The Spanish government has announced that it is officially lifting travel restrictions for British travellers. Those arriving from the UK will also no longer be required to take a PCR test upon their arrival.

The new ruling comes into effect from Monday 24 May.

However, as the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to mainland Spain, including the Balearic Islands, anyone who visits the country without an essential reason for doing so will not be covered for any claims submitted to their travel insurer. Furthermore, anyone who must travel to Spain for essential reasons must confirm cover with their insurer, in writing, beforehand, to ensure they are fully protected.

Additionally, it is important to remember that anyone who decides to travel or Spain, or any other country listed on the government’s “amber” list, will be required to take a pre-departure test before their return to the UK and a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 of their isolate period – regardless of the restriction rules for the destination they are visiting. Although, it’s worth pointing out that travellers who visit an “amber” destination will have the option to pay for a private PCR test on day 5 (also known as undertaking ‘test and release’) and end self-isolation early if their test comes back negative.

We strongly recommend that anyone considering a trip abroad checks the FCDO’s advice before booking and continues to monitor this before travelling. In the event that the FCDO and traffic light system’s advice is not aligned for the destination you plan to travel to, you should follow the FCDO’s travel advice.

For more information on what the different traffic light categories mean and what to do if the government suddenly advises against travel to your holiday destination, click here.