With many Britons heading for Mallorca and the Balearics this summer, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a reminder to Britons flying to the island and other EU holiday destinations that Britons may need to show extra document at the border. There is a new rule saying that travellers from the UK will have to show where they’re going to stay. The information is available on the Foreign Office’s official advice to British holidaymakers going to Spain and it states:
“If you enter the Schengen area as a tourist, you may need to provide additional documents at the border. As well as a valid return or onward ticket, when travelling to Spain you could be asked to show:
You have enough money for your stay. Proof of accommodation for your stay, for example: a hotel booking confirmation
Proof of address if visiting your own property (such as second home).
An invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family. A carta de invitation completed by your hosts is one of the options available. Also, check your passport is stamped as you enter or exit the Schengen area through Spain as a visitor.
Border guards check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If you do not have relevant entry or exit stamps in your passport, they will assume you have overstayed. You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence includes boarding passes and tickets.
And, ABTA – The Travel Association is reminding holidaymakers to stick to the current rules for liquids and laptops when preparing their hand luggage for airport security. ABTA’s advice is intended to help avoid any potential delays and confusion at airport security this half-term caused by the delayed rollout of next generation security scanners. The new scanners, when fully introduced, will end the 100ml liquid rule and allow electronic devices (laptops, tablets etc) to remain in hand luggage when going through security.
However, many UK airports will not be fully up and running with the new scanners by today, June 1, 2024 – the Government’s original deadline. Many overseas airports haven’t introduced the new technology yet either. With this in mind, ABTA says the simplest approach for all holidaymakers is to follow the existing rules around liquids and electronic devices.
Existing rules:
Liquids can be no more than 100ml.
Liquids must be taken out of your bag when going through security, and put in a single, transparent, resealable 20cm x 20cm plastic bag, with just one bag per person. Electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, are removed from hand luggage when you go through the security screening process.
ABTA is also advising travellers to look out for signage and guidance at the airport about the security rules in place.
ABTA Director of Public Affairs, Luke Petherbridge, said: “To help everyone enjoy a stress-free experience, our message is simple – you can’t go wrong if you stick to the current rules around liquids and laptops when preparing your hand luggage. The new airport scanners will make things faster and strengthen security once they’re fully implemented, while we have this period whereby airports are still working to implement the changes, the best thing to do is travel as if nothing has changed.”
Further advice on airport security and the new scanners is available on ABTA’s website at abta.com/airportsecurity.