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Spain amends Covid test entry rules and adds a faster option for travellers

Tourists arrive at Malaga airport.
Tourists arrive at Malaga airport. / ÑITO SALAS

  • TMA tests are now accepted as well as PCRs, children under six are exempt and results can be shown in French or German as well as English and Spanish

  • SUR | MALAGA.

The Spanish government announced on Thursday that it was changing some of the rules around Covid-19 pretesting to enter the country from higher risk places, including the UK and most of the EU.

From now on, Spain will admit a TMA test as an alternative to the PCR test. There had been criticism of the test rules introduced last month that require a negative result of a test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Delays in PCR results and cost were proving restrictive for travellers.

The newly admitted TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification) can be cheaper than the better-known PCR and get results back sooner. Lateral-flow (antigen) tests are still not allowed.

In addition, children under six are now exempt from tests and the results can be shown in French or German as well as English and Spanish.

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