Spain – COVID-19: Extension of Travel Restrictions to 30 April

ES – Extension of Travel Restrictions to 30 April

New or revised travel policies announced by Spanish authorities include an extension through 30 April 2021 of the temporary restrictions placed on non-essential travel from third countries to the European Union (EU) and Schengen associated countries for public health reasons due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Additionally, there are flight limitations and restrictions on travel from South Africa and Brazil until 27 April, with quarantining for international travellers coming from several countries; and the resumption of border control between Portugal and Spain until 1 May.

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Spanish authorities extended through 30 April 2021, the temporary restrictions placed on non-essential travel from third countries to the European Union (EU) and Schengen associated countries for public health reasons due to the COVID-19 health crisis.1

Additionally, there are flight limitations and restrictions on travel from South Africa and Brazil until 27 April, with quarantining for international travellers coming from several countries; and the resumption of border controls between Portugal and Spain until 1 May.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The travel restrictions continue to affect employers and their globally mobile employees – especially business travellers – who are doing business in Spain in terms of disruption, inconvenience, new procedures and requirements, and changes to travel plans.

Individuals travelling to Spain and employers sending employees into and out of Spain should stay current with the latest travel restrictions and should consider consulting with their travel agents and/or immigration counsel when planning their travel.

New Extension of Travel Restrictions

The restrictions on non-essential trips will be in effect through 30 April 2021 (many continue to expect that another extension will happen). The notification of an extension is typically officially published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado two days before the end of the previous one. (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2021-075, 8 March 2021.)

Besides the travel restrictions on non-essential travellers and the health measures still in place,2 there is a new one

for those international travellers coming to Spain by land trough France:

  • Those who arrive from risk zones will need to show a negative PCR to enter Spain.3

Risk zones are those areas of France rated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control with a risk level of dark red, red, orange or grey, based on the combined indicators set out in Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/119 of 1 February 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to restricting free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correspondingly, there are other measures for international travellers from the following countries:

  • There are limitations on flights from Brazil and South Africa until 00:00 (peninsular time) of 27 April 2021(extension possible as well).4
  • Portugal and Spain decided to extend land border controls until 00:59 (peninsular time) of 1 May 2021 (extension possible as well).5
  • Currently (until 24:00 hrs of 3 May) there is a quarantine of 10 days for all international travellers arriving arriving at any airport located in the Kingdom of Spain, with or without intermediate stop-overs, coming from the following countries6:

America:

- Federative Republic of Brazil

- Republic of Colombia

- Republic of Peru

Africa: 

- Republic of Botswana

- Republic of South Africa

- Union of Comoros

- United Republic of Tanzania

- Republic of Ghana

- Republic of Zambia

- Republic of Kenya

- Republic of Zimbabwe

- Republic of Mozambique

This quarantine will be in force for an initial period of 14 calendar days, which may be extended if the circumstances that underlie it continue. 

KPMG NOTE

Any questions or concerns should be directed to your qualified professional adviser or a member of the GMS/People Services team with the KPMG International member firm in Spain (see the Contact Us section).

1  For the Spanish order, please visit: Orden INT/294/2021, de 26 de marzo.

2  For related coverage of the Health Measure, see our earlier report in GMS Flash Alert 2020-459 (16 November 2020).  

3  For the Spanish order, please visit: Orden SND/292/2021, de 26 de marzo.

4  For the Spanish order, please visit:  Orden PCM/324/2021, de 7 de abril.

5  For the Spanish order,  please visit: Orden INT/361/2021, de 15 de abril.

6  For the Spanish order, please visit:   Orden SND/363/2021, de 16 de abril.

*  Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.   

 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Spain.

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GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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