Coronavirus: our plan of action

Here is an up-to-date list of countries that can travel to Spain. If your country is not on that list, it may still be possible to travel if you have a student visa. Please check your nearest Spanish embassy / consulate for more information.

We will be going ahead with all Trinity CertTESOL courses from the September 7th and onwards, and continue to communicate any updates as soon as possible. 

Is it safe to travel to Barcelona?

In short, yes, it is as safe as any other country. Currently face masks are obligatory in all public spaces and inside shops and businesses. We recommend that you follow the advice of your local and national authority and closely monitor updates. We also suggest referring to the CDC for any travel warnings.

Will I have to self-isolate when I arrive in Barcelona?

Please check here for an up-to-date list of countries.

What happens if there is a country-wide lockdown while I am in Barcelona?

If Spain experiences another lockdown during your course here in Barcelona, we have all the resources and requirements to move the course online again. We have had great success with the current group of trainees completing their course online, so we are confident this is a feasible solution. We are flexible in our approach and we will ensure you meet all the requirements to receive your qualification.

What is your policy regarding refunds and cancellations?

We want you to feel 100% comfortable when enrolling into one of our courses, thus we have updated our cancelations and refunds policy in response to the coronavirus crisis. If you are unable to attend your course, whether it be due to travel restrictions or school closures, you will have the option to postpone your course with zero change fees to any course date within the next 24 months. If you are unable to attend the course within the next 24 months you will be entitled to a full refund of all fees paid directly to us. (We cannot make any guarantees or comments towards fees made to external agencies.)

If there are no travel restrictions or warnings against travelling and you still wish to cancel, we will offer a refund of all payments other than the initial 20% down payment. Alternatively, you can postpone your course start date to any time that feels more comfortable to you at no extra charge.

If you book to come with us but are denied boarding unfortunately we can transfer you to another course without incurring any fees. If you have booked accommodation you will forfeit 50% of your accommodation fees. We work with individual hosts so any last minute cancellations greatly affects their expected income.

What happens if I get sick in Barcelona?

• You should call 061 if you have virus symptoms. 
• UK and European citizens should have their EHIC card; this will guarantee you the same treatment as any Spanish resident. Note for British nationals: your EHIC card is still valid until December 31st 2020.
• Non-Europeans should have travel insurance; you should check what is covered in your policy.
• You can count on our staff team at the school to support you while in Barcelona.

Note from the School Director

Like all of you, I am concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in Spain and abroad and its potential effect on students, employees, and community members.  

I believe these circumstances present a unique opportunity to learn and adapt and we at TEFL Iberia are prepared to tackle the challenge head on. 

I also believe it is important to avoid the spread of fear. As this crisis will eventually end, it is critical to remain positive, continue exploring and make plans for the future. Nonetheless, we should all take the necessary health precautions by staying at home and keeping informed, and we urge all of our students to do the same. 

We recommend reputable sources for information, such as the WHO, ourworldindata.org, or your country’s public health agency. 

Our management team continues to meet regularly to share information in real-time, consider changes in approach that will best protect our community, and set our contingency plans in motion.  

We are in constant contact, and I will continue to regularly update the community, through messages and on our website and social media.

Our main priority continues to be the safety of our students, staff and Barcelona community.

Useful links

Coronavirus update for Barcelona’s main university: https://www.ub.edu/web/ub/en/universitat/coronavirus/index.html?

UK Government travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/health

US Embassy in Spain: https://es.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Australian Embassy in Spain: https://spain.embassy.gov.au/

Barcelona Institute of International Studies: https://www.ibei.org/en/information-on-coronavirus-covid-19_176493

English guide to Barcelona’s health services: https://www.citylifebarcelona.com/a-quick-guide-to-the-spanish-medical-system-hints-tips/

World Health Organisation (WHO) advice: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public