Spain Now Requires Booster Shot For Travelers — What To Know

Alison Fox
·2 min read

Travelers heading to Spain will now be required to show proof of a COVID-19 booster dose, becoming the latest country to rely on the extra shot.

Starting Feb. 1, most international travelers, including those from the United States, will be required to show proof they have received a booster if more than 270 days (about 9 months) have passed since the last dose of their initial vaccine series, according to Spain's tourism site.

The new booster dose rule is in addition to the current requirement that travelers fill out a Spain Health Control form, which can be obtained through the Spain Travel Health portal or through apps (on Android or iOS devices).

When in Spain, face masks are required to be worn both in indoor public spaces and outdoors.

Spain is classified as a "Level 4" destination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency's highest travel warning. Destinations are designated as "Level 4" if they report more than 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over the last 28 days.

View of the emblematic San Francisco street in the historic center of Aviles,
View of the emblematic San Francisco street in the historic center of Aviles,

Joaquin Gomez Sastre/Getty Images

Currently, Spain is reporting about 97,194 new cases on average each day, according to Reuters, which is a significant decrease from earlier in January.

Booster shots of a coronavirus vaccine are becoming an increasingly common requirement. Last year, Israel started requiring booster shots for anyone looking to obtain a "green pass," which is required to access public spaces like restaurants, and France recently started requiring a booster shot seven months after being vaccinated to obtain a "sanitary pass," mandatory in public places like restaurants and cafes as well as on long-distance trains.

In the U.S., Hawaii is considering adding a COVID-19 booster requirement to its Safe Travels program, while the island of Maui has already changed the definition of "fully vaccinated" to include a booster shot. And earlier this month, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City started requiring all performers, employees, and audience members to show proof of a COVID-19 booster shot.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.