British holidaymakers have been issued a stern warning about a little-known rule that requires tourists to have a certain amount of money per day.
The country of Spain sees more than a million British tourists visit each year for some relaxation and sun-chasing.
However, many tourists may be unaware of a specific, £93-a-day rule that every visitor must follow, reports Birmingham Live.
Spanish officials have been asking visitors to prove that they have a return ticket to their home location, and pre-booked accommodation before entering the country.
This accommodation can be a hotel booking, or proof of address if you are visiting friends or family who live in the country.
These official spot checks also mean that visitors could be asked to prove that they have sufficient money that will last the duration of the trip.
Spain has defined 'sufficient financial means' as owning at least €109 (£93) per person travelling per day. For a family of five, this equates to €545 per day or €7,630 for a two-week holiday in Spain.
In a previous statement, Manuel Butler, the Spanish Tourist Office director (UK), 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."
He added: "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.
"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."
The UK Government page for Spain entry requirements states that UK nationals entering the Schengen Zone - which includes Spain - may need to provide additional documents at the border.
As well as a valid return or onward ticket, it is possible that travellers to Spain may also be asked to:
- show you have sufficient funds for your stay
- show proof of your accommodation - for example, a hotel booking confirmation or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family
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.
For more information, visit the Spanish Ministry of Interior website now.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
