The Spanish Tourist Office has issued an official statement regarding tourist rules, following a public outcry after it was reported that tourists entering the country may be required to prove they have at least £85 to spend per day.
Spanish officials stated that the rule is not new, and came into force on January 1. They also added that the requirement was not uncommon, and that it was not specific to Spain.
As reported by the Daily Record, they said that the rule applied to visitors from the majority of countries outside the EU and Schengen border-free travel area travelling inside it.
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Spanish Tourist Office Manuel Butler 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. This is not a new requirement and has been in place for some time for visitors from outside of the European Union or Schengen area.
"When entering Spain, these checks are not systematically carried out for every traveller."
He added that similar rules are in force for travellers entering the UK, stating: "Likewise, travellers coming to the UK are also required to show that they have specific means to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of the trip and the ability to pay for the return or onward journey."
According to Spain's Ministry of Interior website, the official rules state that the amount of money tourists are required to have is dependent on how long they stay. However, the minimum is 900 euros, or around £750.
The guidance states: "The length of your stay, to keep in mind, in order to calculate the economic quantity demanded, will be the number of days following the date of entry into Spain until the departure date on the ticket, referred to in item B of this section, both dates included.
"Currently, the minimum amount of money that you need to prove you have is €100 per person per day, with a minimum of €900 (or its equivalent in foreign money) effective from January 1, 2022."
The UK Foreign Office has advised the public that those travelling to Spain may be stopped by border officials asking for proof that they have enough money for their trip. Travellers also need to have other documents on-hand as well.
The Foreign Office states: "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."
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