WITH the peak summer holiday season in full swing, here is the rundown of the rules for those traveling to Spain from the UK.
Post-Brexit entry requirements
Since Brexit, UK travelers are limited to visiting Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day visa-free period. This applies if you are traveling as a tourist, to visit family or friends.
The UK Foreign Office has flagged the need for UK travelers to bring additional documents when visiting Spain, now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union.
In the “Entry Requirements” section of the FCDO travel advice portal, it is stated that three additional documents are required by tourists.
“At Spanish border control you may need to show a return or onward ticket; show that you have enough money for your stay; show proof of accommodation for your stay, such as a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if you are visiting your own property (e.g., second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of address whether you are staying with a third party, friends or family,” the advice says.
He adds: “The Spanish government has clarified that the ‘invitation card’ is one of the options available to prove that you have accommodation if you are staying with friends or family.”
Do I have to prove sufficient financial means for the duration of the stay?
According to the Spanish government website, non-EU travelers arriving in Spain may be asked to show proof of funds for their stay.
“The minimum amount required is 90 euros per person per day. In all cases, and regardless of the length of stay, the traveler must have at least 810 euros or its equivalent in foreign currency,” the rules specify.
MORE DETAILS HERE
Passport stamps
Britons should also check that their passport is stamped if entering or leaving the Schengen area via Spain as a visitor.
“Border guards will use passport stamps to verify that you comply with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If the relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, the border guards will assume that you have exceeded your visa waiver limit,” the FCDO states.
Spain is allowing Britons to enter through electronic gates at some airports and then hand over their passport to the border official to stamp after passing through.
Britons residing in Spain (or elsewhere in the EU) and who have the documentation to prove it (a TIE or equivalent) do not need to have their passport stamped on entry or exit
Passport validity
Visitors from the UK should also be aware of passport validity rules as set out in the Schengen Area rules.
Passports must meet 2 requirements. They must be:
• less than 10 years old on the day of your entry (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the scheduled day of departure (check the ‘expiration date’)
People should check both the issue date and the expiry date of their passport. If you renewed your passport earlier, additional months may have been added to its expiration date. These extra months do not count towards the necessary validity and could affect whether your passport meets the requirement that your passport is less than 10 years old.
However, if you are a British national living in Spain and covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, you do not need additional months on your passport to enter or leave EU countries.
Covid Restrictions:
Spain is one of the few countries in Europe that still requires travelers to prove they are Covid-free. This means that arrivals from the UK must show proof that they have been vaccinated against Covid, have recently recovered from the virus or present proof of a negative test.
So non-EU travelers from the UK will need to show EITHER:
1. A full vaccination certificate: Proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival in Spain. If more than 270 days have passed since your second dose, proof of booster vaccination is also required, except for adolescents 12 to 17 years old.
2. A certificate of recovery: Proof of recent recovery from Covid. Recovery certificates issued by official authorities will be valid for at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or positive antigen screening test, carried out by qualified personnel. The certificate is valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive diagnostic test result.
3. A negative test certificate (this can be either a PCR performed no later than 72 hours before departure or an antigen test performed no later than 24 hours before departure). Those traveling with a test will also need to complete the Spanish health control form.
Children under 12 are exempt from these requirements.
Check all the latest requirements HERE
Face masks will be mandatory on the plane on flights to and from Spain and on all public transport in Spain.
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