Entry requirements for Spain changed after Brexit.British passport-holders need to check if their passport meets the EU and Schengen Area’s validity rules, and could now be asked to show proof of a return ticket.
Passport validity isn't the only thing you can get caught out on. In some parts of Spain, the Canary Islands and Balearics, you can be fined for drinking or smoking in public places. And soon you won't be able to travel to Spain without a visa waiver, known as the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) - although the launch date for this scheme has been pushed back to mid-2025.
Here’s a summary of everything you need to know when visiting Spain, including why you probably don’t need to worry about the ‘€109 per day rule’ widely reported last year.
Before booking a holiday, always check the FCDO’s foreign travel advice for your destination on gov.uk.
- Spain’s post-Brexit entry rules
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- Why you probably don’t need to worry about the €109 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 advises travellers to allow at least 10 weeks for their application to be processed, so check it before you book your holiday.
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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 in 2024, but has been postponed. It isn't the first time the launch has pushed back. The exact date hasn’t been announced.
The EU is also planning to replace passport-stamping with biometric checks in the Schengen Zone and the Canary Islands next year.
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, 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 do take place.
This entry requirement applies to all Schengen countries and the Canary Islands. Last year it was 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 €109 (£93) - or the equivalent in another currency) per person per day. For a family of five, this equates to €545 per day or €7,630 for a two-week holiday in Spain.
In the unlikely event you are asked, you just 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.
Last summer, the Ministry of the Interior told Which? Travel that this rule isn’t being applied to tourists and nobody has been refused entry for not having enough money.
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.
