy at the moment and things are changing so quickly, but my point was really advising people not to take the word of Joe Blogs and his wife on social media .

 

[Luckyone]

Surely if you are entering Spain you should follow the Spanish website and follow the UK website when going back to the UK .

I agree it is crazy at the moment and things are changing so quickly, but my point was really advising people not to take the word of Joe Blogs and his wife on social media .

The Gov UK site says you should follow the guidance rules from the country you are going to visit, ensuring all is up to date

 

[elfie]

PCR timing so difficult

oh my word this is so complicated when you have 3 travellers with double vaccine and one not!

First reports I read earlier this week (on El Pais) said book a PCR test 72 hours before arrival. So I did. Now it's saying 48 hours. So I changed it. But we are not absolutely guaranteed to get the result back before the time we arrive in Mallorca. It depends on the 'laboratory'... and it's at the weekend.

So - we may arrive in Palma to find one of us refused entry. What then? Can we sit and wait at the airport until the result comes through? Or all just go home (at our own expense)

Or - my son's test is positive, but don't find out till we're on the plane! Nightmare for everyone. (I will do a LFT before at home)

 

[El Gordo]

.................

We are currently on day 9 of our quarantine back in the UK and used "testing for all" for day 2 day and day 8 tests. While all the test kits arrived on time it took 3 days to get a result for day 2, as Royal Mail supposedly took longer than their guaranteed 24 hour delivery. Not sure who to believe there.
The moral of that story though is not to trust the guaranteed response time, which then presents a dilemma with the short Spanish 48 hour requirement.

..................................

We returned from PP at the end of March. We booked 2 and 8 day tests with 001Doctor for £172pp on the Gov website.
We did not receive our 2 and 8 day tests on time. when they did arrive we returned them but they failed to send any results!
They sent us an email after day 14 to say that the UK Gov said we could come out of isolation!
We eventually got a partial refund, after complaining, of £110pp excluding the postage £12pp and a £50pp fee!! for the number we put on our forms to satisfy entry requirements!! What a farce. I think 001Doctor was taken off their list later.
This happened with only a small number of people travelling!
Lets hope the situation has improved now, for everybody's sake!!

 

[fil6699]

oh my word this is so complicated when you have 3 travellers with double vaccine and one not!

First reports I read earlier this week (on El Pais) said book a PCR test 72 hours before arrival. So I did. Now it's saying 48 hours. So I changed it. But we are not absolutely guaranteed to get the result back before the time we arrive in Mallorca. It depends on the 'laboratory'... and it's at the weekend.

So - we may arrive in Palma to find one of us refused entry. What then? Can we sit and wait at the airport until the result comes through? Or all just go home (at our own expense)

Or - my son's test is positive, but don't find out till we're on the plane! Nightmare for everyone. (I will do a LFT before at home)

your documents are checked before actual boarding so you will need to be sure you have everything before you board the plane without it you will be refused boarding. They do that to make sure you are not arriving positive. This has been implemented by all airlines since the start of the pandemic . If you check in bags they will check your QR codes for Spanish health . and fit to fly certificates etc at the check in desk and issue you with a docs OK peace of paper to present at the gate. If you only have hand luggage then they will ask you for the documents before they allow you to board.

 

[clinkham]

" ......... really advising people not to take the word of Joe Blogs and his wife on social media........ " :

Don't think there is member called Joe Bloggs on here, so less chance of fake news in the posts.

But seriously, follow Sparkys advice. Official government sites only for the best updated rules and advice. You know it makes sense.

 

[Disorderly]

" ......... really advising people not to take the word of Joe Blogs and his wife on social media........ " :

Don't think there is member called Joe Bloggs on here, so less chance of fake news in the posts.

But seriously, follow Sparkys advice. Official government sites only for the best updated rules and advice. You know it makes sense.

One slight problem following that very sensible advice……the You Gov site was
confirming that certain Antigen tests were acceptable for Spain. This is untrue, and if you access the Spanish government site it is made clear that only a PCR test is acceptable. Our government has since changed the erroneous advice!

Moral? Always check the information on the government website for the country you are visiting..

 

[Magic Hat]

In Scotland we have no app, so need to request a paper copy of out vaccination record. They're currently quoting 3 weeks for this to arrive.

In reality, I requested our printed vaccination records on Sunday evening and they arrived in the post today(Wednesday).

 

[clinkham]

One slight problem following that very sensible advice……the You Gov site was
confirming that certain Antigen tests were acceptable for Spain. This is untrue, and if you access the Spanish government site it is made clear that only a PCR test is acceptable. Our government has since changed the erroneous advice!

Moral? Always check the information on the government website for the country you are visiting..

Correct! As per that font of all knowledge, Sparky message #29

"..if you are entering Spain you should follow the Spanish website and follow the UK website when going back to the UK"

 

[Tangoman]

For those of you worrying about which Astra Zeneca Vaccine you got, there is a simple check.

You were given a Covid19 Vaccination Card when you got the vaccine, and each entry includes the Batch No. of the Vaccine used.

The Indian Version will be Batch Numbers 4120Z001, 4120Z002, or 4120Z003.

So you only need to worry if you have these - this is from a Government Website.

 

[scotslizzy]

Issues with Covid record in Scotland

I am trying to sort out my covid record as although it shows that I have had both vaccination's on the actual print out it only shows one !

After numerous phone calls to NHS Inform Scotland I have managed to speak to someone who will get the record amended so that I can have my complete record to hand.

We are not coming out until Sept but though that if we could manage a wee visit before then we need to be prepared. Just as well I checked was able this out now.

My husband printed his off in 20 seconds .

 

[Rosie34]

For those of you worrying about which Astra Zeneca Vaccine you got, there is a simple check.

You were given a Covid19 Vaccination Card when you got the vaccine, and each entry includes the Batch No. of the Vaccine used.

The Indian Version will be Batch Numbers 4120Z001, 4120Z002, or 4120Z003.

So you only need to worry if you have these - this is from a Government Website.

I've just checked our certificates and my second dose is the 4120Z003 version. Does this mean I won't be allowed in?