Spanish officials explain the 100 euros per day entry requirement for British tourists

Spanish officials have responded to reports in the British press regarding the rule that British nationals are required to present proof of sufficient funds for their planned stay in the country when showing up at any of Spain’s airports or ports of entry.

According to the director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the United Kingdom, Manuel Butler, this requirement is not new and is not systematic as not every traveller is asked to present such proof, but does now apply to British travellers since Brexit.

“The requirement for UK travellers to be able to illustrate sufficient means for the duration of their stay, 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,” Butler confirmed.

He also noted that a similar requirement is in place for travellers coming to the UK from Spain and other European countries, based on which these travellers may be asked to present proof that they have the financial means to support themselves during their planned stay in the UK.

If travellers fail to prove it, they may be refused entry into the territory of the country they intend to enter. Data show that over 135,000 third-country nationals were refused entry at EU external borders in 2020, whereas in 2019, the EU Member States refused entry to 670,795 non-EU nationals.

Spain’s 100 euros or £85 news has hit headlines now, but this has been an entry requirement into Spain since January 1st for all nationals from outside the Schengen area. If required to do so, anyone entering must prove they have the economic means to support themselves.

It first started being reported in April this year, after Spain, and other countries gradually reopened borders for travellers from third countries.

“Foreigners who intend to enter the national territory must continue to prove that they have a minimum amount of €100 per person per day, those that intend to stay in Spain should have a minimum of €900 or its legal equivalent in foreign currency,” reads a statement published by the official EULaw database & home of the EU Official Journal, known as EUR-Lex.

They also point out that travellers will only need to present such proof if asked to by the officials at border control when entering into Spanish territory, which includes the Canary Islands, and under the terms established in the aforementioned Order.

Other Schengen Area countries also have such a requirement in place though the amount changes from one country to another. In France, the minimum required daily amount of money for entry is €120 if the traveller holds no proof of accommodation paid in advance, whereas when the accommodation has been previously paid, the required amount drops to €65 per day.