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EXPLAINER: What we know about Spain allowing British travellers to use eGates at selected airports in bid to reduce border queues

SPAIN has announced that British citizens will be able to use the Automated Border Control eGates at certain airports, a measure introduced in a bid to avoid lengthy queues at the start of the busy summer season.

After Easter saw lengthy queues built up at airports across Spain causing thousands to miss flights, Spain has taken measures to rectify the problem.

Adding to a general staffing shortage at airports in Spain is the fact that as a result of Brexit, British travellers have had to join the non-EU queue at airports to have their passport stamped.

Some 18 million British tourists arrived in Spain in the year before the Covid hit and put a stop to international travel but with restrictions lifted again, Spain is hoping for a return to pre-pandemic numbers.

However, this is adding to the huge strain on the skeleton staff at its borders.

On Thursday, Spain announced that it would reopen its eGates for British travellers at its busiest airports, although they will still require a stamp from border guards recording their arrival or exit.

Spain’s Tourist Board in Britain announced the welcome news on Twitter.

“British Citizens can now use the Automated Border Control eGates for Schengen passport holders at select Spanish Airports: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, Menorca, Valencia, Fuerteventura, Sevilla, Tenerife Sur.”

This follows a similar move by Portugal who introduced eGates for Brits at select airports in April.

The UK Foreign Office advised: “On arrival or departure, check you are eligible to use the e-gates and that you are in the right queue. When using an e-gate, your entry/exit is recorded on the computer system.

“A border officer may also stamp your passport after you have passed through the e-gate; this is for airport operational reasons. If you use a manned booth, check that your passport is stamped by the border officer when you enter or exit as a visitor.”

 This appears to be an interim measure until an EU wide automated system (EES) is introduced across the Schengen zone.

This was scheduled to have become fully functional in May, but has been hit by delays and is now not expected to be up-and-running until later this year or early next.

When it is operational it will register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data to any non-EU nationals – making the need for a passport stamp obsolete.

The European Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs notes: “EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time-consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers (travellers who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay).”

British citizens who are resident in Spain or elsewhere in the EU have to follow the same entry procedure as visiting holidaymakers, although they will not have their passport stamped on entry or exit if they produce a valid residency card.

• UPDATE: What are the latest rules now Spain has scrapped Covid-19 pass for EU travellers?
• Spain holiday homeowners slam ‘disastrous’ 90 day Brexit rule

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Fiona Govan

Fiona Govan joined The Olive Press in March 2021. She moved to Spain in 2006 to be The Daily Telegraph’s Madrid correspondent and then worked for six years as Editor of The Local Spain. She lives in Madrid’s Malasaña district with her dog Rufus.

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The pain in Spain: Where are Brits not so welcome this summer?

• Friday 10 May 2024 at 4:42pm

Tourists are facing a backlash from residents in Tenerife as islanders say they are struggling to cope with the influx of visitors, ITV News Europe Editor James Mates reports

Spain is one of the most popular destinations for British tourists, but the country is feeling the backlash of the cheap flights and sunny climes as large numbers of visitors are causing big problems.

A number of provinces have taken matters into their own hands and are providing guidance - and in some case strict rules - for tourists visiting over the summer, as they try and tackle overcrowding and the problems that come with it.

Tourism represents nearly 12% of Spain’s economy but there has been growing pressure from locals for governments to put measures in place to reduce the number of visitors.

So which parts of Spain might not be so keen for Brits to descend this summer?

Canary Islands

Protestors in Tenerife started a hunger strike on April 12 as part of a wider campaign demanding the Canary Islands government tackle the effects of excess tourism in the region.

Hundreds of people linked arms to form a human chain to demonstrate against the building of an additional hotel and beach resort, as well as future projects aimed at attracting more tourists. The hunger strike was still underway on Wednesday at the time of writing.

The wider movement is called Canarias Se Agota, which means 'The Canaries Have Had Enough'.

In an Instagram post the organisation said the Canary Islands are "exhausted" because of the "excessive tourism" and the "lack of attention to the basic needs of the population".

Last year the then-mayor of Barcelona described tourism as a "great challenge" for the city, and suggested there needed to be a way to limit the number of people pouring in during holiday season.

Ada Colau limited the number of hotel beds in the city during her tenure, highlighting that the city needs homes so there is space for residents to live in the busy centre.

Her successor, Jaume Collboni, banned cruise ships from docking at the Muelle Barcelona Norte and the World Trade Centre docks, a mile away from the Gothic quarter, in October.

Now cruises must dock at the Moll d’Adossat pier, which is a 30-minute bus ride from the historic centre.

Meanwhile one neighbourhood went as far as to get a local bus route removed from Google and Apple Maps to discourage tourists from using it as it was often too busy for residents to fit onboard.

“We laughed at the idea at first,” a local activist, César Sánchez, told the Guardian. “But we’re amazed that the measure has been so effective.”

Wider Catalonia region

Barcelona is the largest city in the Catalonia region, but authorities for the entire area are considering imposing water restrictions on tourists if domestic consumption does not decrease.

The Catalan government is considering a restriction of 100 litres of water per day per tourist for hotels for three months as it looks to tackle drought in the area.

According to Barcelona’s hotel guild, the average tourist to Barcelona in 2022 used some 163 litres per day, while the figure rose to over 240 litres for luxury hotels.

The limits for tourists would not include the water used to fill swimming pools.

Majorca has introduced a series of new rules over the last couple of years that aren't explicitly preventing tourists from enjoying the island, but do seek to weed out "drunken tourism".

A number of restaurants banned shirtless, costumed or football-shirt-wearing travellers, according to Juan Miguel Ferrer, the chief executive of Palma Beach.

Swimwear, trunks and novelty accessories bought from roadside vendors - such as gold chains - are also said to be banned.

"Since May 10, we’ve been suffering the arrival of large groups of tourists who are only looking to get drunk in the streets, or on the seafront or even on the beach,” Mr Ferrer said in 2022.

“You’re not going to come here in beach clothes or come straight from drinking in the streets."

Balearic Islands

Spain's Balearic Islands, including Magaluf in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, have further toughened laws on alcohol.

People caught drinking in unauthorised areas will face a penalty fine of up to 1,500 euros.

Purchasing alcohol on board a party boat is prohibited if it is located less than one nautical mile from areas affected by the alcohol restrictions. Picking up or disembarking passengers in these areas is also prohibited.

Alcohol sales are banned between 9:30pm and 08:00 am local time.

Alicante introduced new noise-related restrictions in 2023 in response to influxes of tourists causing disruption for locals.

Rules had originally been put in place in 2019, but they were strengthened last year. The array of noises encompassed by the regulations include open air concerts, use of musical instruments on beaches, and shouting.

The local city council warned of hefty fines for anybody flouting the rules.

Money matters and passport pains

Post-Brexit, Brits are subject to the 'third states' rules Spain imposes on visitors from outside the European Union.

A traveller visiting Spain must "present proof of having sufficient financial means for the proposed stay", or at least the ability to legally obtain that money, according to the Spanish foreign ministry.

In 2023, the minimum amount required was $120 (£97) per person per day, and the traveller had to have at least $1100 (£885) or its equivalent in foreign currency regardless of the length of the stay.

Travellers can show they have enough money by presenting cash, travellers' cheques, a credit card with a bank account statement, an up-to-date bank book or similar. The ministry states that bank letters or online bank statements are not accepted.

Brits flying abroad are also being warned about post-Brexit passport rules , which have landed travellers with hefty fines.

Some families are finding themselves thousands of pounds out of pocket when they have been banned from boarding flights due to the rule changes.

When the UK was a member of the EU, British passports remained valid up to and including their expiry date for travel to other EU countries, but now passports need to be valid for valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting.

More details of the post-Brexit rules on passports can be found on the ITV News website .

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…

Spain's official tourism website

• SPANISH TOURIST BOARD LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO REWARD TRAVEL AGENTS

The campaign entitled 'The Ultimate Escape' recognises the efforts and commitment of travel agents during the Covid-19 period

The Spanish Tourist Board has launched a new campaign to give away 85 holidays to Spain for UK travel agents in recognition of their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The campaign entitled ‘The Ultimate Escape’ was the brainchild of Manuel Butler, UK director of Turespaña to reward the travel sector for its dedication and tireless hard work during the pandemic.

The launch of the Ultimate Escape was announced at UK travel industry event, the Travel Weekly Globe Awards, and will provide 85 agents with a four-night break to either Andalucía, the Balearic Islands, Valencia or Galicia.

The trip will include flights, four nights’ B&B accommodation and a special one-day itinerary that includes lunch and dinner and will showcase Spain’s beaches, culture, gastronomy, wine and activities.

Agents can be nominated by a manager or a supplier partner here .

For further information on Spain as a visitor destination, please visit  www.spain.info  or email  [email protected] .

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Spain reaffirms entry rules for UK travelers after mistake announcement

Apr 7, 2022 • 2 min read

Spanish officials have confirmed that unvaccinated travelers from outside of the EU/Schengen Zone cannot enter Spain unless they have a recovery cert © Getty Images

The Spanish tourism board in the UK has confirmed that unvaccinated British travelers cannot travel to Spain after mistakenly announcing on Wednesday that they could.

Yesterday, the Spanish tourist board in the UK tweeted that unvaccinated travelers were permitted to travel to Spain if they provided a negative test ahead of the Easter break. The tweet said the move was a "step in the right direction" and it led to multiple reports appearing across the media recounting the new rules.

However, later on Wednesday evening, the tourist board removed the tweet and said that it had been sent in error. It confirmed that the current rules still stand, unvaccinated British travelers are not permitted to enter Spain, even if they test negative for COVID-19. There is an exception for those who have recovered from the virus within the last six months and children between the age of 12 and 17.

Pedro Medina, deputy director of the Spanish tourist office in the UK said: "We apologise unreservedly for the miscommunication earlier today which was due to a misunderstanding of the new entry requirements."

What are the current rules for traveling to Spain?

If you are coming from the EU or Schengen Zone , you can provide either a certificate of vaccination, a certificate of recovery, or a negative PCR (72 hours prior to arrival) or antigen test (24 hours). Children under 12 are exempt from the rules.

If you are coming from a country outside the EU/Schengen Zone, including the UK, the US, and Canada, you must be fully vaccinated, show a certificate of recovery (issued within the last six months), or provide an essential reason for traveling to Spain.

Traveling to the Canary or Balearic islands in Spain? Here’s what to expect

Anyone over 18 who received the last dose of a primary vaccine course more than 270 days (nine months) ago must receive a booster to be considered fully vaccinated. At least 14 days must have passed since the last jab. Those aged between 12 and 17 just need to show proof of a complete primary vaccine course to be considered fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated teenagers (between the age of 12 and 17) who are traveling from the UK, US, or any country not in the EU/Schengen Zone, can take a negative test to travel to Spain.

When will Spain relax entry rules?

Many countries in Europe such as Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, and the UK have dropped all COVID-19 entry rules at their borders. Spain's entry rules are in place until at least April 30, 2022. However, the government has given no indication that the rules will change after that date. 

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Spanish tourism sector cheers return of British visitors, but warns recovery rests on UK lifting restrictions

Popular tourist destinations such as the costa del sol and the canary islands have celebrated the end of travel rules for their largest market, but are calling for spain to be put on the united kingdom’s “green list”.

As of Monday, travelers from the United Kingdom are no longer subject to the coronavirus restrictions for visitors to Spain from outside the European Union . This means that British tourists can enter the country without having to present a negative PCR test. These restrictions were also waived for visitors from Japan, and as of June 7 travelers from around the world who have the full protection offered by a Covid-19 vaccine will also be able to visit without any restrictions. The announcement, made on Friday by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Fitur tourism fair, has been welcomed by Spain’s main tourist destinations, which are eager to recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis .

But it’s not all good news. Authorities in England have placed Spain on its “amber list” of countries, with similar classifications and restrictions for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This means in practice that travelers from the UK can come to Spain, but must quarantine for at least 10 days on their return and take two home coronavirus tests , which must come back negative before quarantine can end. What’s more, there are stricter measures still in place in Spain than in the UK, meaning that tourists visiting the country will have to wear face masks while outdoors as well as in indoor public spaces such as supermarkets. There are some exceptions, such as when practicing sport and on the beach when social distancing can be observed.

On Monday, UK Business Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan also urged British citizens not to visit destinations on the amber list unless it is strictly necessary to do so. “Please don’t go unless there is an urgent family reason and so on,” she told Sky News. She later told Times Radio: “The reality is, at the moment, amber countries [such as Spain] are still not meeting the criteria for our scientists to say that they should be green. So the recommendation remains don’t go unless you have to and remember that, if you do go, you will have to quarantine for 10 days and that will be monitored.”

But Spain’s secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdés, is confident that Spain will be added to the coronavirus “green list” of destinations given transmission rates in the country are falling and the Covid-19 vaccination drive is advancing at a good speed.

The next review of the UK’s traffic light system will take place on June 7. A lot is riding on this decision as the UK is the main source country of tourists to Spain. In 2019, 18 million UK nationals visited the country, accounting for 21.6% of all arrivals. EL PAÍS spoke to experts in some of the most popular Spanish tourist destinations about what the travel changes mean for the industry.

Costa del Sol: “This will allow us to recover employment soon”

After being closed for months, half of all hotels in Costa del Sol in the southern region of Andalusia have reopened ahead of the peak summer season. Since the state of alarm ended on May 9 , and with it, restrictions on inter-regional travel, hotel reservations in the popular tourist destination have skyrocketed. Last weekend, the average occupancy rate was at 40%, but in some hotels, it was as high as 100%.

The hospitality industry is also starting to bounce back. Nearly 90% of beach bars, known in Spain as chiringuitos , were closed during the state of alarm, but now most have reopened due to the rise in tourists from Andalusia and the rest of Spain. With more international visitors set to arrive, “this will allow us to recover employment soon,” says Manuel Villafaina, the president of the Beach Business Association, which represents more than 400 chiringuitos.

But the tourism industry in Costa del Sol is heavily dependent on tourists from the UK , who represented one-third of all arrivals in Málaga airport before the pandemic. In 2020, Málaga province, which is home to the Costa del Sol coastal strip, reported a drop of 9.3 million tourists – 2.2 million of them from the UK – and €10 billion in losses from tourist spending.

The sector has welcomed the news that Spain has lifted restrictions on British travelers, but says it is important for the UK government to place the country on its coronavirus “green list” of destinations.

“We have opened the door, but now we need the support of the British government so that citizens can come [to Spain] without restrictions,” says Margarita del Cid, the head of the tourism department in Costa del Sol.

Javier Frutos, the head of the Málaga Hotel Association, agrees: “It is absolutely essential to get the green light on the British traffic light system as soon as possible.”

Half of all hotels in Costa del Sol have reopened, but the situation is still far from what it was before the pandemic. Indeed, many establishments have decided to delay reopening such as Alay Hotel in Benalmádena. “Until the British government eliminates the mandatory quarantine rule, Britons are going to prefer Portugal or another destination [on the green list] over Costa del Sol,” says Álvaro Reyes, the head of marketing at Alay Hotel.

José Carlos Martín, the tourism chief in Mijas, says the arrival of vaccinated travelers is also important. Mijas, a town of 82,742 inhabitants in Málaga, receives a large number of tourists from Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. But, according to Carlos Martín, travel groups have warned that in these countries “the vaccination drive is much slower [than in Spain], which could become a problem here,” he says. “We have done our part, until the rest of the countries do their bit, the recovery will be slow.”

Málaga is currently the only province in Andalusia that is on the level 1 risk level, which means while there are some coronavirus restrictions, it is one step away from a complete return to normality.

Barcelona: “We are not interested in how many tourists come, but rather what kind of tourist comes”

At the end of April, Barcelona launched a campaign to win back US tourists to the Catalan capital in response to news from the European Commission that vaccinated visitors from the US would be allowed into the EU. Before the pandemic, Barcelona received more American travelers than from any other country, only outstripped by domestic tourists.

The city’s tourism board, Turismo de Barcelona, has also set its sights on visitors from France, the UK and Russia. At the beginning of April, a tourism commission was sent to Moscow and St Petersburg in a bid to attract visitors to the Catalan city, which led to a 10% spike in Russian tourists. “In Barcelona, we are not interested in how many tourists come, but rather in what kind of tourist comes,” Marian Muro, the head of Turismo de Barcelona, said at the time.

But British visitors are also key to Barcelona’s tourism industry. In 2019, 763,627 Britons stayed in a hotel in the city, according to a report on tourism activity in the Catalan capital. This is the third-highest number after tourists from Spain (1,612,487) and the US (1,103,996). Hotel stays from UK visitors represented 8% of the total, a figure that exceeded that of France and Italy.

Valencia: “They want to come, they haven’t been allowed in pubs and they are fed up with the rain”

Valencia on the Mediterranean coast will be one of the destinations that will most quickly see the positive effects of the decision to lift travel restrictions on British tourists, says Nuria Montes, the secretary general of the Benidorm Hotel Association (Hosbec). Alicante province in the eastern region is home to the highest number of Britons in Spain, with 70,000 UK residents. What’s more, the British market makes up one-third of all international tourists to Valencia. According to figures from the tourism sector, 89% of visitors from the UK in Valencia travel to Alicante, and of this number, half spend their vacation in Benidorm. “In a normal year, three million Britons arrive at the Alicante-Elche airport,” says Montes.

In Benidorm, hotel occupancy is at 35%, but this is expected to rise to 50%, says Montes. According to Montes, if the UK government lifts the travel restrictions on Spain, occupancy could return to pre-pandemic levels in June. “If the British and European markets work well, we are going to get to summer with almost everything open,” she says.

Ximo Puig, the premier of Valencia, argues the region’s low incidence rate makes it “the safest destination in Europe.”

Journalist Michelle Baker says Britons have also welcomed the decision to lift travel restrictions. “They want to come back,” she explains. “They are fed up with the weather, that they haven’t been able to go inside a pub until a week ago and no one wants to sit outdoors in the rain.” According to Baker, Benidorm “needs the purchasing power” of Britons, who have been saving money to go on a vacation for 18 months. She, however, believes UK visitors should not be exempt from all restrictions. “We should request a PCR from those who come because the figures of the Indian strain [of the coronavirus] are increasing alarmingly in the United Kingdom,” she explains.

Balearic Islands: “Lifting the restriction was a much-needed measure”

The Balearic Islands rely heavily on tourists from Britain. Before the pandemic in 2019, the archipelago received more than 3.6 million visitors from the UK, a number that fell to just 150,843 in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus crisis .

While the tourism industry is pleased that travel restrictions on Britons have been lifted, it is anxious for Spain to be put on the UK’s green list of destinations. “It is an important country for the archipelago,” says María José Aguillço, the vice president of the Balearic Island Hotel Association. “Lifting this restriction was a much-needed measure to reactivate the British market and will be more so, if the Balearic Islands is placed on the green list on June 7, which we trust it will.”

Spain is hoping that the country or at least specific regions , such as the Balearic Islands, will be placed on the UK’s green list due to the recent fall in coronavirus cases.

The tourism industry in the Balearic Islands has a long way to go before it is back to normal. Currently, only 30% of hotels in the region are open, compared to 90% before the pandemic.

Canary Islands: “Middle-class tourists come here, and the cost of tests for a normal family is financially prohibitive”

The hotel industry in the Canary Islands is pleased that British travelers are no longer subject to restrictions, but warns that restrictions in the UK are still a big hurdle . Since Spain is on the amber list, UK tourists who visit the archipelago must take a series of PCR tests upon their return, which is very costly.

“The news is only half-good as long as the United Kingdom continues to consider Spain an unsafe destination, meaning travelers have to take two PCR tests and quarantine when they [return home],” says José María Mañaricúa, the president of Las Palmas Hospitality and Tourism Federation. “Middle-class tourists come to the Canaries and the cost of these tests for a normal family can be as much as £700 or £800 [€813 to €926], which is financially prohibitive.”

The United Kingdom is the main source country of tourists to the Canary Islands, accounting for 37% of all visitors to the island In 2019.

With reporting by Hugo Guitiérrez, Lucía Bohórquez, Nacho Sánchez, Rafa Burgos, Lucía Bohórquez, Guillermo Vega and Alfonso Congostrina.

English version by Melissa Kitson .

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Spain entry requirements: The travel rules explained and what you need to enter the country

Uk holidaymakers travelling to spain fall under the same rules as other non-eu or non-schengen visitors and could be asked to show proof of accommodation and a return ticket.

British holidaymakers travelling to Spain may be required to prove they have sufficient funds of at least £85 a day per person to enter the country.

Border control could ask arrivals to prove they can cover the cost of their break under new rules introduced by the Spanish ministry.

UK tourists should also have proof of a return or onward travel ticket and evidence of accommodation for the duration of their stay, such as a booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting their own property (such as a second home) or proof of address if staying with friends, family or another third party. These rules apply to all tourists from outside the EU or the Schengen area and came into force on 1 January 2022.

These post-Brexit requirements add to the conditions UK tourists must already meet for travel to Spain , including proof of full vaccination, a negative test or previous infection for all visitors aged 12 or over.

How much must I have available to spend per day and what proof is required?

You may be asked to prove that you have sufficient funds to spend at least £85 (€100) per person, per day, with a minimum of €900 or £762.62, or other equivalent foreign currency.

Tourists may use one of the following as proof of sufficient funds:

• Certified checks
• Traveller’s checks
• Payment letters
• Credit cards, which must be accompanied by bank account statements or an updated bank book (letters from banks or internet bank statements will not be accepted)

Is any other documentation required?

Yes, non-EU tourists may also be asked to show proof of a ticket for return travel or travel to another country after Spain .

Proof of accommodation may also be requested for tourists or for private trips. This could be a booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (such as a second home), an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with family, friends or a third party.

The Spanish Government has confirmed that the “carta de invitation”, which is an official document that must be requested by someone living in Spain who is hosting a non-EU national.

A host can then send this “invitation letter” to their guest who can present the document to border officials as proof of a place to stay while in Spain.

Border force officials are permitted to request the letter if you are staying with family and friends and can deny you entry if you cannot provide it.

All visitors are advised to carry proof of accommodation when visiting.

If you have dual nationality with another EU country or have Spanish citizenship or residency then you will not need to provide a “carta de invitation”

Those travelling to Spain for work may be required to show proof of an invitation from a company or authority or similar.

Are Covid-related entry rules still in place?

Yes, Spain still requires visitors aged 12 or over to present one of the following:

Proof of fully vaccination: travellers aged 18 or over must have received the final dose of a two jab or single jab vaccine at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before travel to Spain; if more than 270 days have past, you will need to have received a booster to be considered fully vaccinated. Travellers aged 12–17 who have received a full course of a vaccine must have had the final dose at least 14 days before travel, but if more than 270 days have passed since the final dose, they do not need to have had a booster to qualify as fully vaccinated.

A negative Covid-19 test result from a PCR taken within 72 hours of departure or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure.

Proof of having recovered from Covid in the previous six months, such as a medical certificate

Children under 12

Travellers aged 11 or under do not need to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or prior infection for entry.

Do I need to complete any forms?

If you are fully vaccinated and have the NHS Covid pass, then you do not need to complete Spain’s health control form. However, the Spain Travel Health website advises that you check that your certificate is valid at least 72 hours before travel. You can do so by uploading a copy of your form (which you can download from the NHS app) to the website.

If you are not fully vaccinated and therefore do not have an NHS Covid Pass, then you will need to complete Spain’s Health control form .

Under-12s do not need to complete the form.

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Do any other rules apply?

Passport stamps

You must have your passport stamps on your entry to and exit from Spain. Border guards use these to check you are complying with the 90-days in any 180-day period visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area, which has applied to UK passport holders since the end of the Brexit transition period.

Passport validity

UK passport holders must meet these two requirements, which are independent of one another:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’) 
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’) 

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Turespaña offices abroad

Spanish Tourist Office of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium

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Charts with Information for Entering Spain from the EU and Other Countries

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Update October 21. 2022. Travellers to Spain.

News British Government

Changes in entry requirements for residents and those from Schengen and EU member states. Please check your country of origin on the interactive map. Example:

“Spain welcomes all travellers coming from Ireland. Some information is provided below in order to make your journey comfortable, easy and safe. Please note that passengers arriving in Spain by AIR OR SEA from this country will NOT be required to present the SpTH health control form or a COVID-19 certificate”.

Important information

No tests for those from EU member states or Schengen associated countries since June 2. You will note on the official Spanish tourism site on the U.K. entry requirements it states the same information as from EU states. This may be an error, we provide the information from the government health website and the resolution:

“Passengers (except for children under 12 years of age and those in international transit) arriving from countries that do NOT belong to the European Union or are NOT considered Schengen associated countries, must present one of these documents in order to pass the health controls on arrival in Spain:

An EU DIGITAL COVID CERTIFICATE OR EU EQUIVALENT of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative certificate of an active infection diagnostic test or a recovery certificate after having this disease.

SpTH QR. If you do not have the EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent, you must complete the SpTH Health Control Form, manually entering the details of your vaccination, recovery or diagnostic test certificate. The vaccination certificate with complete schedule for children under 18 has no expiry date”.

Modification of the Resolution of April 1, 2022 of the General Directorate of Public Health, regarding the health controls to be carried out at the points of entry to Spain. The first section of the Resolution of April 1, 2022 is modified, which is worded as follows:

Resolution:

“Sanitary controls at entry points. People who arrive in Spain by air or sea from countries that do not belong to the European Union or are not considered Schengen associated countries may be subjected to a health control at the first point of entry that will include, at least, the taking temperature, a documentary control and a visual check on their physical condition”.

Update June 6. The interactive map has been corrected no longer showing the UK with the same requirements as the EU/Schengen countries. Disclaimer from the interactive map below. I have also contacted the National tourist office bringing a possible error to their attention.

Update: Important information

Update May 20. As from today, travellers from third countries can enter Spain with a covid negative test.

To travel to Spain if you have an EU DCC, or equivalent EU it is not necessary to complete the SpTH health control form.

On the homepage you can find more information about the vaccination, recovery or diagnostic test DCCs that are valid for travelling to Spain.

Update: Entry from France to Spain by land.

Entry requirements are applicable for travelling to Spain by air and by land. By land, it is no longer necessary to comply with any health requirement related to COVID-19 in order to travel to Spain.

France. Entry requirements for U.K. nationals.

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Latest Updates: Please check the interactive map and latest news on the same link.

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For information on the regional areas, use the interactive map, drop down menu for any country and then general measures in Spain Example:

Obligations and exemptions mask wearing. CAB suggests carrying a letter from your doctor. If not in the Spanish or regional language, a translation into Spanish carried with the original.

Extract from the Spanish royal decree modified February 2022.

Modification of the mandatory use of masks during the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19.

“1. People six years of age and older are obliged to wear masks in the following cases:

a) In any closed space for public use or that is open to the public.

b) In mass events that take place in outdoor spaces, when attendees are standing. If they are seated, it will be mandatory when a safety distance of at least 1.5 meters between people cannot be maintained, except for groups of cohabitants.

c) In air, bus, or rail transport, including passenger platforms and stations, or by cable car, as well as complementary public and private passenger transport in vehicles with up to nine seats, including the driver, if the occupants of the tourism vehicles do not live in the same address. In closed spaces of ships and boats when the safety distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained, except for groups of cohabitants.

2. The obligation contained in the previous section will not be enforceable in the following cases:

a) To people who present some type of illness or respiratory difficulty that may be aggravated by the use of the mask or who, due to their disability or dependency, do not have the autonomy to remove the mask, or present behavior alterations that make its use unfeasible.

b) In the event that, due to the very nature of the activities, the use of the mask is incompatible, in accordance with the indications of the health authorities.

c) In those places or closed spaces for public use that are part of the place of residence of the groups that meet there, such as institutions for the care of the elderly or disabled, units intended for collective residence of essential workers or other groups that meet similar characteristics, as long as said groups and the workers who perform their duties there have vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 greater than 80% with the complete schedule and the booster dose, accredited by the health authority competent.

This last exception will not apply to external visitors, nor to workers in residential centers for the elderly or disabled, since in this case the use of a mask is mandatory.

Update June 28. The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announces that a negative PCR or full vaccination schedule will be required for citizens from the United Kingdom to enter Spain. The measure will begin to be applied on 1 July.

Update May 21. The information in link below will no longer apply to those from the U.K. and Northern Ireland from May 24.

Those who can travel to Spain and documentation needed

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Click on the map to check the applicable entry requirements for the country you are travelling from and the restrictions for your return home.

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Spain tourist board ‘sets record straight’ over £85 per day proof for holidaymakers

Statement says this is not a new rule and applies to other countries as well

• 11:27, 2 AUG 2022
• Updated 07:21, 3 AUG 2022

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The Spanish Tourist Board has put a statement out to try and reassure British holidaymakers anxious about having to show proof of their finances. It comes after reports that new rules meant people entering the country might have to prove they had access to at least £85 per day during their stay.

The statement on behalf of the tourist board said it was not a new rule; did not just apply to UK travellers; and that other countries also had the same rule. The board said it was time to “set the record straight” after recent media reports.

In the statement, Manuel Butler, the Spanish Tourist Office director (UK), said: “The requirement for UK travellers to be able to illustrate sufficient means for the duration of their stay and the return is established in the Schengen Borders Code and is not a Spain-specific requirement.” He added: “This is not a new requirement and has been in place for some time for visitors from outside of the European Union or Schengen area.

Read more: Spain holiday warning issued by Foreign Office amid planned airline strikes

“When entering Spain, these checks are not systematically carried out for every traveller." He pointed out that there are similar rules for visitors entering the UK, adding: "Likewise, travellers coming to the UK are also required to show that they have specific means to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of the trip and the ability to pay for the return or onward journey."

The financial rules on Spain's Ministry of Interior website say that the amount of money tourists must have depends on the length of their stay, though the minimum amount is €900, which is equivalent to about £750. The website states: "Currently, the minimum amount of money that you need to prove you have is €100 per person per day (£85), with a minimum of €900 (or its equivalent in foreign money) effective from January 1, 2022."

What is the official UK Government advice to people travelling to Spain?

The Gov.UK page for entry requirements to Spain says UK nationals entering the Schengen zone (including Spain) as tourists may need to provide additional documents at the border. As well as a valid return or onward ticket, it is possible that travellers to Spain may also be asked to:

show you have enough money for your stay. More information is available from the Spanish Ministry of Interior (in Spanish).

show proof of accommodation for your stay, for example, a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (e.g. second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family. The Spanish government has clarified that the “carta de invitation” is one of the options available to prove that you have accommodation if staying with friends or family. More information is available from the Spanish Ministry of Interior .

In summary, you may asked to prove you have enough funds. However, it is not the case that every holidaymaker will have to show proof.

Spanish driving laws holidaymakers need to know if you want to avoid a hefty fine

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Spain travel board statement after claim Lanzarote 'doesn't want British tourists'

The island's president made comments saying that she wanted to attract "higher quality" tourists to Lanzarote.

• 18:26, 17 MAR 2023

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The Spanish travel board has had to issue a statement clarifying they have "strong ties" with British tourists after claims that Lanzarote was getting saturated with them. The island's president, Dolores Corujo, made the comments whilst saying that she wanted to attract "higher quality" tourists such as those from Germany and France.

Steve Heapy, the boss of Jet2, had to write to Dolores Corujo asking her to clarify the statements. Federacion Turistica de Lanzarote (FTL) also had to scramble and reiterate that they have "strong ties" with British tourists.

"We have always had very strong ties with the British market and, thanks to this, relations have been strengthened in such a way that they present a high level of fidelity with the Island,” the FTL stated in a press release yesterday afternoon, Birmingham Live reports.

Do you think the Government is doing enough to help with the cost of living? Let us know in our poll here.

“Lanzarote is an absolutely hospitable island and will continue to be so for British tourists, for which we emphasise their importance in the tourism and economic sphere of the island.”

Dolores Corujo said: "It's essential to work on the diversification of the sector and the growth of markets like the German market, which adapt to our intentions of aiming at higher-quality tourism and holidaymakers who spend more when they're here and moves us away from mass tourism."

Mr Heapy said he had 'extreme concern regarding the articles that have been published in the main print and online newspapers in the United Kingdom this weekend'.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Map shows flooded Spanish tourist hotspots as wild weather hits Europe

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A mixture of extreme weather is spreading across Europe as Spain drowns beneath flood waters while a powerful heatwave forces countries to close their most popular tourist destinations.

Flash floods have swept across Spain after torrential rain, hail and strong winds battered popular tourist areas.

Footage shows Son Sant Joan airport in Palma shows the tarmac covered in several inches of water on Tuesday.

The extreme weather brought all activity to a halt, with more than 100 flights affected by the storm.

Costa Blanca, Alicante, Valencia, Benidorm, Murcia and Majorca have also been hit by adverse weather.

Meanwhile a powerful heatwave is hitting countries around the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean seas, with Cyprus seeing 43C temperatures last week sparking a fire to break out in Paphos.

Greece has been forced to close the Acropolis in Athens, which is the countries most visited tourist site, due to soaring temperatures at the height of the day.

Have you been affected by the floods and fires? Email [email protected]

France has been battling a powerful wildfire to the north of Saint-tropez, which caught emergency crews off guard.

Images from Costa Blanca show streets submerged in murky flood waters, while tourists in Murcia were pictured ankle-deep in the flowing waters.

Wheelie bins and cars have been floated down streets connecting onto main highways.

Hail stones have fallen across Alicante and Valencia, while Benidorm is on a yellow storm alert.

There is a yellow storm and rain alert in place over Costa Blanca over the next couple of days and is not set to be lifted until Thursday.

In Palma videos show the water flowing into buses, while cars and tarmac vehicles struggle to move in a flooded parking lot.

The duty free section at Son Sant Joan was completely drenched, with shelves all covered in rainwater.

Tourists are seen drenched by leaks through windows, while water is also seeping out of buckets placed underneath.

A statement on the website of the airport warned: ‘Operation limited by a strong storm. Check with your company before going to the airport.’

📢 El Aeropuerto de #Palma de #Mallorca reactiva sus operaciones tras el paso de la tormenta. Ya se han iniciado los primeros despegues y aterrizajes y se prevé que los vuelos desviados vayan aterrizando durante la tarde. ℹ️ https://t.co/JF2HA0IxQo https://t.co/hcWktrqSmu — Aena (@aena) June 11, 2024

Meanwhile, operator Aena said it was ‘impossible’ to continue operations safely.

They said: ‘Of the more than 900 flights programmed for today, 100 have been affected by way of diversions or cancellations.

‘The airport operation was suspended for around two hours, from just after 3pm to around 5.30pm.

‘During that timeframe no flight left or landed at Palma de Mallorca airport.

‘It’s still too early to say if and how much damage inside the airport the flooding has caused.’

Transport minister Oscar Puente said the airport had activated its emergency plan and flights to Mallorca were temporarily re-routed to alternative airports.

It was just an hour ago that the airport reopened, with the very first flights already taking off. Some to Spanish city of Malaga and Germany remain cancelled.

The Mediterranean island, known for its picturesque beaches and sunny weather, is one of Europe’s most visited destinations, especially popular with German and British tourists.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : Europe’s £8,100,000,000 high-speed train that puts the UK to shame

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Election latest: Rishi Sunak accused of 'behaving badly' in final debate - as he and Keir Starmer get brutal audience question

Follow reaction and fallout from the final head-to-head between the prime minister and Labour leader ahead of polling day on 4 July.

Wednesday 26 June 2024 23:00, UK

• General Election 2024

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Sunak and Starmer's final debate

• Voters can't pick a winner in snap poll
• Labour frontbencher says PM 'behaved badly'
• Audience member asks brutally blunt question
• Starmer says Sunak 'bullied into action' over betting
• 'A deal with the Taliban?' - PM mocks Labour's migration plan
• Jon Craig: No love lost between Sunak and Starmer - and it showed
• Sam Coates: Sunak put his opponent on the spot - but poll shows strategy didn't win over public
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler , Ollie Cooper   and   Katie Williams
• Police to investigate betting scandal cases
• Protester climbs on top of Tory campaign bus
• Man arrested in honeytrap scandal | Labour suspends suspect

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid | Reform | SNP
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
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Thanks for joining us for an extremely busy night here in the Politics Hub, including for the final debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer before the general election next Thursday.

You can scroll through the page to catch up with the highlights.

And we'll be back from 6am with all the very latest.

Until then - read all the latest from Sky News below:

By  Tim Baker , political reporter, in Nottingham

One of the more amusing moments of the debate tonight was Robert, who told Rishi Sunak he was a "mediocre" prime minister and said Sir Keir's strings were being pulled by senior members of the Labour Party.

He is brought into the spin room by BBC production staff for journalists to talk to.

He tells us that he is a life-long Conservative voter - but at the moment is undecided.

Robert says he has recorded the debate and will be watching it again when he gets home.

However, he reckons he is leaning towards the Conservatives - believe Sir Keir has an "undeclared agenda".

Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said the UK "deserves so much better" than the leaders' debate held tonight.

Reacting to the clash between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, she said: "Tonight the audience spoke for the nation when they asked: is this really the best we've got?

"Our country deserves so much better than what we watched this evening.

"Liberal Democrats are listening to you and fighting hard for the issues that matter to people. 

"From the NHS to tackling the cost of living, we want a fair deal for our country.”

A Conservative win would mean "five more years of chaos" and Rishi Sunak has shown tonight "just how out of touch he is", Labour's campaign coordinator has said.

Reacting to the leader's debate, Pat McFadden said Sir Keir Starmer "exposed the Tory manifesto as unfunded".

"Keir Starmer and Labour will return politics to public service, putting country before party in stark contrast to partygate and dodgy COVID contracts," he said.

"On 4 July, we have a chance to turn the page and start to rebuild with Labour."

Tonight was an "important moment" for Rishi Sunak as he put his opponent "on the spot", says our deputy political editor Sam Coates .

Coates says he thinks the prime minister would have been "very happy" with his performance - and adds that some of his aides were even "punching the air" after the debate.

It was a performance Mr Sunak "desperately needed earlier in the campaign", he adds.

He says Mr Sunak had a "clear strategy... to demand answers from Keir Starmer on tax and whether it will go up, on welfare and how you get people off benefits, on 'smashing the gangs' and whether the Rwanda policy is needed..."

Coates says Sir Keir provided a "range" of answers as the prime minister sparred with him.

"Sometimes he had specifics, sometimes he did not," he says.

"That strategy, although executed in a way I think that the Conservative Party tonight is very happy with, has nevertheless been judged not decisively in Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak's favour," says Coates, referring to the YouGov poll showing there was no winner in the final debate of the election (see 21.38 post).

The final TV clash of the election campaign was an ill-tempered shouting match, at least from Rishi Sunak. 

Sir Keir was more measured. More prime ministerial, perhaps?

As he had to as the underdog, Mr Sunak went on the attack from the start until the very end and unveiled a new campaign slogan: "Don't surrender…"

He said it no fewer than 15 times during the 75-minute debate. That’s once every five minutes.

But just like the England-Slovenia Euros match 24 hours earlier, the result was a draw: 50%-50% exactly, according to pollsters YouGov.

At the outset, the PM served notice that he wanted to talk about tax, while Sir Keir wanted to talk about politicians gambling. 

As Mr Sunak read out prepared lines, it was a smart ad lib from Sir Keir that won the first round of applause.

"If you listened to people in the audience a bit more you might not be so out of touch," he said, in a familiar Labour attack line.

But the PM was strong and came out on top in exchanges on illegal migrants crossing the Channel.

One of the best moments came when a member of the audience, Robert, asked a devastating question: "Are you two really the best we’ve got to the next prime minister of our great country?"

By the end, the debate closed out as it began - with Mr Sunak shouting over the Labour leader. It wasn't a good look.

And as the debate ended, there was no handshake between the pair, which is unusual for these TV clashes. 

At least party leaders pretend to be civilised towards each other usually.

There's clearly no love lost between these two - and it showed.

Darren Jones, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, is among the Labour representatives in the spin room this evening.

He's asked first about his leaked comments that Labour's target for decarbonising the economy will cost "hundreds of billions" of pounds.

Sir David Davis, who sticks around for this encounter, asks why Mr Jones's party "downgraded" their net zero plans.

"Because you guys crashed the economy," the shadow chief secretary responds.

Sunak 'behaved badly' in debate

On the leader's debate, Mr Jones says Sir Keir Starmer came across as "clearly more prime ministerial" - and adds that he thinks Rishi Sunak behaved "quite badly".

"He didn't answer questions that were put to him and was constantly speaking over Keir and Mishal [Husain, the BBC host]."

He denies Sir Keir's remarks that Mr Sunak is out of touch were "below the belt".

"Rishi Sunak is going around the country telling everyone that they've never had it so good... they crashed the economy, people at home know that because they paid the price for it."

Up to spin for the Conservatives is ex-minister David Davis.

"This debate was very important," he says, noting it's the final one before the public decides who to back.

He was a fan of Rishi Sunak's new attack line - the repeated pleas to voters not to "surrender" their borders or finances to Labour. 

"[Sunak has] faced a once-in-a-generation issue in terms of a war in Europe, he's faced a once-in-a-century issue in terms of a pandemic, and he did it with an economy from which we'd inherited massive debts in the past," he adds.

After all that, "he managed to get inflation down from 11% to 2% in six months". 

"The public will look at this and say: 'We've got a difficult world, all sorts of disruptions at home and abroad, who will deal with it the best of these two'?" he says.

"I know who I'll be voting for."

With minutes to go, a group of smiling Labour spinners arrived to watch the final summations.

Darren Jones - under fire for his comments about the cost of going for net zero, revealed in The Telegraph - tells Sky News it's clear who was more prime ministerial during the debate.

He and the other Starmer backers then burst away to the various cameras and microphones to talk up their leader.

Meanwhile, serious faced Conservatives enter from the other end of the room to give their verdicts. 

Tory candidate - and former minister - David Davis says he thinks Rishi Sunak's repetition of the "surrender" phrase will have gone down well.

This just in from YouGov - which has found there was no winner in tonight's BBC leaders' debate, the last of the general election campaign.

Asked who performed best - the results came in exactly 50/50.

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates says there will likely be disappointment in the Conservative ranks over this result.

"Neck-and-neck polling doesn't seem to me like it's going to change the race," he says.

"I think there's a really interesting question about Rishi Sunak's tactics, in my view, watching that, he was effective in highlighting the choice - the policy difference between the two men.

"I wonder looking at that poll whether that's what the public are really looking for."

However, there were distinctions when viewers were asked who performed better on certain topics.

Rishi Sunak came out on top on immigration and tax, while Sir Keir Starmer performed better on welfare and the UK's relationship with the EU.

Labour also just edged ahead on the economy - with 47% saying they performed better, and 43% backing the Tories.

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