Travelers arriving in Spain by air or sea will not be required to submit the health check form starting this Tuesday. Instead, entrants are expected to provide travel-related information, personal identification, contact details, and any relevant epidemiological data or information about the individuals involved, without the need for a vaccination certificate or diagnostic test in most cases.
These changes come from a government bulletin issued this Monday by the General Directorate of Public Health, which outlines the new approach to health checks at points of entry into Spain. The update signals a shift toward facilitating international mobility while maintaining essential safety measures.
Under the new framework, keeping international travel streamlined does not rely on a separate health form. Travelers can rely on the Spain Travel Health app, known as SpTh, to manage required information. The earlier provisions from the decision dated April 1, 2022, have been nullified, effectively removing the obligation to complete the health declaration prior to arrival.
In practical terms, airline passengers will still need to share necessary information before departure, but this can be done via responsible disclosure through the application or a compatible web platform. Once the document is verified, SpTh produces a personalized QR code that travelers should present to the carrier before boarding. This same QR code may be requested again upon arrival for health checks, with supporting documents available to confirm the accuracy of the information captured in SpTh if needed.
Additionally, the ninth section of the previous decision has been repealed. From now on, cruise ships engaged in international voyages and operating within Spain’s territorial waters will no longer be required to comply with the conditions laid out in the document titled Sanitary Measures for the Re-E establishment of International Cruises, a framework prepared by the Ministry of Health. The change reflects a broader emphasis on maintaining safe travel while reducing redundant administrative steps for cruise passengers and international visitors alike.
Overall, Spain is recalibrating its entry health controls to support international mobility. By modernizing the process through the SpTh app and simplifying the preboarding requirements, travelers can plan trips with greater ease, and carriers can manage onboarding with clearer, more consistent procedures. The updated approach prioritizes accurate information verification and efficient health screening without imposing unnecessary burdens on travelers. In practice, this means a smoother experience for tourists, business travelers, and family visits, while still enabling authorities to monitor health indicators as needed to respond promptly to any public health concerns.