Spain travel warning for Brits staying with friends as they risk £8,000 fines

19 February 2024 , 11:16

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The rule applies to Brits whether they're staying in hotels, Airbnbs or at friends' houses (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Brits staying with friends or family in Spain could cost their loved ones thousands if they don't have a letter of invitation.

Since the UK left the European Union, those who aren't lucky enough to hold an EU passport now have to carry proof they have accommodation for the whole of their stay when on holiday as a tourist for 90 days or fewer.

This is easier enough to do if you have a bed in a hotel or hostel as most will be happy to provide you with such proof with little hassle. However, it can be a bit trickier to arrange - but no less important - if you're staying at a friend's house.

You might need a 'letter of invitation' or 'carta de invitacion'. This isn't just a note from your host - it's an official statement that has to be issued by the local police. It's up to your host to get this letter and they need to be either a Spanish national, an EU citizen living in Spain or a non-EU citizen with legal residence.

The post-Brexit rules make staying in Spain a little more complex (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Without this letter, travellers from outside the EU could be fined if they try to enter Spain. This includes people from countries like the UK, US and most Latin American states, which don't need a visa to enter Spain. You won't need the letter until you reach customs in Spain, by which point it may become quite difficult to arrange.

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If you can't show where you're staying when you arrive, you might have to pay a fine and so may your guests. According to the Express, those fines can hit £8,000. To find out what rules apply to you, check out the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website before you travel.

Although Spain is the most popular destination among British holidaymakers, it has other laws which can make it a little more difficult for those without EU passports to visit. There is one little-known rule which requires tourists to cough up £93 each day they are in Spain or the nation's surrounding islands.

Spanish officials have been carrying out spot checks where you will be asked to prove you have sufficient financial means for the duration of your trip. Although it doesn't happen often, it does occasionally.

Spain defines ‘sufficient financial means’ as access to €109 (£93) per person per day - so for a family of five they need to show they have €545 per day or €7,630 for a two-week holiday in Spain. Manuel Butler, the Spanish Tourist Office director (UK), previously 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.”

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Milo Boyd