Spain – COVID-19: State of Alarm Extended, Restrictions on Non-Essential Travel to EU

Spain – State of Alarm, Travel Restrictions Extended

Spain has extended its “State of Alarm” and associated travel restrictions, until at least 10 May, which will continue to impact on employers and their globally-mobile employees between Spain and countries around the world. Only Spanish citizens, persons resident in Spain, certain cross-border workers, and those who provide documentary proof of circumstances beyond their control or a situation of need will be allowed to enter Spain’s national territory by land.

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This GMS Flash Alert provides an update on the current “State of Alarm” in Spain as well as restrictions on non-essential travel to the European Union (EU), both steps taken in Spain in order to slow the spread of COVID-191

For your convenience, we have linked here the original reports in GMS Flash Alert (2020-114 (25 March 2020) and 2020-141 (1 April 2020)) regarding the effects of the State of Alarm on immigration procedures (borders, foreign offices, and services) in Spain as well as the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The extension of the State of Alarm and the associated travel restrictions will continue to impact on employers and their globally-mobile employees between Spain and countries around the world.

Assignments to Spain and hiring new personnel from abroad will be significantly delayed due to ongoing travel restrictions and border crossing limitations, as well as the limited access to immigration services due to the temporary closure of offices and suspension of appointments.

Awareness of developments, which are unfolding rapidly, is vital to help minimise disruptions to operations and to manage associated risks and costs.  Until the government decides it is safe to rescind or roll-back current restrictions, extensive remote working is a “best practice” for globally-mobile employees (unless they are “essential workers”), to the extent possible, and is a way for employers to foster the safety of their employees and help ensure business continuity.

Extension of State of Alarm

The State of Alarm in Spain has been extended, for a third time, until 10 May at 00:00 due to "… the decreasing trend in the notification of new daily cases of contagion, hospitalised patients, and deaths continue and progressively lead to the control of the epidemic."

Extension to Impact on Immigration Procedures

The third additional provision in Royal Decree 463/20203 established the suspension of administrative deadlines, interrupting the deadlines set for processing procedures by public sector entities.  The re-institution of the usual deadlines will take place once the Royal Decree is rescinded or, if applicable, its measures “sunset” and are no longer valid.

The preventive measure to cease attending to the public in person at all the foreign offices that are part of the Functional Area of Work and Immigration4 has also been extended in line with the State of Alarm extension. This includes, but is not limited to, police offices for the issuance of National Identity Cards, Passports, EU Certificates and Foreigners' Identity Cards.

The government decreed the re-establishment of land border controls (including Schengen internal border controls).  This measure came into force at 00:00 (CEST, GMT +1) Monday (16 March 2020) and will be also be subject to the extension of the State of Alarm.

Specifically, only Spanish citizens, persons resident in Spain, cross-border workers, and those who provide documentary proof of circumstances beyond their control or a situation of need will be allowed to enter Spain’s national territory by land.

Extension of Restrictions on Non-Essential Travel to EU

Since the current travel restrictions5 have proven to be helpful in slowing the spread of COVID-19, the European Commission invited all Schengen member states and Schengen associated states on 8 April 2020, to extend the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the European Union (EU) until 15 May6. The European Commission explicitly pointed out that these measures can only be successful if they are implemented jointly by all member states.  This is the only way to protect external borders to the fullest extent possible. 

As a result, the original Order has been extended until 15 May at 00:00, subject to a possible further extension7.

See below for a reminder of who is affected. 

Who Is Affected?

Access to Spain will only be granted to Spanish citizens and Spanish residents along with those who fall into one of the following categories: 

(a) Residents of the European Union or Schengen associated states, who are travelling directly to their place of residence.

(b) Holders of a long-stay visa issued by a member state or Schengen associated state who are travelling to this same state.

(c) Cross-border workers.

(d) Health-care or elderly-care professionals going to work.

(e) Personnel engaged in the transport of goods, in the course of their work, and flight crews required to carry out commercial air transport activities.

(f) Diplomatic and consular staff, staff of international and military organisations, and members of humanitarian organisations in the exercise of their duties.

(g) Persons travelling for imperative family reasons duly accredited.

(h) Persons who provide documentary evidence of force majeure or distress, or whose entry is permitted on humanitarian grounds.

KPMG NOTE

Employers and professional service providers should take note of the above-mentioned closures, service interruptions, and process and policy changes in light of the COVID-19 crisis.  It is possible this new situation may be temporary, but in the meantime, employers and service providers will need to adjust their expectations and operate within the restrictions of this “new normal.”  Any questions or concerns should be directed to your qualified professional adviser or a member of the GMS/People Services team with the KPMG International member firm in Spain.

FOOTNOTES

1  For information, in Spanish, on measures taken and policies implemented to fight COVID-19 in Spain, please visit the website “Enfermedad por nuevo coronavirus, COVID-19”: https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov-China/home.htm .

2  For the original post from Spain’s Congress, in Spanish, regarding the third extension to the State of Alarm (El Pleno autoriza la tercera prórroga del estado de alarma por el COVID-19 y convalida el real decreto-ley de medidas sobre el empleo agrario) please visit: http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/SalaPrensa/NotPre?_piref73_7706063_73_1337373_1337373.next_page=/wc/detalleNotaSalaPrensa?idNotaSalaPrensa=35709&mostrarvolver=N .

3  For the original Royal Decree (Real Decreto 463/2020, de 14 de marzo, por el que se declara el estado de alarma para la gestión de la situación de crisis sanitaria ocasionada por el COVID-19), in Spanish, please visit: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-3692 .

4  For the original Order in Spanish (Orden INT/270/2020, de 21 de marzo, por la que se establecen criterios para la aplicación de una restricción temporal de viajes no imprescindibles desde terceros países a la Unión Europea y países asociados Schengen por razones de orden público y salud pública con motivo de la crisis sanitaria ocasionada por el COVID-19), please visit: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-3972 .

5  For the original European Commission 8 April 2020 press release please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_616 .

6  For the extension of the original Order in Spanish (Orden INT/356/2020, de 20 de abril, por la que se prorrogan los criterios para la aplicación de una restricción temporal de viajes no imprescindibles desde terceros países a la Unión Europea y países asociados Schengen por razones de orden público y salud pública con motivo de la crisis sanitaria ocasionada por el COVID-19), please visit: https://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-4539 .

*  Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.   

 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Spain.

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GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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