Reopening to tourism in Europe: Spain and France open their borders with puzzling demands

Although the European Union tries to create homogeneous requirements for tourism, each member country retains its sovereignty over its borders, Therefore, the entry documentation differs between each nation. In addition, the changing health situation adds that global rules generate constantly changing regulations.

Since Monday, and after having read the regulations of the Official Journal of Spain, the country has been a pioneer in the authorization of income outside the EU, with certain health directives established and without quarantine. France, which will do the same this Wednesday, will have other requirements. So far, so many arrangements lead to admissions and travel complications.

The European Commission, as a test, is testing a COVID-19 digital certificate for travel (open to non-EU citizens), which is already being used voluntarily by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland. The digital certificate will be fully applied from July 1.

While waiting for the coordination of the European Union to be confirmed, the situation is already creating confusion and delays for passengers who do not have rigor and certainty in the established income rules, which has been confirmed Infobae.

Spain

On the side of Spain, a health resolution changes entry health checks and required documents. A ministerial decree modifies the closure of borders to provide access to those arriving from countries outside the Schengen territory or the EU with a full vaccination schedule.

Depending on the country you are entering, requirements may be added, in addition to the vaccination obtained. By boat or by plane, three possibilities depending on the origin: free entry country, without restrictions (the entire Schengen area in addition to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, China, Israel , United Kingdom and Japan); Almost forbidden countries, which remain, from which only planes and ships carrying exclusively Spaniards or residents of Spain or Andorra (Brazil, South Africa and India) can enter. Other cases are exceptional “safe conduct” granted by the government.

The third and longest list is that of the rest of the world. For example in Latin America, in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, among others. To enter among all of these, you must have a vaccination certificate proving that the complete schedule has been completed at least 14 days prior to arrival.

But not only in practice, it will be verified that the vaccines are indeed those accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or those authorized by the World Health Organization. (WHO). Health authorities can delay the type of certification that has been issued to confirm vaccine application with a green light: Pfizer / BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson or Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac.

The first tourists to arrive at Barajas airport, some of them consulted by Infobae, delays and problems confirmed in the face of uncertainty among airport staff due to the quantity and variety of documents presented to certify vaccination.

The same goes for testing to check for possible COVID 19 infection. Besides the fact that these countries can enter with a full vaccination, the news is the change of diagnostic tests accepted in border control.

Although the arrivals are premature, from the Argentine Embassy in Spain, they hope that the first doubts will be clarified as the days go by. In all cases, Health authorities insist on the need to enter with as much documentation as possible to demonstrate the state of health of the traveler, and his family, if delays are to be avoided.

In addition to the use of the well-known PCR, antigenic tests are allowed, cheaper and with almost instant results. They will be valid for passengers who must undergo a diagnostic test within 48 hours of entering Spain. However, in practice, passengers have found confusion between the different models of certificates, which in some countries, such as Argentina, can become a WhatsApp with the response of the result of a health authority.

France

The government of Emmanuel Macron has set up a new color “traffic light system” at the time of its opening to international travelers, the June 9.

Those on the “green list”, countries considered to have control of the pandemic – vaccinated travelers from the European Union, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand. Zealand and Singapore – will be allowed entry without restrictions. Unvaccinated tourists from these places must enter determined to take a COVID -19 test.

Travelers vaccinated on the “orange list”, with an average control of the epidemiological situation – which includes the United States and the United Kingdom – will, despite being immunized, be tested, while those not vaccinated will only be allowed entry for essential purposes.

For the countries considered in red, which are in practice the rest of the countries, the borders will continue to be closed.. The French authorities do not foresee any other income, at least until new provisions of the continental block.

Greece

Greece has anticipated the opening of Europe to tourism, even accepting extra-EU travelers vaccinated or with a negative PCR test and without requiring quarantine. It will remove the requirement to remain in quarantine for seven days for passengers from the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates, which is a first step towards the opening of tourism planned soon.

UK

Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Heathrow Airport and a group of US travel leaders today called on President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson to establish a travel corridor between the UK and the United States. The move could be announced as an “agenda” item at the G7 conference in Cornwall, UK this week.

“In the UK, a day’s delay in opening the UK-US corridor is costing the economy £ 23million,” Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, told reporters. .

The country is looking for a traffic light system to resume travel, to the French state, something I tried but couldn’t put into practice.

Even a minister in Boris Johnson’s cabinet this morning demanded that the British opt for a “home vacation” ie the country, due to the spread of the India or Delta variant.

Can I enter through one country to go to another?

The answer awaits a clear definition from the European Commission before July 1st.. However, The regulation that would be in force in force, is that the traveler entering the EU must stay at least 14 days without leaving, then access another. After this period, you must comply with the requirements that exist between the two countries, that is to say the country of origin and destination.

Reciprocity

Europe calls for the “reciprocity” of the United States as regards the reception of European tourists, in particular as regards the quarantine, within the framework of the relaxation of the restrictions related to the Covid-19, declared Monday the commissioner European Thierry Breton.

The 27 agreed on May 19 to authorize entry into the EU to travelers from third countries who have received the necessary doses of Covid vaccines authorized at European level. In addition to a system of “epidemiological traffic lights”, Europe hopes that if it accepts admission, Europeans will also be accepted.

All this is still debated, it can even be postponed or changed, though the predominant variants may vary from the arrival of others.

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