Entry into Gran Canaria

Ganga

Can i ask for some help /info from the members.
My wife and i are going to Gran Canaria in March ,i know at this time we do not need to take any tests to go and no tests to leave ( both triple jabbed ) but a test 2 days after we return but i have two questions if anyone can help.

1) When we fill in the Spanish Passenger Loc. form ( spth form ) is best to do two separate forms rather than a family form and can you fill this in now ,2 months before travel

2) We both have vaccination Certs from the NHS but were issued in July 21 so will they still be valid in March 2022 ?

thanks to anybody who replies / helps.

emmajones1976

1) when we went as two adults we filled them out seperately. Pretty sure you cant do them this far out. Why bother doing them now? They could change or become obsolete by then. Do it a few days before you go.
2) yes you will need new ones. Ignoring the fact the QR code on the travel ones only last a month, the EU only started to accept the UK Covid Pass from the 1st Nov 2021 so all barcodes needed to be dated from that point on.

Oh and dont do anything silly like booking tests 2 months in advance either, they could be obsolete by then. Yes i get you want to be prepared but at the moment its almost pointless being prepared this far in advance.

eskbanker

Ganga said:

2) We both have vaccination Certs from the NHS but were issued in July 21 so will they still be valid in March 2022 ?

Not according to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements#if-youre-fully-vaccinated

Spain will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies. Your final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to travel. If you are travelling with a printed PDF proof of vaccination status, it must date from 1 November 2021 to ensure that the certificate can be scanned successfully.

Ganga

Thanks to emmajones1976 and eskbanker for the replies ,we will apply for new certificates from the NHS and those might even show the booster jabs as well as the two previous jabs ,will leave the Pss Loc Forms till week before we travel ,again thanks.

emmajones1976

You may have to leave it until 48 hours before you go, I cant remember now.
There is certainly no benefit in doing it early if you are able to.

Ganga

emmajones1976 said:

You may have to leave it until 48 hours before you go, I cant remember now.
There is certainly no benefit in doing it early if you are able to.

Thanks ,i tend to worry if anything goes wrong by leaving everything till the lest moment ( it is an age thing ) but will maybe ask in the TUI shop next week when we go shopping.

emmajones1976

Gran Canaria went back to midnight closing today, I see. 

At the airport (this was in October, arrived at terminal via a bus rather than an airbridge) all they did was check the PLF in the bit between the passport control and the baggage belts and that was it. There was someone there with a temperature guage but didnt see her brandish it on anyone.

JF2019

How far in advance can I fill out the electronic health control form?

The form can be started at any time from the moment you have the details of your trip (by air/sea), filling in the data you want and saving it to continue later. You can only complete the health-related questions and sign the completed form 48 hours before your arrival in Spain.

The above is taken from the official page which has all the info you need: https://www.spth.gob.es/ 

emmajones1976

Fair enough. I still dont see the benefit of doing so this far out other than "being organised", seems a bit odd to have it open ended . And you still cant finish it until 48 hours before anyway, so you may as well wait until then and do the whole thing in one go🤷‍♂️

Troytempest

Best to regenerate Covid travel pass close to departure - it is valid for a month.

Spanish locator form can be done as a family / couple but cannot be finalised until 48 hours prior to departure.

NoodleDoodleMan

Ganga said:

Thanks to emmajones1976 and eskbanker for the replies ,we will apply for new certificates from the NHS and those might even show the booster jabs as well as the two previous jabs ,will leave the Pss Loc Forms till week before we travel ,again thanks.

Thanks likewise to emmajones1976 and eskbanker for touching on an issue I raised here -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6328474/nhs-scotland-record-of-vaccination#latest

I could not get an answer on the the barcode validity reduction from 12 to 3 months - when comparing the 2021 record (doses 1 and 2) I had printed off last year reference to the version (doses 2 and 3) as downloaded a couple of days ago.

The EU recognition date effective from 1st Nov.2021 would explain that.

The Scottish NHS paperwork indicates the barcodes are valid for 3 months from date of download and printing - is it different in other parts of the UK ?

As for the Spanish paperwork, you need your flight number, and that is not always available or easy to find months in advance.