HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Brits who are heading to Spain this summer.

Since Brexit, Brits have been unable to use the e-gates at Spain’s airports, as they are no longer EU nationals. However, this caused major queues at Spanish airports and on June 20, 2022, the Spanish Tourist Board announced that Brits travelling to Spain could now enter the country via the Automated Border Control E-gates. Once through, however, they would still be required to get their passports stamped.

In light of the new rules, the UK Foreign Office has highlighted that when using the Spanish E-gates, British nationals may still need to produce three additional documents.

According to a report from SchengenVisainfo.com, the Foreign Office stated that at the Spanish border control, Brits may need to provide proof that they have a return or onward ticket, proof of their accommodation and enough money for their stay.

The Ministry of the Interior website states, "Currently, the minimum amount to be credited is 100 euros per person per day, with a minimum of 900 euros or its legal equivalent in foreign currency (with effect from January 1, 2022)."

It also explained that British visitors could either show confirmation of a hotel booking, proof of their address if visiting their own property, an invitation from a host (Carta de Invitación), or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family.

The Foreign Office also emphasised that “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.”

As well as all the above, it is vital that you get your passport stamped when entering or leaving a Schengen country. However, this only applies to British visitors to Spain, not Spanish residents, who are not required to get their passports stamped.

The Foreign Office had previously said that “You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen Area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport.

“Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.

“Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit,” the Foreign Office continued to explain.

This limit has been in place since the UK left the European Union and allows Brits to only stay in Spain for 90 days within a 180-day period.

Entry through Spain’s airports may have been made easier for British tourists, but Covid entry rules must still be followed.

When entering Spain, anyone over the age of 12 travelling from the UK, must submit a valid vaccination test or recovery certificate.

The official Gov.uk website states that to enter Spain from the UK, Covid tests can be either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure.

If you have had COVID-19, you must have recovered from it in the 6 months prior to entering Spain.

These requirements do not apply to children under 12 years old.

Source

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/britons-using-spains-e-gates-may-need-3-additional-documents-foreign-office-says/