Holidaymakers have got used to carrying various ‘proof of’ documents with them when they travel abroad.
It started, of course, with COVID-related travel restrictions. First, you had to show proof of a negative test to be allowed into pretty much any country. Then the proof of vaccination status.
Now people travelling to Spain for their summer holidays are being warned they could be asked for proof of something else altogether. Evidence that they have the cash available to pay their way during their trip.
It’s part of the transition in the status of UK tourists from EU to non-EU visitors. Holidaymakers travelling from the UK are being warned they could be asked to provide proof of funds by Spanish border authorities on arrival.
We’re not talking small change, either. To be admitted into the country, you could be asked to prove you have at least €100 (around £85) per day to spend for the duration of your stay, plus a €900 (just over £750) reserve. So for a 14-day family holiday, you are talking about having €2300 (£1950) available in your bank account or carried with you in cash.
Proof of funds is just one of three things British travellers are now being advised to carry with them to Spain. According to the FCDO, you may also be asked to present proof of a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. These rules are normally associated with countries that have notoriously strict entry requirements for foreign visitors, like the US.
This is a lot of extra paperwork for holidaymakers to get to grips with, especially as Spain still requires proof of COVID status as well. All adults travelling to Spain must be able to demonstrate that they have either been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID in the previous six months. Otherwise, they must show negative PCR test results.
Proof of a return or onward ticket and accommodation shouldn’t be an issue for most tourists. If you have booked a package holiday, you will have these automatically. If you have booked your own flights and accommodation independently, then it’s just a case of having your confirmations for both handy.
If you own a property in Spain, you must have proof of address with you on arrival. Similarly, if you are planning on staying with family or friends, you must be able to prove their identity, including their address. One of the ways you can do this is by getting a copy of the ‘carta de invitation’ from your host, which is a document Spanish residents should apply for before having non-EU nationals stay with them.
Do I need travel insurance to go to Spain?
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of countries around the world have made it mandatory for tourists to have travel insurance. Many specify the need for COVID-specific medical cover and even minimum pay-out levels, to ensure people can pay for their medical care should they fall ill with the disease while in the country.
Spain is not one of the countries where buying travel insurance is a compulsory condition of entry. But you would still be strongly advised to take out travel insurance for Spain ahead of your holiday this year.
You might think of it as yet another piece of paperwork to worry about. But travel insurance is one document that will dig you out of trouble in many different ways.
Unfortunately, in the current climate, there are all sorts of reasons why your holiday could go pear-shaped. Spanish authorities might be dissatisfied with the proof of funds you provide. You or a member of your family could fall ill with COVID in the days leading up to your trip and be forced to cancel.
Or with all the disruption at airports in both the UK and Spain at the moment, you could end up missing a portion of your holiday because of a cancelled flight or lose your luggage en route.
Travel insurance covers you for financial losses in all of these circumstances. So while there might be extra hoops to jump through in order to enjoy your holiday right now, at least by taking out travel insurance you can be confident that any problems you have won’t hit you in the pocket.
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