Time to get through Madrid Airport Passport control queues/Covid checks?

[green_spork]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

 

[henrythedog]

It’s a few months ago; (March and April) but the process at Madrid (and Malaga) was seamless with plenty of post-immigration staff checking covid certification. There was, literally; an added minute.

Now that the ‘travel health form’ is not required by many, I can’t see that it will have slowed down.

If your flight’s on time and you disembark promptly it should be fine.

 

[Former member 102963]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

Flew LHR- MAD last Monday. Very quick, a matter of minutes! That was T4. Same story into Valencia last month.

 

[DavidCanadian]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

I cannot help regarding the delays in getting through the airport but having once made that connection I can recommend that you have an advance purchase and a reserved seat on the bus.

 

[Vacajoe]

Wife did Madrid in late March 2022 - immigration/customs took mere minutes. However, this can be hampered if large international flights land at the same time as you! Or if you are in the back of a big plane. I’d say you have a great chance if making it, but no guarantee

 

[green_spork]

Wife did Madrid in late March 2022 - immigration/customs took mere minutes. However, this can be hampered if large international flights land at the same time as you! Or if you are in the back of a big plane. I’d say you have a great chance if making it, but no guarantee

Hi joe, thanks for the info! It seems most people have got through Immigration without any problems! Hoping for the same

 

[Vince Rollason]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

I flew into Madrid in May with three family members and the non EU queue was very slow. Well over an hour. I have an Irish passport and a British passport. I could have got through on the Irish one in no time but still would have had to wait on the other side for the other three to come through.

 

[Vacajoe]

I flew into Madrid in May with three family members and the non EU queue was very slow. Well over an hour. I have an Irish passport and a British passport. I could have got through on the Irish one in no time but still would have had to wait on the other side for the other three to come through.

Isn’t May prime vacation time in Europe? Moreso than the end of September?

 

[Vince Rollason]

Isn’t May prime vacation time in Europe? Moreso than the end of September?

No, prime time in Europe is mid July to mid September.

 

[EmmaATX]

I flew into Madrid in May with three family members and the non EU queue was very slow. Well over an hour. I have an Irish passport and a British passport. I could have got through on the Irish one in no time but still would have had to wait on the other side for the other three to come through.

Do you have to use the same passport that you used to book your flight to go through customs?

 

[Former member 102963]

Do you have to use the same passport that you used to book your flight to go through customs?

I very much doubt it! I don’t think I ever put my passport details in when I book a flight (buying ex UK).

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I very much doubt it! I don’t think I ever put my passport details in when I book a flight (buying ex UK).

Usually you do need to put your passport details in. If it's an airline you've used before they may already have your details so you don't have to do it for every flight.

 

[Former member 102963]

In

Usually you do need to put your passport details in. If it's an airline you've used before they may already have your details so you don't have to do it for every flight.

I think it varies by country of origin, by airline, by destination and/or whether you book via OTA, whether you are travelling intra European or Europe to North Atlantic and so on.

I have a few passports and rarely log my details until online check in, from a UK originating standpoint.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Yes, you have to do it for online check in. I don't think you need to do it for intra-schengen flights, though.

 

[Former member 102963]

Yes, you have to do it for online check in. I don't think you need to do it for intra-schengen flights, though.

Yes of course for OLCI!

 

[peregrina2000]

Do you have to use the same passport that you used to book your flight to go through customs?

My experience is based on being a US citizen with an Irish passport, going in and out of Spain. There are separate streams of information, airlines and immigration. Use the same passport both ways with the airline. If you switch passports on the airlines, you will get questioned (I did that on my maiden voyage with my Irish passport — it wasn’t a big problem, but they told me to always use the same passport with the airlines, both when leaving the US and when checking in to return to the US). Use whatever passport you want going into and out of Spain at immigration. I have given the airlines in the US my US passport, but I have gone through Spanish immigration on my Irish passport — no problem. Use only your US passport going into the US at US immigration.

This passport suff is tricky and country-specific, so depending on where your two passports are from, the possibilities may be different.

 

[Devereaux]

In May all I needed was a recent Covid test (negative) and the Spanish Travel QR code on my phone (I carried a paper copy too).
All info obtainable at: https://www.spth.gob.es/faq

 

[Vince Rollason]

Do you have to use the same passport that you used to book your flight to go through customs?

No. You just need to present a valid passport. I obtained an Irish passport as my mother was Irish as soon as UK left the EU. I use whichever one makes life more convenient for me at the time.

 

[J Willhaus]

If you are not flying into T4 you will need to take an airport shuttle fom T1, 2, or 3 so do plan that into your timing...

 

[pvh]

We travelled from LHR to MAD last week.
There was no delays at all and we made it through immigration, via the monorail to T4 from T4S and through the health screening in about 15-20 minutes.
I was genuinely surprised how quick it was (especially having experienced Heathrow recently).

 

[green_spork]

We travelled from LHR to MAD last week.
There was no delays at all and we made it through immigration, via the monorail to T4 from T4S and through the health screening in about 15-20 minutes.
I was genuinely surprised how quick it was (especially having experienced Heathrow recently).

Am flying into Madrid end of September, my flight arrives in T1, I then have a 1 hour to get through passport control/covid check, before I need to get a ALSA bus from outside T4!
Some people have mentioned they have had to wait over an hour to get through the Non EU queue/Covid scanning!
What was the process when you arrived?
Do they check your Covid status at immigration?

 

[henrythedog]

Am flying into Madrid end of September, my flight arrives in T1, I then have a 1 hour to get through passport control/covid check, before I need to get a ALSA bus from outside T4!
Some people have mentioned they have had to wait over an hour to get through the Non EU queue/Covid scanning!
What was the process when you arrived?
Do they check your Covid status at immigration?

There are ‘health check’ staff (lots of them) right after immigration. They check (scan) either your travel health form or covid vaccination status; whichever you’re required to have. In my multiple experiences at Madrid and Malaga it’s taken no more than a couple of minutes.

 

[green_spork]

There are ‘health check’ staff (lots of them) right after immigration. They check (scan) either your travel health form or covid vaccination status; whichever you’re required to have. In my multiple experiences at Madrid and Malaga it’s taken no more than a couple of minutes.

Thanks, good to know, they sound like their well organised!

 

[pvh]

Am flying into Madrid end of September, my flight arrives in T1, I then have a 1 hour to get through passport control/covid check, before I need to get a ALSA bus from outside T4!
Some people have mentioned they have had to wait over an hour to get through the Non EU queue/Covid scanning!
What was the process when you arrived?
Do they check your Covid status at immigration?

It was very smooth through immigration, in fact the non EU queue was shorter than the EU one (but that was probably because we were flying Iberia and most of the passengers were Spanish).
Once through immigration there's the Health Check section but providing you have an EU or equivalent Covid vaccination certificate (eg NHS etc) then they were just waving people through.

One thing to note, it's a good idea to print off or save as a PDF your Covid vaccination pass as the NHS app went down last week.

 

[green_spork]

It was very smooth through immigration, in fact the non EU queue was shorter than the EU one (but that was probably because we were flying Iberia and most of the passengers were Spanish).
Once through immigration there's the Health Check section but providing you have an EU or equivalent Covid vaccination certificate (eg NHS etc) then they were just waving people through.

One thing to note, it's a good idea to print off or save as a PDF your Covid vaccination pass as the NHS app went down last week.

Will be my first flight since 2018, so trying to get an idea of what the procedures are! From all accounts it seem the Madrid has got things pretty well organised! Am flying with Easy jet so expect it will all be non eu passport holders! I will probably be taking a lateral flow test the day before, so hopefully have a negative certification! Cheers for the all the info, much appreciated!

 

[J Willhaus]

Phil and I flew in June to Madrid from Frankfurt. We landed over in Terminal 2. It was very quick and no one checked anything because we were checked by the airline and went through Frankfurt to get into the EU. Very quick to pick up our checked bag and go out to the bus pickup area. If you are flying directly into Madrid fromthe UK your experience may vary as you will go through customs in Madrid. It is usually quick, but 1 hr does seem cutting it a little close. No one asked about out covid qr code in Madrid, but it was checked by the airline at check in.

 

[Former member 102963]

It was very smooth through immigration, in fact the non EU queue was shorter than the EU one (but that was probably because we were flying Iberia and most of the passengers were Spanish).
Once through immigration there's the Health Check section but providing you have an EU or equivalent Covid vaccination certificate (eg NHS etc) then they were just waving people through.

One thing to note, it's a good idea to print off or save as a PDF your Covid vaccination pass as the NHS app went down last week.

You can save you NHS ‘pass’ to your ‘wallet/passbook’ on your phone so it’s is permanently there and not linked to the NHS Intenet site.

 

[Finley]

This past April I flew into Madrid from the USA on a Monday morning arriving at 8:30. connecting flight scheduled for 12:00 noon for Pamplona. Easy peasy I have 3 hours to get through customs grab something to eat and get to the gate.
nope! Arrived at customs and there were at least 100 people in line. Missed my once daily flight to Pamplona and my next days once a daily bus ride to SJPD. Lost reservations at Pamplon, SJPD and Orrison. Basically changed my plans and started the Camino in Pamplona. So hopefully it will go smother for you.. good luck

 

[Stephan the Painter]

I flew into Madrid in May with three family members and the non EU queue was very slow. Well over an hour. I have an Irish passport and a British passport. I could have got through on the Irish one in no time but still would have had to wait on the other side for the other three to come through.

I doubt anybody’s ever checking, or that there is a penalty, but under the regulations you’re obligated to use your European Union passport when you’re traveling in the European Union.

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

I think that’s cutting it very close. If anything goes wrong, delayed plane, crazy long line, you get chosen for an extra search, you might miss your bus. You might make it to, but it’s a gamble. Is there not a slightly later bus?
That said, it probably took me about a half an hour to make it through when I arrived in Madrid in March of this year. But I had an EU passport. I think the people with non EU passports took slightly longer.

 

[kenwilltravel]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

My wife and I just flew into Madrid yesterday from the U.S., arriving in terminal 1. We did run into the "health check" people after immigration but all we had to do is wave our EU digital Covid certificates (they scanned the QR codes) and we were through in minutes. Immigration was also very quick, maybe 10 minutes, but that could be because we arrived around 8 a.m. at a time not a lot of other passengers were going through.
I suspect the more important issue you will face is possible delays on your EasyJet flight from the U.K. I agree with Stephan the Painter that you're cutting it a bit tight. You've only got enough time if everything works right. Taking only a carry-on bag is a smart move!

 

[green_spork]

I doubt anybody’s ever checking, or that there is a penalty, but under the regulations you’re obligated to use your European Union passport when you’re traveling in the European Union.

I think that’s cutting it very close. If anything goes wrong, delayed plane, crazy long line, you get chosen for an extra search, you might miss your bus. You might make it to, but it’s a gamble. Is there not a slightly later bus?
That said, it probably took me about a half an hour to make it through when I arrived in Madrid in March of this year. But I had an EU passport. I think the people with non EU passports took slightly longer.

Hi, yeah, Actually, I would have 1 hour 15, to get through Immigration, that’s if the flight arrives on the time! I know it’s still risky, but this bus gets me to Oviedo for the evening, their is a later bus, but it’s means a 4 hour wait, plus you arrive in Oviedo for around 10pm!
Even if the passport checks are fast, theirs still the 10 min shuttle bus journey from T1 to T4!
Theirs always blablacar, but not guaranteed anyone’s going to be travelling to Oviedo that day!

 

[pagespan]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

Arriving into T4 you need a lot more time than the other terminals.

Be prepared for a different camino primitivo. Large swaths of this route were affected by the summer wildfires. It’s very sad.

 

[peregrina2000]

Arriving into T4 you need a lot more time than the other terminals.

I always fly into T4, so I can’t compare, but unless I check luggage, I usually whiz right through. Luggage takes a LONG time to get from the satellit terminal T4S (where the long haul international flights arrive).

If what you’re saying is that T4 takes longer to get out of the airport than T1/2, you may be right, but since @green_spork has to get over to T4 after he gets through T1, I think the advantage may be lost in transit. Anyway, I think @green_spork knows what needs to be done and let’s just hope the stars align properly to make the bus!

Be prepared for a different camino primitivo. Large swaths of this route were affected by the summer wildfires. It’s very sad.

So sad, @pagespan. I remember last September that the descent into the embalse of Grandas had many patches, and maybe a few into La Mesa (?), but my memory is fuzzy.

Since you’ve just come back, which stages were most affected?

 

[green_spork]

Arriving into T4 you need a lot more time than the other terminals.

Be prepared for a different camino primitivo. Large swaths of this route were affected by the summer wildfires. It’s very sad.

My flight arrives into T1, but the ALSA coaches depart from outside the T4 terminal!
You mentioned the recent wildfires, how much of the route was affected!

 

[Tincatinker]

My flight arrives into T1, but the ALSA coaches depart from outside the T4 terminal!
You mentioned the recent wildfires, how much of the route was affected!

According to https://emergency.copernicus.eu/map...oom=2&lat=36.00107&lon=-28.40126&layers=0BT00 not much that wasn't previously damaged in 2016 & 2019. Over the entirety of the Primitivo expect to encounter 0.1-0.2% of landscape that is fire damaged and most of which is in recovery from previous fires. The descent to Grandas in 2017 was heartbreaking and joyful. Most of the Pine Forest had gone but there were already bright green shoots emerging from the ashes. I'd love to see it again now. The deciduous Chestnut and Oak forest closer to the Embalse had survived and was thronged with wildlife. Local contacts tell me that now, as is typical, there are flora and fauna species that have not been recorded in over a century that can now be encountered on the descent from the Capilla de Santa Maria de Buspol.

None of which has anything whatsoever to do with about catching a bus. But might be a reminder that the world neither works as we expect it to, nor cares.

 

[haylesm]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

We flew into Madrid last month (July) on a visit to my husband's family. I came in from Mexico and my husband came from Australia. Both our experiences were quick, nor long queues at immigration nor the covid paperwork check zone (follow the blue line). However things can change on a daily basis, as we learned with our return flight to Australia - massive delays, lines, missed connections etc, starting with a 4 hour delay in leaving Madrid.
I hope you get through quickly.

 

[Perdita]

Following this with interest as I fly into Madrid from Australia next week, via the UK - its an Iberia operated flight from Heathrow, and I understand it comes into Terminal 4S. I then need to collect luggage and get a taxi across Madrid to Chamartin, where I pick up the fast train to Santiago.

I have mobility issues (arthritis) so have been recommended to get a taxi rather than having to get luggage on and off the local train. I also have virtually zero Spanish, to my shame.

So a couple of questions, after reading this thread - do I understand correctly that luggage collection would be in T4, not T4S, and so I need to get the monorail to T4S first?
Whereabouts is the covid form checked - is it pre passport control, pre luggage collection, T4 or T4S?
I land in Madrid at 12.45, is it realistic to hope to get through, and across Madrid, to Chamartin in time for the 14.30 or (more likely) the 16.00 train, or should I expect to be on the 17.45?

Any hints very gratefully received. Although I am unable to walk the Camino, thus trip is a very special pilgrimage for me, reuniting with a dear friend who lives in Santiago and has been to hell and back in the last 2 years, so I'm just trying to be as prepared as possible.
Thank you!

 

[henrythedog]

Covid form is checked straight after passport control and is very efficient. Can’t help you with the rest, sorry.

 

[peregrina2000]

do I understand correctly that luggage collection would be in T4, not T4S, and so I need to get the monorail to T4S first?

Yes, that is right. You go through immigration and then go down to the train to T4. A tip for anyone, but especially those with mobiility issues. Take the elevator from immigration down to the train. It is a lot of flights on the escalator.

Whereabouts is the covid form checked - is it pre passport control, pre luggage collection, T4 or T4S?

Though this may have changed, because it was not a permanent setup, the last time I went through, the covid control was after the tram and before baggage pickup.

I land in Madrid at 12.45, is it realistic to hope to get through, and across Madrid, to Chamartin in time for the 14.30 or (more likely) the 16.00 train, or should I expect to be on the 17.45?

Do you have your train ticket? Train travel is very popular in Spain and trains frequently sell out. Availability for next week looks pretty good as of right now, so it just depends on your own preferences about travel and having reservations. You are arriving at a time of day when there may be much longer lines in immmigration. I think a lot of forum comments about how quick it was getting through immigration has been from US travelers — flights from the US arrive very early in the morning and the lines are usually quite small.

If you are not checking any bags, a 14.30 train is possible. But if I were you, I would buy a ticket on the 16.00 train. If you buy a slightly more expensive ticket it is changeable, but I think you can be fairly onfident that you will make the 16.00 train unless your flight from Australia is massively delayed.

One other thing — the Alvia (which has departures at 14.30 and 17.45) does not require changing trains, but the Avant has a change in Ourense, I believe.

Good luck with this!

 

[Perdita]

Yes, that is right. You go through immigration and then go down to the train to T4. A tip for anyone, but especially those with mobiility issues. Take the elevator from immigration down to the train. It is a lot of flights on the escalator.


Though this may have changed, because it was not a permanent setup, the last time I went through, the covid control was after the tram and before baggage pickup.


Do you have your train ticket? Train travel is very popular in Spain and trains frequently sell out. Availability for next week looks pretty good as of right now, so it just depends on your own preferences about travel and having reservations. You are arriving at a time of day when there may be much longer lines in immmigration. I think a lot of forum comments about how quick it was getting through immigration has been from US travelers — flights from the US arrive very early in the morning and the lines are usually quite small.

If you are not checking any bags, a 14.30 train is possible. But if I were you, I would buy a ticket on the 16.00 train. If you buy a slightly more expensive ticket it is changeable, but I think you can be fairly onfident that you will make the 16.00 train unless your flight from Australia is massively delayed.

One other thing — the Alvia (which has departures at 14.30 and 17.45) does not require changing trains, but the Avant has a change in Ourense, I believe.

Good luck with this!

Thanks so much for that! Useful hint about using the lift not the escalator.
I have got a changeable ticket for the 1600 train - I thought the earlier one might be a bit ambitious, so it sounds like I've done the right thing there. I will have two cases with me so I'll have luggage to maneouvre, but having an idea of what to expect does help!

 

[Robo]

[Moderator note: The next few posts were made on another thread, which has now been merged with this similar one.]

Hi folks,

For those who have passed through Madrid Airport this year, arriving on an International flight, did it take long?

i.e. from exiting the plane.......through immigration etc......to exiting the airport.
I'll have checked in luggage to pick up too (mailing tube with poles, liquids, sharps etc)

I'll be heading from the Airport to catch a train to Sevilla, and would like to meet someone for lunch, before I jump on the train. Probably close to the Station somewhere.

I'm in no rush as I can catch a late train out of Madrid if necessary.

Just curious about what time I might be clear of the Airport, so we can schedule a rough time for lunch.
I'll add a 'buffer' just in case.
And I'll probably jump in a cab to Madrid to save time.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I took us about 30 minutes in April.

 

[J Willhaus]

Very easy for us in June. We landed in T2 as we transited through Frankfurt and entered the EU there. A bathroom break and then straight to baggage claim and out the door to the Express bus downtown to Atocha Station! Maybe 20 minutes?

 

[Bill Krueger]

landed in Madrid just the other day! Arrived from JFK in New York. Long walk to passport control 10-15 minutes, long line but moved well, about 30 minutes. Then long walk toward baggage claim but I had no checked bag. But then another line to check Spanish health QR code. About another 10 minutes. Flew Iberia and they checked QR code in NY. So nearly an hour, good luck!

 

[Rosella25]

It depends on which terminal you are landing at. My flight in June landed at T4S. It took roughly 1.5 hours to clear the terminal, much of that time spent waiting for luggage. Why not get a train to Madrid, rather than a taxi, they will be faster and cheaper - from T4 there are both above ground and metro trains.

 

[Perdita]

An update after entering through Madrid last week. My arthritic foot was playing up so I had wheelchair assistance from the plane to baggage reclaim, which was amazingly efficient with a lovely cheerful man assisting me. I must say that from the aircraft, through the satellite terminal into the main one and then to the baggage belts was a very long way (possibly even a longer walk than Heathrow) so be prepared for a lot of walking. However there were no queues anywhere, breezed straight through passports and the Health thing, just showed my vax cert, they didn't ask for the travel health QR code itself. The slowest bit was waiting for the bags.
Got a taxi across to Chamartin as it was easier with luggage, the station was more chaotic than the airport, and the staff less helpful, but thats life.
Very grateful for all the hints on here about the escalators and about the security checks - you just have to put your bags through a conveyor belt/scanner (mine was manned by the most grumpy looking person I have seen all week!)
I actually managed to make the early train, the 14.30 - even got to the station with about 20 minutes to spare. I would definitely recommend buying the ticket online in advance. RENFE fast train to S de C was amazing, beautiful scenery, lovely spacious clean train, excellent trolley service with drinks, well impressed!

 

[green_spork]

Good afternoon everyone,
I am walking the Camino Primitivo on Monday the 26 of September!

I am flying into Madrid on Saturday the 24th of September, before catching the bus to Oviedo!

I should arrive in Madrid with 1 hour to spare, before I have to catch the ALSA bus outside!
I am hoping not to have any delays with the flight or to be held up with long queues at immigration!

Can anyone share their recent experience of arriving into Madrid Airport and how long it took them to clear Passport control/Covid checks!

Flying from U.K, will only have carry on bag!

All help appreciated!

Thought I’d update this post as I got a lot of helpful advice during my own planning!
I arrived this morning into Madrid, very busy with multiple flights all arriving at the same time!
Their was some one at the start of the passport queue directing everyone into the EU/Non EU line!
I did not book the direct ALSA bus from T4, for fear of getting caught up at immigration/covid checks.
I caught a later bus from Moncloa in the city centre!
Anyway both queues were equally busy, however I would say I waited about 20 mins to clear, by this time the EU line was empty! Not as bad as expected, meaning I could have caught the bus from T4!
Also I had taken a negative lateral flow test but was not asked for the certificate!

 

[jeffsadventures]

Thought I’d update this post as I got a lot of helpful advice during my own planning!
I arrived this morning into Madrid, very busy with multiple flights all arriving at the same time!
Their was some one at the start of the passport queue directing everyone into the EU/Non EU line!
I did not book the direct ALSA bus from T4, for fear of getting caught up at immigration/covid checks.
I caught a later bus from Moncloa in the city centre!
Anyway both queues were equally busy, however I would say I waited about 20 mins to clear, by this time the EU line was empty! Not as bad as expected, meaning I could have caught the bus from T4!
Also I had taken a negative lateral flow test but was not asked for the certificate!

I just saw online that as of Sept 20, Spain no longer has entry restrictions related to Covid - I'm assuming this means: no more negative test, no proof of vaccination, no acquiring QR code stuff. Was that your experience? I fly to Barcelona on Tuesday evening so just want to confirm with someone that just arrived. Thanks and buen camino! I'm headed up to Switzerland to walk to Rome on the Via Francigena

 

[green_spork]

I just saw online that as of Sept 20, Spain no longer has entry restrictions related to Covid - I'm assuming this means: no more negative test, no proof of vaccination, no acquiring QR code stuff. Was that your experience? I fly to Barcelona on Tuesday evening so just want to confirm with someone that just arrived. Thanks and buen camino! I'm headed up to Switzerland to walk to Rome on the Via Francigena

The way I understood the September 20 announcement was they had only scrapped the need for the travel health locator form/QR code requirement, I took it you still needed your NHS vaccination certificate or a PCR /Lateral Flow negative proof!
I wasn’t willing to risk it!
But I think you’ll be fine, as mentioned, passport stamped within 20 mins and I was out the door no covid checking anywhere to be seen!
Good luck, with the Francigena, it seem to be getting very popular!

 

[C clearly]

I just saw online that as of Sept 20, Spain no longer has entry restrictions related to Covid

As @green_spork suggests, I have seen that Spain no longer requires the submission of the SpTH form. I have not seen any change in the official requirements for one of vaccine, testing, or recovery. See this page and also this FAQ page.

I am happy to be corrected, but that is my reading of the words.