The new resolution regarding health measures necessary for travellers coming to the Canary Islands and staying in tourist accommodation have been updated in the Boletin Oficial (BOC) today, including raising the age of negative test requirements for children from age 6 to age 12.
As the pandemic is moving into a new phase and regulations are being standardised, particularly for travel in Europe, these requirements follow the same guidelines.
As of today, there are three possibilities for tourists coming to the islands to stay in licensed holiday accommodation:
- Certificate confirming that the holder has received a vaccine against Covid-19 (vaccination certificate).
- Certificate that shows the result of a Diagnostic Test for Active Covid-19 Infection that the holder has performed (diagnostic certificate).
- Certificate confirming that the holder has recovered from Covid-19 (recovery certificate).
Regarding the Vaccination Certificate, those issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin are accepted as valid from 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule. It must include, at least, the following information:
- Name and surname of the traveller.
- Date of vaccination, indicating the date of the last dose administered.
- Type of vaccine administered.
- Number of doses administered (normally two unless Janssen single dose).
- Issuing country.
- Identification of the issuing body of the vaccination certificate.
The accepted vaccines will be those authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or those that have completed the emergency use process of the World Health Organization.
Regarding the Diagnostic Certificate, the certificates of diagnostic test of active Covid-19 infection with a negative result issued in the forty-eight hours prior to arrival in Spain are accepted as valid. The diagnostic tests of infection for SARS-CoV-2 admitted are the following: PCR or antigen.
Regarding the Recovery Certificate, those issued by the competent authority or by a medical service are accepted as valid at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test with a positive result is performed. The validity of the certificate will end 180 days from the date the sample is taken.
The modification that refers to the age of minors exempt from the presentation of health certifications, and that rises from 6 to 12 years old, means that people under 12 years of age are exempt from submitting the three aforementioned health certifications: Vaccination Certificate, Diagnosis Certificate and Recovery Certificate.
EXCEPTIONS TO THESE REQUIREMENTS:
- People who can prove their residence status in the Canary Islands and declare under their responsibility, that they have not left their territory in the 15 days prior to their arrival at the establishment, and that also in that period they have not had symptoms compatible with Covid-19.
- Non-residents of the Canary Islands who prove through their travel documents that they have stayed in the territory of the Canary Islands the 15 days prior to the date of access to the tourist accommodation establishment, and who also declare under their responsibility that in said period they have not had symptoms compatible with Covid-19.
- People, regardless of their place of residence, who prove that they have been outside of the Canary Islands for a period of less than 72 hours prior to arrival, having remained in their territory for the 15 days prior to the aforementioned period of absence of less than 72 hours, and that they also declare under their responsibility that in that period they have not had symptoms compatible with Covid-19.
Prior to the formalization of the reservation or contracting of tourist accommodation services, in any of the tourist establishments in the Canary Islands, the tour operators/accommodation providers will inform travellers of the conditions of access indicated in the previous sections.
