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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Lottie Gibbons

Full list of rule changes for Brits travelling to Spain

Spain has changed several of its travel rules as Brits flock to the country this summer.

Holidaymakers will need to be aware of ongoing changes to passport control and coronavirus restrictions. People travelling to Spain may also be asked to prove they can spend more than £85 per day.

Additionally, there is a warning about smoking cigarettes, lighting barbecues and disposing of glass bottles amid forest fires.

Here's all the rules that have changed in the past month:

Using eGates in Spain

The Spanish government has said British travellers can use automated border control eGates in a bid to stop huge queues building in the terminals. Following Brexit, passengers had to use the manual non-EU queue to enter and exit Spain - but this decision has been reversed.

However, the Foreign Office has highlighted that only certain people can use the eGates. If you are aged 18 and over, and are instructed to do so by airport staff, you may be able to use the e-gates, if these are in operation.

Hand your passport to the border officer for stamping after you have passed through the e-gate. If you are under the age of 18 you must use the staffed immigration booths.

Forest fires

The Foreign Office has urged people to be cautious when visiting wooded areas amid forest fires in Spain.

They said: "There is currently a heightened risk of forest fires due to exceptionally high temperatures in Spain. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas.

"Access to some areas such as natural parks and nature reserves may be limited or closed as a result. You should follow the instructions of local authorities and call 112 if you need emergency assistance.

"If you need urgent consular assistance you should call +34 91 714 6300."

Causing a forest fire is considered a criminal offence in Spain even if unintentional. Make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished, don’t light barbecues and don’t leave empty bottles behind.

There are strict regulations across much of Spain against lighting outdoor barbecues in forest areas and penalties imposed include heavy fines. Some regions prohibit the use of outdoor barbecues in public picnic areas during the summer months.

If you catch Covid-19 while in Spain

Spain has dropped its isolation requirements for people who test positive for Covid-19. If you have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during your stay in Spain, you are not required to self-isolate but you should inform direct contacts and take the following extra precautionary measures for 10 days from diagnosis or from when symptoms began.

The measures include wearing a mask, reducing social interactions and avoid crowded spaces and large events and avoiding contact with people at high risk. Hotels and other accommodation providers may have their own COVID-19 protocols in place.

Travellers should abide by any safety measures put in place by their accommodation provider. The accommodation provider may have a list of private doctors that they can call to assess symptoms and conduct a COVID-19 test.

It's also worth remembering the EHIC or GHIC covers state healthcare only, not private treatment.

Proof of money and accommodation

Holidaymakers may need to prove they have sufficient funds of more than £85 per day to cover their stay. Other restrictions include possessing proof of a return ticket or onward journey and evidence of accommodation.

According to the Express, the UK Foreign Office stated: "At Spanish border control, you may need to show a return or onward ticket; show you have enough money for your stay; show proof of accommodation for your stay, for example, a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (eg second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family."

It added: "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.”

Visitors from the UK may be asked to prove they have at least €100 (£85.22) to spend in Spain per day, and a further minimum of €900 (£766.94), or its legal equivalent in foreign currency.

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