British tourists continue to flock to Spain in huge numbers every year, with the country remaining one of the most visited destinations for UK travellers. But since Brexit, holidaymakers face stricter border requirements when entering Spain and other countries within the Schengen area.
Travellers are being urged to check their passports carefully before departure. Under Schengen regulations, British passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry. Some passports renewed before October 2018 may no longer meet the rules, even if they appear to still be in date.
There are also limits on how long UK nationals can remain within the Schengen zone without a visa. British visitors are permitted to spend up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across member countries, including Spain.
New biometric border controls are also being introduced through Europe’s Entry/Exit System. Non-EU passengers arriving in Spain may be asked to provide fingerprint scans, facial identification and passport data when crossing the border. The electronic record created by the system can remain active for up to three years unless the passport expires earlier.
The UK government also warns that Spanish border officials can request extra documentation from arriving passengers. This may include evidence of onward travel, confirmation of accommodation, proof of financial means or details of travel insurance. Visitors staying with relatives or friends could additionally be asked to show a formal invitation document issued by their host in Spain.