How to get back to Spain?

goeasy123

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What's the process for getting back to our boat in Spain from the UK? We have a 9 month receipt from the marina in La Linea. We are liveaboards and not traveling on 'holiday or leisure'. We came back just before Christmas to visit our family. We need proof of a C-19 test. What other documentation do we need?
 

Yngmar

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You cannot currently enter Spain from the UK unless you have Spanish residency or are exempt (you're probably not). This ban has been extended repeatedly, currently until March 2. See Spanish government extends travel restrictions on arrivals from the UK, South Africa and Brazil

Also, it looks like you're not permitted the leave the UK in the first place: Entry requirements - Spain travel advice
Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. You must not travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes.

If you were to escape the UK somehow, you might be able to sneak into Spain via France, but it's complicated: https://www.thelocal.com/20210218/reader-question-can-i-travel-between-spain-and-the-uk-via-france

Keep checking the above sites for updates to the situation.
 

goeasy123

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You cannot currently enter Spain from the UK unless you have Spanish residency or are exempt (you're probably not). This ban has been extended repeatedly, currently until March 2. See Spanish government extends travel restrictions on arrivals from the UK, South Africa and Brazil

Also, it looks like you're not permitted the leave the UK in the first place: Entry requirements - Spain travel advice


If you were to escape the UK somehow, you might be able to sneak into Spain via France, but it's complicated: https://www.thelocal.com/20210218/reader-question-can-i-travel-between-spain-and-the-uk-via-france

Keep checking the above sites for updates to the situation.
Thanks... Travel to Spain after their 2nd March deadline is OK, if that doesn't change.
What is a 'legally permitted reason'? Our boat is our home. What documentation are the airlines likely to ask for?
 

sailaboutvic

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I'm not sure its going to be that straight forward to find prove .
Most of us liveabboard all the prove we have is a marina contract and that normal will have an address some where , ours in the uk .
So are the airline going g to take one look at it and say your home is in the UK .
We did have one couple last week who manage to drive back to this marina from the UK and didn't have any problem ,
there passport was stamped in the UK by French custon , so it does look like French custom are working in the UK and British custom In France .
We know two other couples one desperately want to come back but are unable to leave the UK for now.
 

st599

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The EU's stated reasons for entry from the UK:
Family reasons
  • The death of a parent, grandparent, child or sibling or visit to one of these family members who has received a terminal medical diagnosis (death certificate or doctor's letter will be needed)
  • Childcare by a parent or guardian with custody or visitation rights (court letter and proof of address)
  • Providing vital assistance to a sick or disabled person (document establishing relationship)
  • Travel for legal or judicial reasons (letter or summons)
  • A legal or economic reason that makes it impossible to remain in the country you are travelling from eg the expiry of a residency card
  • Travel for reasons of personal safety eg domestic violence or custody dispute (any documentation relating to the situation)
  • Returning to your main residence from a trip that began before January 31st (proof of residency eg carte de séjour, receipt of application for carte de séjour or proof of address, plus tickets showing your outward journey)
  • Students beginning or ending a period of study (documentation from the place of study)
Health reasons
  • Medical emergency (one person can accompany the sick person if necessary, doctor's letter or hospital appointment card)
Work-related reasons
  • Vital work requiring an in-person presence where the work cannot be cancelled or postponed without disproportionate consequences (attestation from employer plus professional card if applicable)
  • Health professionals engaged in Covid-related work (professional ID)
  • Diplomatic or state work trips which cannot be cancelled or postponed (professional ID and/or letters from relevant ministers)
  • High-level sports professionals participating in fixtures approved by the sports minister (professional ID and documentation from the sports ministry)

So it looks like you should be able to return to your main residence with your proof of residency, and proof that you left before Dec 31st.
 

Clancy Moped

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The EU's stated reasons for entry from the UK:


So it looks like you should be able to return to your main residence with your proof of residency, and proof that you left before Dec 31st.
They will also now accept a document saying that your residence application is pending,
 

Graham376

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Friends tried to travel back from France through Spain to Portugal last year during lock down and despite having a letter from yard stating they live aboard there, were turned back at the Spanish border. I heard of someone getting a letter from Spanish authorities, maybe embassy or consulate? giving them permission to travel back to boat in Spain after marina confirmed boat is home. Without documentary proof if not resident, it seems airlines won't allow boarding.
 

Clancy Moped

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Thanks... Travel to Spain after their 2nd March deadline is OK, if that doesn't change.
What is a 'legally permitted reason'? Our boat is our home. What documentation are the airlines likely to ask for?
I think any change to travel restictions to allow non-residents into Spain from the 2nd March is optimistic at best.
 

PlanB

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Thanks... Travel to Spain after their 2nd March deadline is OK, if that doesn't change.
What is a 'legally permitted reason'? Our boat is our home. What documentation are the airlines likely to ask for?
Stating that your bpat is your home is unlikely to suffice. The Spanish authorities have specified the proof of residence that they will accept - see here; Entry requirements - Spain travel advice
 

Clancy Moped

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Government of SpainMinistry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare


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HearReadSpeaker webReader: ListenFocus
The Government renews the entry restrictions to Spain from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa
  • The Council of Ministers has extended the agreement of December 22 established with the first country and February 2 with the other two, until 6:00 p.m. on March 16
February 23, 2021.- The Council of Ministers, in its meeting today, has renewed the terms of validity of the restrictions on entry to Spain from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa until 6:00 p.m. on March 16, giving continuity of the agreements reached on December 22 in the first case and February 2 in the other two.
In this way, direct flights and passenger ships between the United Kingdom and Spanish airports and ports continue to be limited, from 6:00 p.m. on March 2 to 6:00 p.m. on March 16, both according to peninsular time . As provided in the agreement, flights from any airport located in the United Kingdom to any airport located in Spain, with or without intermediate stops, may only be carried out in the case of aircraft that carry exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra.
Likewise, only ro-ro passenger ships and passenger ships that provide regular line service between ports of the United Kingdom and Spain that have embarked passengers in British ports will be allowed to enter Spanish ports in the case of ships that transport exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra. However, the agreement establishes some exceptions to these limitations, and enables the Ministry of Health to be able to lift the planned limitation, occasionally authorizing aircraft flights or entry of ships for justified reasons.
In addition, there is also continuity in the limitation of flights between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa and Spanish airports, from 6:00 p.m. on March 2 to 6:00 p.m. on March 16 , also peninsular time.
As provided in the agreement, flights from any airport located in the Federative Republic of Brazil or in the Republic of South Africa to any airport located in Spain, with or without intermediate stops, may only be carried out in the case of aircraft that transport exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra or passengers in international transit to a non-Schengen country with a stopover of less than 24 hours without leaving the transit area of the Spanish airport.
However, the agreement establishes some exceptions to said limitations, and enables the Ministry of Health to lift the planned limitation, occasionally authorizing aircraft flights for justified reasons.
© Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare
 

longjohnsilver

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Government of SpainMinistry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare


  1. Start
  2. Press
Menu
Press releases
HearReadSpeaker webReader: ListenFocus
The Government renews the entry restrictions to Spain from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa
  • The Council of Ministers has extended the agreement of December 22 established with the first country and February 2 with the other two, until 6:00 p.m. on March 16
February 23, 2021.- The Council of Ministers, in its meeting today, has renewed the terms of validity of the restrictions on entry to Spain from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa until 6:00 p.m. on March 16, giving continuity of the agreements reached on December 22 in the first case and February 2 in the other two.
In this way, direct flights and passenger ships between the United Kingdom and Spanish airports and ports continue to be limited, from 6:00 p.m. on March 2 to 6:00 p.m. on March 16, both according to peninsular time . As provided in the agreement, flights from any airport located in the United Kingdom to any airport located in Spain, with or without intermediate stops, may only be carried out in the case of aircraft that carry exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra.
Likewise, only ro-ro passenger ships and passenger ships that provide regular line service between ports of the United Kingdom and Spain that have embarked passengers in British ports will be allowed to enter Spanish ports in the case of ships that transport exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra. However, the agreement establishes some exceptions to these limitations, and enables the Ministry of Health to be able to lift the planned limitation, occasionally authorizing aircraft flights or entry of ships for justified reasons.
In addition, there is also continuity in the limitation of flights between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa and Spanish airports, from 6:00 p.m. on March 2 to 6:00 p.m. on March 16 , also peninsular time.
As provided in the agreement, flights from any airport located in the Federative Republic of Brazil or in the Republic of South Africa to any airport located in Spain, with or without intermediate stops, may only be carried out in the case of aircraft that transport exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra or passengers in international transit to a non-Schengen country with a stopover of less than 24 hours without leaving the transit area of the Spanish airport.
However, the agreement establishes some exceptions to said limitations, and enables the Ministry of Health to lift the planned limitation, occasionally authorizing aircraft flights for justified reasons.
© Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare
I wonder how long they'll hold out? I suspect/hope the travel ban will be lifted sometime around the middle of May?
 

Clancy Moped

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I wonder how long they'll hold out? I suspect/hope the travel ban will be lifted sometime around the middle of May?
Its being reviewed every fortnight. For us, all March 2nd has done is re open bars and restaurants outside spaces only with 50% capacity, and they must shut at 6pm or 4pm TBC.
 

st599

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I wonder how long they'll hold out? I suspect/hope the travel ban will be lifted sometime around the middle of May?
The EU have published the requirements for a country to be added to the safe list:

number of new cases per last 14 days is no more than 25 per 100,000 inhabitants and:

  • either a stable or decreasing trend of new cases
  • more than 300 tests per 100 000 inhabitants in the previous seven days
  • not more than 4 per cent positive tests carried out in the previous seven days
  • no increasing cases of virus mutations detected
 

longjohnsilver

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The EU have published the requirements for a country to be added to the safe list:

number of new cases per last 14 days is no more than 25 per 100,000 inhabitants and:

  • either a stable or decreasing trend of new cases
  • more than 300 tests per 100 000 inhabitants in the previous seven days
  • not more than 4 per cent positive tests carried out in the previous seven days
  • no increasing cases of virus mutations detected
Thanks. We are at 119 cases so quite some way to go, especially with the reopening of schools and the proposed 3 tests per week for all pupils. I see Spain has set their goal as 50 per 100,000 for reduction of internal measures.
Lots will change in the coming months, but whether that’s for better or worse is anyone’s guess.
 

Sea Devil

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I think he biggest issue you have is that you don't have Spanish residency - and NIE... So you are not legally a resident of Spain and I doubt any airline will let you in... However as Lightwave has posted if you use a car and can get into France then you will be able to drive down to La Linea... virtually no controls on French/Spanish frontiers. There is a travel curfew in France from 18.00 to 06.00 so you would need to get into a hotel early. The French are relatively laid back but with the up rise in infections in Alpes Maritime and Nord - Dunkirk that might change on Monday... My Spanish friends are very very careful about obeying the rules as the Guardia are fairly aggressive with checking...
 

Koeketiene

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The French are relatively laid back but with the up rise in infections in Alpes Maritime and Nord - Dunkirk that might change on Monday...

3 areas are currently seeing a dramatic rise in Covid infection numbers: le Nord (mainly Dunkirk), Ile de France (Paris region) and PACA (Provence, Alpes, Cote Azur).
French PM on TV last night: NO major changes planned till 06 March.
 
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