Spain maintains ban on UK travellers

The official UK government web site www.gov.uk is a reliable source of factual information about many things, including foreign travel and tax.  The content is always up to date and is very clearly written in plain English so most things can be easily understood with careful reading.

This is the page for travel to Spain https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain.  You can subscribe for updates, which are issued regularly and immediately there is a change to regulations either in the UK or Spain.  

If there are any errors in the information found there I'm sure we would all like to know, but to claim that this is irrelevant in answer to questions on this forum is absurd.

What Kim is saying is that it doesn’t matter a jot if the U.K. give us permission to enter Spain if SPAIN DOESN’T welcome us.     It’s as simple as that.  We must be permitted entry and that permission comes from Spain in this instance.

Hi Gordon,

I have been a subscriber to the Gov.uk website for at least 4 years and have lost count of the number of times I have advocated it as a source of reliable information.  However, it cannot be read in isolation, which is why you have failed to understand the point of my post.

The purpose of my post is to correct misinformation quoted on another thread, because it has been taken out of context: cherry-picking quotes about being able to travel for "legal" reasons while ignoring, on the SAME PAGE, the statement, 

"Some restrictions on travellers from outside the European Union and the Schengen free-travel area remain in place. You should refer to the Spanish Embassy in the country you are in for further advice".

For the avoidance of doubt that, in common with other Third Country Nationals, refers to UK citizens.  If those concerned had referred to the Spanish Embassy, as advised on Gov.UK, they would have known that there is a ban on travellers from the UK.  The member who spoke of a friend, denied boarding - twice - could have been saved much frustration and money if they'd been aware.  There is little point having a forum such as this if we allow incorrect and incomplete information to go unchallenged.

So, I will say it again: Spain decides who enters its borders, NOT the UK.  

Kind regards, 

Kim

Morning Grannyrose

We don’t always agree, but on this occasion 👍👍👍 😄😄

I’d go further than “doesn’t welcome”, I think it may well be breaking the law!

Governments implement many laws, not all of them popular. They are implemented in the main to ensure acceptable social behaviour, avoiding the chaos of a lawless society. 

I’m sure a certain ex member would have taken great pleasure in discussing “Brits breaking the law” 🤪🥂

I failed to understand the point of your first post because it wasn't clear and you made a wild generalisation about gov.uk.  

How do you and Grannyrose conclude that gov.uk is giving 'permission' to people to visit Spain, or that anything published there is incorrect or misleading?

Hi Gordon,

The first paragraph of my original post set the context of the issue, so I have no idea how that can be regarded as a "wild generalisation", but you're entitled to your view, even if I don't agree with it.

I also haven't concluded that the UK has given its citizens permission to enter Spain - far from it.  Another of your inexplicable conclusions.

Regards,

Kim

From Gov.uk, copied and pasted word for word....

Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home (or in Wales, stay local). It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays. Check the rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Do not travel unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. In England, you must complete a declaration form for international travel (except for travel to Ireland).

Check our advice for all the countries you will visit or transit through. Some countries have closed borders, and any country may further restrict travel or bring in new rules with little warning.

To enter or return to the UK from abroad (except from Ireland), you must follow all the rules for entering the UK. These include providing your journey and contact details, and evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before you travel. When you arrive, you must quarantine and take additional COVID-19 tests. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red list travel ban country, or enter Scotland.

HOW HARD CAN IT BE??

Yes totally agree, Residents Spain flying in to UK very often and out again within a week with no quarantine.

I know of three women from Villamartin flying back to Manchester to visit friends, not even family for few days.

If we are not allowed out why should others be allowed in! 

Rant over

Hi Mary,

I agree to some extent with your post, so long as it's not a "UK versus Spain" thing - that's why I made the point that Spain has also banned travellers from Brazil and South Africa, i.e. the three countries with identified variants.  The problem arises when nationals and residents of a country travel, because they can't be denied re-entry to their country of nationality or permanent residence.  

Personally, I think the UK's position not to ban people, but instead to make it so inhospitable - i.e. expensive! - is designed to discourage people from travel.  I have family and a property in the UK that I haven't visited for 18 months.  The UK's (and Spain's) current rules allow me to do so, but I would be putting my family in the UK, my friends in Spain and myself at risk - for some people, that's not a priority.  I actually think it's more effective to hit people's pockets and I wish Spain would do the same thing - it's absurd that people are looking for ways to circumvent Spain's travel ban and then don't have to quarantine when they get here.

Stay safe,

Kim