Spain: post-Brexit passport requirements and the £97 per day rule

UK holidaymakers are highly unlikely to fall foul of the so-called '£97 a day rule' when travelling to Spain this summer.

Non-EU citizens entering any country in the Schengen area can be asked to provide evidence that they have enough money for the duration of their stay. This figure varies by country and in Spain it's set at €113.40. Visitors can also be asked to show that they have a return ticket and provide details of where they'll be staying during their trip.

These rules have been in place for many years but, since the UK left the European Union, they now apply to British citizens. However, according to Spanish authorities, no British tourist has ever been asked to prove they have enough money for their stay.

Entry rules for visiting Spain

British citizens are much more likely to be caught out by changes to passport validity rules post-Brexit.

It isn't the only issue that could catch you out. In some parts of Spain, the Canary Islands and Balearics, you can be fined for drinking or smoking in public places. 

If you're planning a trip to Spain or other European countries from October 2024 you also need to be prepared to have your fingerprints taken at the airport or other entry point, as the EU brings in its new Entrance/Exit System (EES). 

Eventually, British travellers will also need a visa waiver, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) to enter Spain - although the launch date for this scheme has been pushed back to mid-2025. See below for more details of both.

Here’s a summary of everything you need to know when visiting Spain this summer.

• Spain’s post-Brexit entry rules
• Will I need to be fingerprinted to enter Spain?
• Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
• Why you probably don’t need to worry about the €113 per day rule
• Local laws in Spain: alcohol limits and bikini bans

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 What are the passport rules for Spain?

British passport-holders need to check if their passport meets the EU and Schengen area’s requirements for ‘third-country nationals’, which Brits are classed as since Brexit.

You can do this by checking if your passport’s ‘date of issue’ and ‘date of expiry’ satisfy two requirements: 

Date of issue - it must have been issued less than 10 years before your arrival date

Date of expiry - it must be valid for at least three months after the day you’re leaving Spain

These passport rules also apply to the Canary Islands, as well as every country in the EU and Schengen area apart from Ireland.

Some UK holidaymakers have been denied boarding because their passport was issued more than 10 years ago. This is because the Passport Office used to add extra months if you renewed your old passport early, so your current passport could be valid for more than 10 years.

You’ll also need to renew your passport if you’ve run out of blank pages because it will be stamped when you enter and exit Spain.

The Passport Office currently advises travellers to allow at least three weeks for their application to be processed - but at peak times waits can be much longer. Make sure to check your passport before you book your holiday.

Thinking of visiting Spain? Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals.

Will I need to be fingerprinted to enter Spain?

Yes, from the autumn any non-EU citizen entering most European countries – including Spain – will need to provide 'biometric data'. This means you'll be fingerprinted and have your photo taken at your entry point into the country. For most people this will be at the airport. Biometric data will then need to be taken on all future trips, rather than having your passport stamped when entering or leaving the country.

It's been suggested that this new Entry/Exit System (EES) will be in place from 6 October, but this hasn't yet been confirmed. 

This is separate to the planned visa-waiver scheme, ETIAS – which is expected to be introduced in 2025. Both schemes are intended to tighten Europe's borders and make it harder for terrorists and other criminals to enter. The EES applies to all EU countries, except Ireland and Cyprus – plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Visas for Spain - do I need one when travelling from the UK?

You don’t need a visa for short visits to Spain. British passport-holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 out of 180 days. So you could stay in Spain for up to 90 days, or visit several countries in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days.

You will need a visa waiver to visit Spain and the Canary Islands, as well as every country in the Schengen zone from mid 2025. It’s expected to cost €7 (£6) and be valid for three years.

The EU’s ETIAS was due to be introduced this year, but has been postponed. It isn't the first time the launch has pushed back. The exact date hasn’t been announced.

Read more about ETIAS on the official European Union website.

What are Spain’s entry requirements on return tickets and funds?

Now the UK isn’t in the European Union, in theory you could be asked to prove you have a return or onward ticket and pre-booked accommodation - a hotel booking confirmation, or proof of address if you're visiting friends or staying in your own property. Few travellers are asked, but spot checks can take place. 

This entry requirement applies to all Schengen countries and the Canary Islands. It has been widely reported that you could also be asked to prove you have sufficient financial means for the duration of your trip - but this is very unlikely.

Spain defines ‘sufficient financial means’ as access to €113.40 (now closer to £96, since currency movements) - or the equivalent in another currency per person per day. For a family of five, this equates to €567 per day or €7,938 for a two-week holiday in Spain.

In the highly unlikely event you are asked, you'd need to show you can access these funds; you’re not required to spend that amount of money or present it all in cash on the spot. The funds can be in the form of cash, travellers’ cheques, debit and credit cards, or a combination of these. Bank cards need to be accompanied by a recent bank statement.

The Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that this rule isn’t being applied to tourists and nobody has been refused entry on this basis.

 Local laws in Spain: Bikini bans and alcohol limits

Spain has introduced local laws and restrictions on alcohol, smoking and wearing swimwear in public in recent years. Make sure you’re aware of these rules to avoid being fined.

Drinking and smoking in public in Spain

Some local authorities in Spain, including in Madrid, the Balearics and the Canaries, have banned drinking alcohol and smoking in public places with on-the-spot fines for anybody who doesn’t comply with the rules. These rules apply to some beaches as well. 

There’s a limit on the amount of alcohol you can buy or consume in an effort to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in several resorts in the Balearics - Magaluf and Palma on Mallorca, and parts of Ibiza. Tourists on all-inclusive deals are limited to six drinks a day, and two-for-one drinks, happy hours and pub crawls are banned.

Smoking is prohibited on most Spanish beaches, including all of the beaches in Barcelona. Those caught smoking where they’re not supposed to could be fined £25.

Where do you need to cover up in Spain?

It’s against the law to wear just a bikini or swimming trunks in the street in Barcelona, Malaga and Palma in Mallorca. Being bare-chested in the street has also been banned in some areas. You could be fined up to €300 (around £250) for not following the rules. 

This rule applies to other public settings too, such as restaurants, shops and bars. Always cover up when walking back from the beach or swimming pool to be on the safe side.