According to a report by Lusa, the Spanish authorities have confirmed that “random checks” can be carried out within the Spanish territory and travellers to the country are required to have a negative Covid-19 test, vaccination certificate or disease recovery certificate.

All of this has been done within the framework of new legislation relating to the Covid-19 European digital certificate, which Spain already recognises and had begun issuing.

According to a source from the Spanish Ministry of Health, "there is an obligation to have the documentation and if, by chance, there is a random check, it must be presented".

"This will be the general rule", but there will not be "permanent physical checks" at land borders, there will only be "random" inspections, as is currently the case under the Schengen Agreement.

According to the Consulate General of Spain in Portugal website, “as of June 7, all persons over the age of 6 who cross the land border with Portugal must have some of the health certifications required for all travellers entering the country by air and sea".

These certifications include a negative Covid-19 diagnostic test (done within the previous 48 hours), which can be PCR or antigen, vaccination certificate or disease recovery certificate.

The sources assure that on the land border with France the same rule is applied.

Spain launched the European digital green certificate on 7 June, to allow “faster, safer and more agile travel between the countries of the European Union”.

The certificate, which at the European Union level is only expected to come into force on 1 July, attests that the holder has received the complete vaccination, has a negative diagnostic test - including the antigen test - or has recovered from the disease.

The head of Portuguese diplomacy said this week that the demand for a negative Covid-19 test to cross the land border with Spain “can only be a mistake”, stressing that, if it persists, Portugal will have to take “reciprocity measures”.

On 8 June, the Portuguese minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, announced that Spain will be amending the rule that requires the presentation of proof of vaccination against Covid-19 or a negative test at the land borders with Portugal.

“We had very intense contacts at all levels with the Spanish Government during the afternoon and evening of yesterday [Monday] and even last night we received confirmation from the Spanish authorities that, in fact, it was a lapse that would be corrected today and, therefore, this is what will happen”, said the minister.