Travel to Spain from the UK under Covid restrictions

Recently after a friend of mine, needed help moving flat in Malaga , Spain. I booked a one way light from the UK to Malaga to help out. At the time restrictions to flight the UK was a Green zone and Spain a Amber zone. ( 5th May 2021)

There were Covid test and quarantine restrictions in both the UK and Spain. that made it time consuming and expensive, but by May 21st the Spanish  (unofficially wanting tourism)  dropped restrictions for quarantine and Covid test on there side and changed it to  a free Government Health Declaration that is filled in online.

So to get out there was easy enough.  So all you have to do is:-

1 – Book ticket with an airline, ie – UK Gatwick to Malaga

2 – Fill in Government Health Declaration on the Spain government website.

( flight number, passport and address to the place you will be staying.)

The website has a drop down select brower for province, city, area of Spain that has to be filled in the right way to continue and complete the form. IMPORTANT

On the return to the UK, (from Amber to green country) it wasn’t so straight forward.

Other than the normal stresses of air travel, there are three necessary entry requirements that you had to do before you could board your flight home.

1 – You first have to book a PCR Covid virus test within72 hours of you flying home. (A Nasopharyngeal swab that test for Covid varies in cost that I found in the area of     Spain I visited. Between 40 – 100 euros)

2 – Book a private Covid test kit for your return to the UK . (Recommend companies       are   on the UK government website, at the cost of £80 – £120 on average)the test co insides with a 10 days quarantine at home. After you have booked and paid for the test you will receive a Booking Reference Number. IMPORTANT

 3 – Finally you will need to fill in a UK Passenger Locator Form 48 hours before you travel home. This online form is easy to complete, but must include your Booking reference number for your 2 Covid test kit you booked previously. Once completed the form can be download to your phone or printed. QR code as proof of completion

Malaga to Luton UK

I unfortunately forgot to complete the UK locator form till the afternoon of my flight and it was a bit of a mad dash to the airport.

The Airline check-in, checked my Covid test and UK locator forms. Then after security, Customs checked my passport before boarding the plane.

UK side after an hours queue at UK Customs, there only needed to check your passport as the Covid test and track information is embedded on it.