The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to UK tourists travelling to Spain, advising that they must present five specific documents upon arrival. The FCDO’s guidance is aimed at holidaymakers and travellers departing from the UK for destinations within the European Union.
Upon reaching Spanish border control, travellers may be required to provide a return or onward ticket, proof of travel insurance, evidence of sufficient funds for their stay (the amount varies depending on accommodation), and a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if staying in a private property.
The fifth document pertains to those staying with a third party, friends, or family, who will need an invitation or proof of address, such as a ‘carta de invitacion’ completed by their hosts. The FCDO said: “You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.”
This rule applies to those travelling as tourists, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings, cultural or sports events, and for short-term studies or training. If you’re also visiting other Schengen countries, ensure your entire trip falls within the 90-day visa-free limit.
The FCDO further explained that visits to Schengen countries within the 180 days prior to your travel count towards your 90 days. Overstaying the 90-day visa-free limit could result in a ban from entering Schengen countries for up to three years, the FCDO warned, reports Birmingham Live.
The UK government’s advice for travellers to Spain highlights that anyone requiring an extension to their visa-free stay due to extraordinary circumstances, such as a medical emergency, must submit an application to the relevant immigration authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) also cautioned: “Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit.
“If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area. If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.”
British nationals who are residents in Spain, however, are exempt from the requirement to have their passports stamped.