A beautiful country with a wonderful climate. It is therefore not without reason that Spain is one of the most popular countries for Dutch people who move abroad. The country is also very popular among Belgians. Now you want to go emigrate to Spain and you probably can't wait to leave and enjoy the wonderful climate.
COVID-19 & emigrating to Spain
You would think that fewer people would emigrate because of the pandemic, but nothing could be further from the truth. In 2020 the number of registered Dutch people in the whole of Spain stood at 51,385 and that is in 2021 increased. Although the figures are a lot lower than in previous years, this year the counter is already at 52,690 Dutch people in Spain.
Make good preparations
Whether you emigrated before the crazy corona period or are ready to emigrate during COVID-19, there is one thing and that is: good preparation is half the battle! This is of course important for emigration. After all, you are leaving your own home for a Spanish life. And even though a Spanish life sounds wonderful and easy for many people, it is still a big step.
Spanish COVID-19 figures
What is the latest news from Spain? According to the Spanish government a total of 8.52 million infections have been reported so far. Spain has 47.35 million inhabitants. Of these, 80.6% have been fully vaccinated and 85.4% have received the first dose. Furthermore, 37.6% have also received the booster.
It is also good to know which vaccines Spain is using it. The country started by administering Pfizer and BioNTech, but now also using AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen vaccines.
Measures taken by the Spanish government
The Spanish government has taken into account foreigners living or working there. During the first alarm phase of the country, the government implemented three measures to keep the stay of foreigners in Spain easy. This has created a lot of confidence in the Spanish government and you can see that COVID-19 does not have to be a reason to postpone your emigration.
Work and residence permits
Firstly, the work and residence permits that were about to expire during the first alert phase were automatically extended for a period of 6 months. Secondly, they provided an automatic extension for foreigners who had a work visa for 3 months. These were also automatically extended for a period of 90 days at the end of the alert phase.
Door open for foreigners
Also, foreigners who traveled to Spain for work during the first alarm phase were given free access and the borders were actually open. Spain did this to keep the door open for people who want to work in Spain.
European countries
These measures are mainly for residents from outside the European Union, but they do give you an idea of how things are arranged there. Fortunately, the Netherlands and Spain are both European countries and it is even easier for Europeans to emigrate to another EU country.
The Netherlands, COVID-19 and travel to Spain
But you have already made your decision, regardless of COVID-19, and want to make your dream come true, so we still have to start. Spain is currently colored yellow by the Dutch government. This means that you can go there, but that it is risky. This is especially important for Dutch holidaymakers who have to return to the Netherlands after weeks of vacation in Alicante or a weekend in Barcelona with friends. If all goes well, you are going to stay, so there is no need to think about this.
What are the Spanish entry requirements?
Because the Netherlands is also considered a risk area by the Spanish ministry, there are to gain access to Spanish soil a number of measures that we must observe. So make sure you are well informed before departure.
Vaccinations and testing
People who want to vaccinate must be 12 years or older and must have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days ago. Children from 12 years who are not yet vaccinated and who travel with vaccinated parents must hand over a negative PCR test.
Have you been vaccinated for the first time and are you waiting for your second shot or have you already had COVID-19? Then the Spanish government sees this as fully vaccinated.
Vaccination requirement in Spain?
The country does not have a vaccination requirement, so if you are not vaccinated and do not want to be, you can do the following: you can hand over an official document with proof that you have already had COVID-19. This proof must have been issued at least 11 to a maximum of 180 days after your first positive PCR test. Is this not the case? Then you must be in possession of a negative result of your PCR test that was taken no longer than 72 hours ago. On the other hand, you can also have a negative antigen rapid test hand over a certificate that was taken no more than 48 hours earlier.
International QR Codes
You can show all evidence via the international QR code in the CoronaCheck app. Even if you have just received your first vaccination.
Additional information
Children under 12 years can enter the country without all these obligations and also without the mandatory quarantine. Also, if you travel by plane, train or boat, you must Health Control Form must be completed no later than 48 hours in advance. It is mandatory for all travellers, even those with only a stopover.
After filling in the form, you will receive a QR code on your phone. This is a different QR code than the code in the Coronacheck app, so pay close attention to this.
Finally
Have you decided to emigrate to Spain despite COVID19? Then we wish you the best of luck and we are almost certain that everything will turn out fine.
