President Angel Victor Torres signed a decree confirming the change on Wednesday (9 December), which came into force on Thursday (10 December).

Previously, arrivals into the Canaries – like those heading to mainland Spain – had been required to provide evidence of a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure.

PCR tests will continue to be accepted as proof of Covid-negative status.

The move will make it cheaper for holidaymakers hoping to get away over the Christmas and New Year period to take advantage of the government’s quarantine-free travel corridor with the Canaries.

It is, however, at odds with Spain’s health ministry, which has previously sought to pursue a harmonised, national approach to testing, which would also cover the Canaries.

The Canaries government said its decision to transition to antigen testing came after it recorded few new cases of coronavirus among the more than 250,000 international visitors to the islands over the past five weeks.