Spain is lifting its travel ban on UK arrivals at the end of March - what it means for holidays

Spain has announced it will lift its entry restrictions for travellers from the UK at the end of the month following a three month ban.

The ban was first imposed in December amid concerns over a British strain of Covid-19, but the Spanish government will now remove the restriction from 30 March thanks to the success of the UK’s vaccination rollout.

However, the news was announced just hours after the UK government set out new coronavirus regulations, including a ban on travelling abroad.

So what are the rules on travelling to Spain from the UK? Here’s what you need to know.

What are the UK rules on travel?

Under new Covid-19 laws in England and Wales, it will be illegal to leave the UK without a reasonable excuse from 29 March.

As such, this means you cannot travel abroad to Spain for a holiday, despite the country lifting its restrictions for UK travellers from 30 March.

The new legislation means that people living in England and Wales face an official ban on foreign holidays in law from Monday, and risk being issued with a £5,000 fine for breaking the rules.

The law now states that no-one may leave England to travel to a destination outside of the UK UK, “or travel to, or be present at, an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there to a destination outside the United Kingdom” without a reasonable excuse.

As well as a fine of up to £5,000 for flouting the rules, there is also a £200 fixed penalty notice for failing to fill in a travel declaration form, which includes providing personal details and reason for travel, for those planning to leave the UK.

The travel ban does not apply to those going to the common travel area of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland, unless that is not the final destination.

Exemptions apply for those who need to travel:

• For work
• For study
• For legal obligations
• To vote
• For moving, selling or renting property
• For some childcare reasons
• To be present at a birth
• To visit a dying relative or close friend
• To attend a funeral
• To get married or to attend the wedding of a close relative
• For medical appointments
• To escape a risk of harm

MPs will vote on the new laws, which are officially titled the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021, on Thursday (25 March).

If these are approved, they will come into effect from Monday 29 March.

In Scotland, it is currently illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes. The Scottish government has said that foreign travel will not be possible before 17 May and maybe for some time after.

Similarly, in Northern Ireland it is illegal to travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Republic of Ireland (ROI), Isle of Man and Channel Islands), unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so.

Rules state that you can only travel abroad if you have an essential reason to do so and you must not travel abroad on holiday.

What has Spain said about travel?

The Spanish government announced on Tuesday (23 March) that entry restrictions for arrivals from the UK will be lifted on 30 March.

However, travel restrictions will remain in pace until 13 April for travellers from Brazil and South Africa, in an effort to contain the spread of new coronavirus strains.

Spain has also revealed that tourists could use vaccine passports to prove they have been inoculated against the virus as early as May, which would permit them entry into the country.