Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to give an update on international travel in a press conference this afternoon.

Under the current rules, you cannot go abroad for a holiday under any circumstances.

Anybody caught leaving the country without a “reasonable excuse” can be fined up to £5,000.

The earliest date foreign holidays can restart is 17 May – but this is pending a review by Grant Shapps’ newly formed Travel Taskforce.

It’s expected that the Prime Minister will unveil plans for a “traffic light” system, whereby different countries have different rules depending on their coronavirus risk.

Here are the current rules for travelling to Spain:

What are the travel rules for Spain at the moment?

It is currently illegal to travel abroad for a holiday. If you’re leaving the country you must have a permitted reason.

You will need to complete a declaration form, and you may be asked to show evidence at the airport, ferry terminal or train station when you depart.

If you are caught leaving, or trying to leave, the country without a reasonable excuse, you can be fined up to £5,000.

This means you cannot currently go on holiday to Spain.

Spain holidays are off the cards for now

Spain also has restrictions on who is allowed to enter the country – so even if you have a reasonable excuse to leave the UK, you may be turned back at the border.

The FCO explains: “Only EU and Schengen state citizens, those who are legally resident in EU and associated Schengen states or Andorra, or those who can demonstrate through documentary evidence an essential need to enter Spain, will be allowed to enter the country.”

This means UK citizens will need to demonstrate an “essential need to enter Spain”.

Currently, permitted circumstances include:

  • Health professionals who are going to, or coming back from, essential work

  • Transport personnel, seafarers and aeronautical personnel.

  • Diplomatic, consular, international organisations, military, civil protection and members of humanitarian organisations

  • Students enrolled in courses starting after 1 January 2021 who carry out their studies in an EU Member or Schengen state

  • Highly skilled essential workers whose work cannot be postponed or carried out remotely, including participants in high-level sports events due to take place in Spain

  • People travelling for imperative family reasons who can demonstrate an essential need to travel

You will be questioned at the border, and you will need evidence to demonstrate an essential need to enter Spain. If officials are not satisfied, they have the right to turn you away.

If your circumstances do permit you to both leave the UK legally, and enter Spain, you will need to comply with certain Covid entry requirements.

Spain currently requires anyone coming into the country to complete an online health control form, which will generate a QR code to be scanned at the border.

Travellers will also need to undergo a temperature check and a visual health assessment. If you are travelling from a “high-risk” country, you will need evidence of a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test within the 72 hours before your journey.

When will Spain holidays be allowed again?

Boris Johnson is expected to unveil a new “traffic-light” system for international travel in a press conference tonight.

Destinations will be ranked either green, amber or red depending on their Covid risk.

Ministers have said that it’s too early to say which countries will be on each list, but much of Europe is expected to stay “red”.

More details will be unveiled during the PM’s announcement tonight.