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Spain travel rules: What are the latest restrictions for holidaymakers?

Here are the current entry rules for british tourists, article bookmarked.

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Spain is Brits’ favourite holiday destination, attracting shedloads of tourists to its Canary and Balearic Islands, popular Costa del Sol beaches and vibrant cities, from buzzy Barcelona to foodie paradise San Sebastian.

Unlike other European nations, it continues to uphold its Covid-related entry requirements for travellers.

Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Do I need proof of vaccination or a test to visit Spain?

Yes. Travellers aged 12 and over must show valid proof of one of the following:

• being fully vaccinated
• a negative Covid test: either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure
• having recovered from Covid in the last six months. You can use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your Covid status on entry to Spain

The definition of “fully vaccinated” will depend on your age and the length of time since your last dose. If you’ve received a booster jab, you’re considered fully vaccinated for entry into Spain, regardless of when it was administered.

However, those aged 18 or over who have not received a booster but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine programme are only considered fully vaccinated if the second jab was administered no more than 270 days prior to entering Spain. The second dose must also have been received at least 14 days prior.

Those aged 12 to 17 don’t need to have received a booster, just two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine. They continue to qualify as fully vaccinated more than 270 days after their last dose.

Children under the age of 12 years old do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated on entry to Spain, nor take a test.

Do I need to fill in a passenger locator form for Spain?

It depends on your vaccination status.

Travellers from the UK who can either show proof of being fully vaccinated or of having recovered from Covid in the last six months, plus those aged under 12 years old, do not need to complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form.

Everyone else must complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form no more than 48 hours before travel to Spain.

Do I need to wear a mask while on holiday in Spain?

The use of face coverings is mandatory for anyone over the age of six in the following situations:

• on public transport
• visiting a hospital or medical centre (including other healthcare settings such as dentists, opticians, pharmacies etc)
• visiting a care or nursing home

In addition to the mandatory use of face masks in the above situations, the Spanish government recommends you use them responsibly in the following circumstances:

• enclosed public spaces such as shops, cinemas, bars and restaurants
• at large events (eg concerts, sporting events)
• when in the company of people considered clinically vulnerable or high-risk and social distancing of 1.5m cannot be observed
• at family gatherings
• in any other enclosed communal spaces open to the public

Has Brexit changed the rules for visiting Spain?

The rule changes that could trip you up on a visit to Spain in 2022 are more likely to be Brexit-related than Covid-related. Since the UK left the European Union, there are new rules regarding length and frequency of visits to countries in the Schengen Area (including Spain), as well as rules around passport stamps and validity.

To visit an EU country post-Brexit, your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the “date of issue”)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the “expiry date”)

There is also now a time limit on how long and how often you can visit Spain, visa free. The Foreign Office advises: “You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

“To stay longer, to work or study, for business or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements.”

You must also have your passport stamped on arrival and on exit from the country. Make sure this takes place at passport control to avoid any confusion over how long you have been there.

You may also need to show a return or onward ticket to indicate when you are leaving Spain, and could be asked to demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay.

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Spain tightens travel restrictions amid concerns over omicron coronavirus variant

Visitors from the united kingdom who are not eu residents will now only be able to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated, while those from ‘high-risk’ areas will need to provide a negative covid test in addition to proof of vaccination.

The Spanish government has tightened entry requirements to the country due to concerns over the new variant of the coronavirus , named omicron by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Under the new rules, published Saturday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), travelers from “high-risk” countries will need to present proof of being fully vaccinated, or of having recovered from Covid-19, as well as a “diagnostic certificate of an active Covid-19 infection with a negative result.”

According to the BOE, seven countries are currently classified as high-risk: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Travelers from these countries will need to present a negative Covid-19 test – for example, a PCR test taken within 78 hours – regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from the disease. Travelers from these seven countries will also be subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine, according to a separate order published Monday by the Spanish Health Ministry.

The European Union on Friday proposed suspending all flights to and from these seven nations in southern Africa, while the European Commission indicated that it will establish new entry requirements for visitors from high-risk areas. The Spanish government on Friday also announced plans to restrict flights from South Africa and Botswana at its next Cabinet meeting, which will take place on Tuesday. Spain does not have any direct commercial flights between South Africa or Botswana, but passengers can travel to the country from these countries via connecting flights, cargo planes or private planes.

The entry requirements, released by Spain’s Interior Ministry on Saturday, also contained new rules for non-essential visits from the United Kingdom. Starting December 1, passengers from these areas will only be able to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Up until now, visitors from the UK had been able to enter Spain if they could show proof they had been fully vaccinated or had a negative PCR test result taken up to 72 hours before arriving. According to detailed information released by the Spanish embassy in London (and which can be viewed in English here ), this change does not apply to those under 12 years old, Spanish citizens, or EU citizens and their family members.

The information states that British and other third-country citizens coming from a risk area or country – which includes the United Kingdom – can travel to Spain for an “essential trip” if they are “duly accredited long-term residents in the EU, Schengen Associate States, Andorra, Monaco, The Holy See or San Marino, in transit to their country of residence.” They can do so on presentation of “a vaccination certificate, negative PCR, LAMP, TMA or antigen test certificate, or a certificate of recovery.” British or other third country citizens coming from a risk country – including the UK – for tourism or other non-essential reasons require a vaccination certificate if aged over 12.

📢Attention travellers to 🇪🇸: please read carefully the following guidance❗️ pic.twitter.com/H4aK62ngG6 — Embassy of Spain UK (@EmbSpainUK) November 30, 2021

The order in the BOE explained: “The appearance of new variants causing [coronavirus] obliges an increase in restrictions.”

The UK is likewise tightening travel restrictions due to the emergence of the omicron variant. Starting November 30, fully vaccinated travelers returning to England and Scotland from Spain must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of the second day of their arrival. Travellers will be able to break quarantine on receipt of a negative result from said test. Wales has announced similar plans, according to the BBC , as has Northern Ireland, according to a statement released by the Northern Irish Department of Health on Saturday .

Omicron variant

Sources from the Spanish Health Ministry confirmed on Friday that no cases of the omicron variant have so far been detected in Spain. Despite this, there are still concerns over the strain as it is considered more contagious and more likely to evade the current Covid-19 vaccines .

“In the last few days, a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases was detected in a province of South Africa, which has led to the identification of a new variant that has numerous mutations related to a possible rise in transmissibility and a drop in the neutralizing capacity of antibodies [from the vaccines],” the order on the new entry requirements explained.

On Monday, Portugal announced that it had detected 13 cases of omicron.

A resolution approved by the Health Ministry added that the new variant “highlights the need to have an agile mechanism that allows additional health measures to be adopted for people from high-risk countries due to their worsening epidemiological situation or in which especially worrying variants have been detected.” These measures would be applied via a list of at-risk and high-risk countries. “More than concern, what is needed is action,” sources from the Health Ministry told EL PAÍS.

On Monday, the WHO said that the new variant poses a “very high” global risk. This statement comes just days after the health organization elevated the risk level for omicron as “ a variant of concern ” on Friday. This is the fifth strain to receive this classification since the beginning of the pandemic. The new variant has 30 mutations, and there are fears that this could make it spread faster than other strains.

“This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs [variants of concern],” explained the press release from the WHO on Friday.

Although it is common for a virus to mutate as it spreads among the population, these mutations become “worrying” when there are signs that they make the virus more transmissible, trigger more serious illness or enable infections to escape the protection offered by vaccines or the antibodies produced naturally following recovery from the disease.

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Spain entry requirements: New travel rules for UK arrivals explained – and what it means for Balearic islands

Spain had been expected to join portugal, greece, cyprus and malta in a pushback against german chancellor angela merkel's demands to implement an eu-wide ban on uk travellers.

Spain has tightened its entry requirements for British travellers as fears over the Delta Covid variant continue to spread across Europe.

Starting this week, Spain will demand a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel or proof of full vaccination from all UK travelers.

The fresh restrictions will apply to all Brits who want to enter mainland Spain, as well as Mallorca, Ibiza and the surrounding Balearic islands.

“What we are going to do is apply to British tourists who go to the Balearic islands the same requirements we make of other European citizens,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today.

“The cumulative incidence rate in the UK has been progressing negatively during these last few weeks,” he told the Cadena SER radio. 

“It is far above 150 cases [per 100,000 inhabitants] in 14 days, and that is why we have to take an additional precaution with respect to the arrival of British tourists to our country.”

The fresh restrictions, which will apply to all UK travellers aged 12 and over, will be signed into law over the next few days. 

However, it is still unclear when the new measures will take effect. The Prime Minister this morning suggested the new restrictions would require 72 hours to be implemented to give companies in the aviation industry to prepare, while Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister said they will be introduced on Tuesday.

Arancha González Laya tweeted: “We welcome British citizens to spend their holiday in Spain. From tomorrow British citizens will require a certification of full vaccination or a negative PCR (72hrs) to enter Spain.”

Tourism: we welcome 🇬🇧 citizens to spend their holidays in 🇪🇸 From tomorrow British citizen will require a certification of full vaccination or a negative PCR (72hrs) to enter Spain ❤️ #WelcomeBack #SpainForSure #YouDeserveSpain @MAECgob @GlobalSpain @ukinspain @EmbSpainUK — Arancha González (@AranchaGlezLaya) June 28, 2021

The move will reverse Spain’s decision last month to axe all entry restrictions for British visitors, as the country scrambles to contain infections of the Delta variant while attempting to repair its battered tourism industry.

It will come as a major blow to Brits who booked holidays to the Spanish islands following Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ announcement last week they would be added to the UK’s green list.

People returning to the UK from Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera from 4am on 30 June will no longer have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. 

It comes as Europe continues to beef up travel restrictions on UK travellers over fears surrounding the Delta variant.  

British travellers who have not yet received two doses of a Covid vaccine must now quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Portugal, as infections related to the Delta variant continue to climb across the country. 

The new strain is now the dominant form of coronavirus in the capital of Lisbon, accounting for around 70 per cent of infections.

Portugal quarantine: British arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days as Angela Merkel pushes for UK travel ban

It comes after German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday repeated calls for the EU to classify Britain as a “country of concern” due to high rates of the Delta variant, which first emerged in India.

The Chancellor urged EU member states to implement blanket 14-day quarantine rules on all British travellers regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Speaking during a summit in Brussels, Mrs Merkel said: “I will lobby for a more co-ordinated approach, particularly with regard to entries from regions where virus variants abound.”

Spain had been expected to join Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Malta in a Mediterranean pushback against the Chancellor’s demands.

But Mr Sanchez’s support for tighter restrictions on UK travellers will likely bolster Mrs Merkel’s campaign and narrow the prospect of quarantine-free holidays abroad for Brits this summer. 

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Spain travel rules for Brits explained as tourists warned of latest £97 border requirement

Spain travel rules for Brits have changed since Brexit but UK holidaymakers are fuming after realising a £97 rule could see them turned away at the border

• 10:39, 15 Apr 2024

UK holidaymakers may be turned away at the airport thanks to a travel rule in force in Spain .

British tourists are being faced with a requirement that is likely to impact those with less money. The Spanish authorities now require UK visitors to show they can sustain themselves financially during their stay, whether it's on the mainland or the popular islands of the Canaries and Balearics.

The regulation requires that travellers must have €113.40 (£97) available for each day of their visit to the sun-drenched country. Spain is far from the only country to enforce such rules - which are designed to ensure tourists have enough money for their trip and to return to their country of origin at the end of their stay.

Reacting to the financial stipulation online, one disgruntled Brit suggested what is actually a very common requirement was enough to put them off the country for good. They said: "If the country would stand together and boycott Spain in favour of other Mediterranean countries, within three months they would be begging us to come back. 17 million visitors is a lot of money to the Spanish economy."

The good news is that very few people are asked to prove that they have the required amount of money when visiting Spain, with the vast majority of tourists waved through without their paperwork being scrutinised too closely. Many countries do not require proof of sufficient funds but may ask travelled if they have a return plane, ferry or train ticket, in a bid to ensure that visitors plan to return to their home country.

Countries which you can enter without proof of booked plane ticket include Canada, United States, United Kingdom , Germany and France. Generally, the documents you need to submit depend on the country you come from and the purpose of your visit. It is always wise to check the official website of the country you are visiting or consult the embassy or consulate of the country before you travel you can be sure you've got all of the right paperwork.

While Spain puts an exact figure on how much money visitors must prove they have when visiting the country, other nations have slightly more vague rules. France, for example, requires holidaymakers to have 'means of subsistence'.

"You need to provide an acceptable proof of funds that shows your financial ability to travel and bear expenditures during your stay in the Schengen area," France Visas writes. Acceptable proof includes personal bank statements for the last three months, the last three pay slips, credit/debit cards statements and travellers cheques.

When it comes to Italy - another popular destination among British travellers - there isn't a fixed amount that applicants need to have, but it should cover your accommodation, meals, internal travel, and emergencies. Holidaymakers may be asked for bank statements stretching back six months.

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Brits warned of spain travel rules that could see them turned away at the border.

Spain has introduced a travel rule that could see UK tourists turned away at the border if they fail to meet a new financial requirement. British holidaymakers must now prove they have sufficient funds for their stay, with Spanish authorities demanding proof of €113.40 (£97) per day.

This rule applies to all UK visitors, whether heading to mainland Spain or the islands such as the Canaries and Balearics. The measure is in place to ensure visitors can support themselves during their trip and have the means to return home.

The enforcement of this rule has sparked reactions from potential visitors, with one Brit expressing their frustration online. They commented: "If the country would stand together and boycott Spain in favour of other Mediterranean countries, within three months they would be begging us to come back. 17 million visitors is a lot of money to the Spanish economy."

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Most visitors to Spain won't be asked to prove they have enough money, with the majority waved through without their paperwork being scrutinised. Many countries don't require proof of sufficient funds but may ask travellers if they have a return plane, ferry or train ticket to ensure they plan to return home.

You can enter countries including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France without proof of a booked plane ticket. The documents you need depend on your country of origin and the purpose of your visit, reports the Mirror .

It's always wise to check the official website of your destination or consult the embassy or consulate before you travel to ensure you have the correct paperwork.

While Spain specifies an exact amount of money visitors must prove they have, other nations have more vague rules. France, for example, requires holidaymakers to have 'means of subsistence'.

"You need to provide an acceptable proof of funds that shows your financial ability to travel and bear expenditures during your stay in the Schengen area," France Visas states. Acceptable proof includes personal bank statements for the last three months, the last three pay slips, credit/debit card statements and travellers cheques.

For those considering Italy - another favourite among UK tourists - there isn't a set amount that applicants need to have, but it should cover accommodation, meals, internal travel, and emergencies. Travellers may be asked to provide bank statements from the past six months.

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Spain's '£97 a day' rule for Brits explained - and how to prove you have the funds

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Holidaymakers will now need to prove they have €113.40 (£97) every day if they visit the mainland, Canary or Balearic islands.

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Spain now requires Brit holidaymakers to prove they have enough money during their stay in the mainland or Canary Islands and Balearics

Spain's '£97 a day' travel rule and how to prove you have enough funds for your holiday

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LATEST: What you need to know about travelling to Spain from the UK

WITH the peak summer holiday season now in full-swing, here’s the run down of the rules for those travelling to Spain from the UK.

Post-Brexit Entry requirements

Since Brexit, UK travellers are limited to visiting countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends.

The UK Foreign Office has flagged up the need for British travellers to carry additional documentation when visiting Spain now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union.

On the ‘Entry Requirements’ section of the FCDO travel advice portal , it says three additional documents are required by tourists.

“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,” says the advice.

It adds: “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.”

Do I have to prove sufficient financial means for duration of stay?

According to the Spanish government website, non-EU travellers arriving in Spain may be asked to show proof of funds for their stay.

“The minimum amount required is 90 euros per person per day. In any case, and regardless of the length of stay, the traveller must have at least 810 euros or its equivalent in foreign currency,” the rules state.

MORE DETAILS HERE  

Passport stamps

Brits must also check their passport is stamped if they enter or exit the Schengen area through Spain as a visitor.

“Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit,” says the FCDO.

Spain is allowing Brits to access through e-gates at certain airports and then hand their passport to the border officer for stamping after they have passed through.

Those Brits who are resident in Spain (or elsewhere in the EU) and have the documentation to prove it (a TIE or equivalent) should not have their passports stamped on entry or exit

Passport validity

Visitors from the UK must also be aware of the rules on passport validity as laid out in the Schengen area rules .

Passports must meet 2 requirements. They must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

People should check both the issue date and the expiry date in their passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. These extra months do not count towards the validity needed and could affect whether your passport meets the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.

However, If you are a UK National living in Spain and covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, you do not need any extra months on your passport to enter or exit EU countries.

Covid restrictions:

Spain is one of the few countries in Europe that still requires travellers to prove they are Covid free. This means arrivals from the UK must prove they have either been vaccinated against Covid, have recently recovered from the virus or show evidence of a negative test. 

So non-EU travellers from UK will need to show EITHER:

1. A certificate of full vaccination: Proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain. If more than 270 days have passed since your second dose, proof of a booster vaccination is also required, except for teenagers aged 12 to 17.

2. A certificate of recovery: Proof of recent recovery from Covid. Recovery certificates issued by the official authorities will be valid at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or positive antigen screening test, carried out by qualified personnel. The certificate shall be valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive diagnostic test result.

3. A negative test certificate (this can either be a PCR taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken no longer than 24 hours prior to departure). Those travelling with a test will also need to fill in Spain’s  Health Control Form . 

Children under 12 are exempt from these requirements.

Check all the latest requirements HERE

Face masks will be required on the airplane on flights travelling to and from Spain and on all public transport within Spain.

• Spanish tourism official ‘sets the record straight’ about travel requirements for British tourists visiting Spain
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• EXPLAINER: What we know about Spain allowing British travellers to use eGates at selected airports in bid to reduce border queues
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Fiona Govan

Fiona Govan joined The Olive Press in March 2021. She moved to Spain in 2006 to be The Daily Telegraph’s Madrid correspondent and then worked for six years as Editor of The Local Spain. She lives in Madrid’s Malasaña district with her dog Rufus.

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Spain's '£97 a day' rule explained - what you need to know and how to prove you have the funds

Here's what you need to know if you're going on holiday to Spain

• 15:49, 15 APR 2024

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With the holiday season kicking off, many Brits will be planning trips away to popular destinations in the coming months, including Spain. But UK holidaymakers may need to show proof that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay when they arrive at the border.

According to Spain ’s official guidance for travellers entering the country from outside of the Schengen zone, if requested by “competent authorities” they “must present proof of having sufficient financial means for the proposed stay, or of the ability to legally obtain such means.” It states that the minimum amount required is 120 dollars per person per day - equivalent to around £97.

The guidance adds that the funds can be proved by the following: presenting cash, traveller’s cheques, a credit card accompanied by a bank account statement, an up-to-date bank book, or any other resource that accredits the amount available, such as a credit statement regarding the card or bank account. It said bank letters or online bank statements will not be accepted.

READ MORE: Foreign Office latest travel advice for Morocco, Egypt, Dubai and more

There’s been reports of British tourists planning to ‘boycott’ the popular destination over the £97 entry rule . However, the entry requirement is not new and is not unique to Spain. Back in 2022 it was £85, which increased to £93 last year , and now it stands at £97.

The requirement for third-party travellers to show proof of funds is applicable to other EU countries as well - not just Spain. In fact the Official EU guidance for the Schengen border code states: “Means of subsistence shall be assessed in accordance with the duration and the purpose of the stay and by reference to average prices in the Member State(s) concerned for board and lodging in budget accommodation, multiplied by the number of days stayed.”

Detailing what is accepted, it said: ”The assessment of sufficient means of subsistence may be based on the cash, travellers’ cheques and credit cards in the third-country nationals possession. Declarations of sponsorship, where such declarations are provided for by national law and letters of guarantee from hosts, as defined by national law, where the third-country national is staying with a host, may also constitute evidence of sufficient means of subsistence.”

The financial requirement for EU member states varies depending on the country. For example, France requires tourists to show that they have 65 euros (around £55) per day of stay if they have a hotel booking, and a 120 euros (approximately £102) per day in case of non-presentation of a hotel booking.

It’s worth noting that not all UK travellers will be asked to provide proof of funds covering their trip - chances are you probably won’t be asked. But it is important to be prepared in case you are.

According to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Brits could be asked to provide the following upon arrival in Spain:

• 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 or a second home, or an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family, such as a ‘carta de invitation’ completed by your hosts

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British tourists fuming over new £97 ‘daily rule’ in Spain as they threaten to boycott holiday hotspot

• Olivia Allhusen
• Jessica Baker
• Published : 22:27, 14 Apr 2024
• Updated : 10:56, 15 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

BRITISH holidaymakers are up in arms and threatening to boycott Spain over a new "£97 rule" they need to follow in order to visit.

The newly-updated rule means each individual tourist must now prove they have the cash on hand for every day of their holiday stay.

British tourists have flocked to social media to express their fury over the border regulations - with some even vowing to "boycott" the country, Birmingham Live reports.

One person wrote: "If the country would stand together and boycott Spain in favour of other Mediterranean countries, within three months they would be begging us to come back.

"17 million visitors is a lot of money to the Spanish economy."

A second agreed: "Stop going they'll soon stop it. Simple. There's bags of other places, Greece, Turkey , Malta, Italy you name it.

read more on brits abroad

I was a Malia club rep - what Brits abroad really get up to on holiday

Secret name that the Spanish have for Brits abroad is no compliment

"All cheaper too."

A third said: "Another Mediterranean country tried to move away from tourism.

"They forgot how much tourism contributed to the economy."

Another questioned: "Why not take it to a country where you are welcome and not just your money? Vote with your wallet.

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"Spain will get the message, even if by then you've discovered better places and never return to Spain."

A fourth said: "So many valid points in the comments however it’s very unfair to judge a nation as a whole."

The UK Foreign Office issued a warning about the additional border checks to sunseeking Britons planning on heading to mainland Spain, and the Canary and Balearic islands.

Under the new border regulations, British holidaymakers must prove they have at least €113.40, or £97, per person - and they will need to show two additional documents.

A family of four staying a week in Spain will have to prove that they have at least £2,716 on hand, according to the Spanish government.

It is just one of a set of rules impacting UK tourists travelling to countries in the European Schengen area that have come into place since Britain left the EU.

The Foreign Office warned UK travellers: "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."

Spanish officials may also require UK travellers to provide "proof of accommodation for your stay, for example a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (such as second home) (or) an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family".

A "carta de invitation" completed by travellers' hosts may be provided as proof of accommodation.

Earlier this month, other new rules saw water consumption limited on the Costa del Sol amid an ongoing drought.

Water supplies in some areas were switched off overnight while Junta de Andalucia introduced a limit on filling up private pools and garden watering.

Tourism operators were reportedly concerned the strict measures would deter people from visiting the area.

It came as local authorities called for stricter nightlife restrictions that would have bars and restaurants close earlier.

And in January, The Sun revealed tourists could be slapped with a huge fine for taking a selfie in holiday hotspots.

Local authorities in busy tourist spots - such as Positano and the Amalfi Coast in Italy - have imposed fines where people obstructed human traffic to take a selfie.

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Henry Cavill, 40, reveals girlfriend Natalie, 34, is pregnant with first baby

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Taking a selfie in a crowded spot in Positano could now come at a cost of 275  euros  (£236), according to travel experts at eShores.

• Holiday tips tricks and hacks

Ryanair will run new routes from the UK to Spain and Greece within months - full details

Holidaymakers will have more options

By Sarra Gray

Published: 11/04/2024

Holidaymakers can take advantage of three new routes starting within months

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Ryanair has announced more flights connecting Britons to their favourite sunny holiday destinations.

This comes as it shared additional flights will go from Bristol airport this summer.

The budget airline has expanded its summer 2024 schedule for Liverpool with 32 routes, including three new routes to Corfu, Lanzarote and Paphos.

To celebrate the launch of the new routes, Ryanair is running a limited-time sale where Britons can secure a seat for as little as £19.99.

Flights will go to Lanzarote

​ Flights to Greek holiday hotspots Corfu and Paphos are both being added, so holidaymakers can enjoy breathtaking beaches, sunny weather and must-try restaurants.

New flights to Lanzarote are also sure to be a hit with Britons looking to bask in the sun with incredible views this summer.

Ryanair’s head of comms Jade Kirwan said: “Ryanair is pleased to officially launch our new summer 24 schedule for Liverpool with 32 routes, including three exciting new routes to Corfu, Lanzarote and Paphos, with our first summer 24 flights to these new sunny hotspot destinations taking off just last week.

"Not only is our Liverpool summer 24 schedule delivering more route choices at the lowest fares for your summer holidays but will see the creation of 30 new high paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers as we add another B73 aircraft at Liverpool to support our 11 per cent traffic growth this summer.

"The addition of this new aircraft brings Ryanair’s total Liverpool-based fleet to five aircraft, representing a $500million (£400million) investment in Liverpool and supporting 1,600 local jobs.

"Ryanair’s new Liverpool schedule, including these three exciting new Ryanair routes is available to book now at ryanair.com with fares from just £19.99 for a limited time only.

"We look forward to welcoming millions more passengers onboard our first flights to/from Liverpool throughout the summer months ahead.”

Aviation director for LJLA Paul Winfield added: “Liverpool has become the airport of choice for passengers from across the City Region, the wider North West and North Wales with our faster, easier, friendlier customer experience.

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Ryanair has expanded its summer 2024 schedule

"Ryanair’s latest commitment to Liverpool bringing even greater choice of destinations, more departures and the additional based aircraft here, means that the region’s passengers now have even more opportunities to fly from here, whilst creating employment and benefits for the visitor economy too as we also welcome more visitors choosing to take advantage of Liverpool as a gateway to the region and beyond.”

This comes as Ryanair shared the new routes that will depart from Bristol Airport this summer . The flights will travel to Copenhagen, Fuerteventura, Marrakesh, Prague, Sofia and Tirana leaving within weeks.

Ryanair customers are also able to take advantage of an early bird discount with flights on sale from £19.99.

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Money latest: My employer rejected my request for flexible work after maternity leave - what are my rights?

A new mother contacted us asking about her employment rights after maternity leave - and we've enlisted the help of a legal expert. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finances news in the Money blog - and share your own Money Problem in the form below.

Monday 15 April 2024 06:57, UK

• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'I'm a prisoner' - mother faces having no money left for retirement after caring for son with cerebral palsy
• Money Problem: My employer rejected my request for flexible work after maternity leave - what are my rights?

Essential reads

• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
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• Cheap Eats: Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe

Ask a question or make a comment

Every Monday we put your financial dilemmas or consumer disputes to industry experts. You can find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post.

This week, Sky News reader AJ2024 asks...

"While on maternity leave my employer rejected my flexible work request and told me to pick from four new shift patterns or take redundancy if they didn't suit me. All new shifts were full working hours. No support as a new mother and ruined my last few precious weeks. What are my rights?"

Katie Wood, senior legal officer at Maternity Action, answers:

All employers have a legal duty to seriously consider all requests for flexible work. This includes any request to change your days, hours or place of work. From April this year, this is a day-one right and you can make up to two requests a year. To show that they have seriously considered a request, an employer is expected to meet with you to discuss the request.

An employer can refuse a request if they have good reasons and it would genuinely be difficult to accommodate a request. There are eight legal reasons an employer can give for refusing a request but these can be quite broad.

These reasons are: 

• The burden of additional costs
• The detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand
• The employer is unable to reorganise the work among existing staff
• They are unable to recruit additional staff
• The detrimental effect on quality
• The detrimental effect on performance
• There is not enough work during the periods the employee wants to work
• Planned structural changes

You can ask to appeal a refusal and can also put forward other options. It can help to ask for a trial period or try to find a compromise that would work for both parties.

An employer that insists on a particular working pattern, such as full-time working hours or variable shifts, may be at risk of an indirect sex discrimination claim as it disadvantages women who have more childcare responsibilities than men. 

If an employer rejects an appeal, employees should seek legal advice. There is a time limit of three months (less one day) for starting an employment tribunal claim. Employees must contact ACAS to start early conciliation within the time limit. ACAS have more information on rights to ask for flexible work on their website.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and where in the country you are, in the form above or by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog". Alternatively, WhatsApp us  here .

By Bhvishya Patel, Money team

Over four days this week, we'll be speaking to some of Britain's struggling unpaid carers, hearing at times heart-breaking accounts of their physical, emotional and financial struggles.

We start with Michelle Lewarne, 65, who has had to spend all the money she and her husband had saved for retirement on looking after their son.

"MPs should really come and live with a family like ours or work in a care home as part of their training and still try and do their job. See what it is really like for the real world." Michelle Lewarne, unpaid carer

Michelle stopped working soon after her son Peter, 41, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 14 months.

The mother of two, from Overton in Hampshire, says the money she receives from various benefits, including carer's allowance,  does not go far enough and financially it is a "disaster" for her and her husband Tony, 72.

The couple are having to dip into savings and live off Tony's pension pot - but there isn't much left.

In 2015, Tony was treated for an aggressive form of prostate cancer which has left him weaker and made it harder for him to help with the day-to-day care of Peter, who is in a wheelchair.

"I've been on antidepressants at times because it's not like we can just say 'I've had enough' and walk away," Michelle says.

"I've got arthritis in my neck and lower back, which is apparently due to lifting and moving Peter around over the years.

"If I go out anywhere I have just a couple of hours before I need to get back again. I've got to time it so Peter and my husband are not alone for too long.

"It does take a toll, you end up not sleeping very well.

"Financially, it's a disaster area. You save up for your old age but now you have to use it all to pay for the care."

Six weeks after the birth of the couple's second child, Marie, doctors diagnosed Peter with cerebral palsy and Michelle decided to give up her job as a nurse to care for him full-time.

"It was a bit of shell shock. My husband couldn't get his head around it - there was nothing wrong with his baby boy which is understandable. That was a difficult time," she says.

"I was doing agency nursing when the children were babies and my husband was doing shift work so we would be like passing ships in the night. It did start taking a toll so I gave up nursing because his job was paying better and it was easier for me to care for Peter being a nurse - I understood all the language."

When Peter turned 19, Michelle and Tony decided to seek help and now employ three carers through means-tested direct payments.

The benefit sees them receive payments from their local authority and gives them more flexibility with their support package, allowing them to arrange their own care services rather than have the council arrange them.

The £3,900 direct payments pay for the wages of Peter's carers.

Michelle is also entitled to carer's allowance, which is £76.75 a week, while Peter receives £407 in disability living allowance and £284 mobility allowance a month.

Financially, the maths just doesn't work.

"I get my pension in June and I can either have my pension as it is and lose my carer's allowance or have the allowance and they'll take some money from my pension," she says.

"That's very unfair because I won't be retired - not in the proper sense of the word. At the moment we're relying on savings - we haven't got a lot left of that."

Michelle says Peter's care means needing to use more electricity and heating than an average household, which has put further pressure on her finances.

"Peter also has a gluten, wheat and dairy intolerance and we can spend up to £200 a week or more on just buying him food. We also have to have a separate fridge freezer so that nobody mistakes Peter's food for ours."

Looking at what needs to be done to a social care system that is facing unprecedented strain, Michelle says the "biggest thing anybody could do in parliament is just listen to the carers and what they need".

"Carer's allowance is far less than even the minimum wage," she adds.

"MPs should really come and live with a family like ours or work in a care home as part of their training and still try and do their job. See what it is really like for the real world.

"You really do struggle at times. If someone who is not a carer is fed up with their job they can just hand in their notice and go off and find another job, but in our case we're like prisoners in our own home a lot of the time - we can't make those choices.

"Why is it that whenever there are any cutbacks it's always the social sector?"

A government spokesperson told the Money blog: "Unpaid carers play a vital role in the lives of their family and friends, which is why from April we're boosting carer's allowance, meaning carers receive an extra £1,500 a year compared to 2010.

"Those in low income households may also be eligible for additional financial support such as universal credit."

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Today : Every week we ask industry experts to answer your Money Problems. Today, a Money blog reader has had their flexible working request denied after returning from maternity leave - so what are their rights?

Tuesday : This week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about credit scores - and how to improve yours.

Wednesday : It's inflation day - with the March figure released at 7am.

Thursday :  Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back examining the pros and cons of another type of savings account, and the best rates available.

Friday : We'll have another Myth or Must, and Sunna Van Kampen will take us down another supermarket aisle to help us shop healthier for less.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King  weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

Looking for some longer Money reads for your evening/commute/lunch break?

Here's four from the last few months you might like...

Cost of a pint

Many of us have noticed the price of pints creeping up in recent years. 

The cost of draught lager has gone up nearly 30% since January 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The beer doesn't taste any different despite the increase in price - so where exactly does that £6-7 for a pint go? 

We've spoken to experts to get a break down...

Motherhood penalty

The word "penalty" isn't one that should go hand-in-hand with motherhood. But deep-rooted structural inequalities are causing women to save less for retirement when they become parents.

Mothers face a pension penalty of up to £183,000 by taking time out of work to raise children, according to analysis by the pensions and investment company Royal London...

A survey has revealed the energy gripes that cause the most arguments in British households...

Quitting your job to go travelling

You could be forgiven for feeling a twinge of jealousy when you see someone packing it all in to go travelling for a few months. 

Perhaps it's made you wonder if you could do the same thing yourself. 

Of course, it won't be realistic for everyone and the reality is it takes a lot of planning and saving. For many people during the cost of living crisis, it's simply not possible to save much, if at all.

But if you're wondering where to begin (and how much you might need to save), we've got some advice from two travel bloggers who have been there and done that...

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 per day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or in one case, let a Delux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies – and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter free before any shoots."

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

We've had a mixed mailbag of comments this week - with readers getting in touch about pensions, tipping and divorce among other things.

Following this feature on divorce costs last weekend...

...we had dozens of comments...

So many people must be trapped in abusive relationships. A loan has helped me get away - covering legal costs, paying the bills/mortgage on marital home whilst being unable to stay and finding thousands for a rental. Costs so far about £8k - only one year in and at decree nisi. H

Since broken families are ever more common why isn't the government doing something to help divorcees get back on the housing ladder like first-time buyers are? Countless thousands, despite having the income, are doomed to rent expensive family homes. Men especially! Twice Divorced Of Surrey

Trust me, it costs a whole lot more than £30k, stay away from solicitors, work through it yourself. Toby

When one party will not communicate with the other, this makes the process much more expensive. Around £80k in solicitors and barrister fees. Vbkinguk

Another story that cut through was London restaurant chain Ping Pong scrapping tips - months before new legislation will require restaurateurs to give staff 100%.

Readers don't seem impressed...

Best thing employees and customers can do is boycott them. Just goes to show what they actually think of their staff. Dave

I don't want to eat somewhere that doesn't look after its employees. Jack

I'm sure patrons and staff will vote with their feet! How disgraceful to remove tips, probably as the owners aren't getting any cut of their staff's hard work! Elijah

We've reported extensively on the rise to the state pension this month - including how, due to frozen income tax thresholds, more pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax. Chris seems to be one of those impacted...

I deferred taking my state pension for five years to hopefully boost my pension, because I happened to be the last group of people to get the old state pension. Unfortunately because of the tax band freeze any benefit from the pension uplift is being eroded every year, is this fair? Chris

And finally, on Monday we suggested a cheaper way to buy herbs and spices in the supermarket - by using the world food aisle...

We had this comment...

Best money-saving practice for herbs and spices is to source them at Asian stores - not supermarkets! Pip

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

In better news for Britons who hope to live abroad, Italy is allowing non-EU citizens who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

There's a few salary/reference based criteria to meet - read about them here...

Labour this week tried to address questions over how it would pay for key pledges  after the Tories used their idea of scrapping the non-dom status to fund a national insurance cut.

Labour had been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced the party's plan to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour said it would raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It would also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

The government responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan  told Bloomberg  that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

UK lenders have seen a rise in defaults on mortgages and credit cards - with the trend expected to continue in the coming months, according to a survey.

A poll of banks and building societies by the Bank of England reveals lenders reported higher default rates on secured loans and unsecured lending in the three months to the end of February.

The rates for mortgages, credit cards and other loans, as well as loans to small to medium businesses, are all expected to rise in the next quarter.

The BoE carries out the survey every quarter as part of its role to maintain financial stability.

It also revealed increased demand for borrowing, with this also expected to climb during the three months to the end of May.

Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said the latest BoE data suggests "a more positive economic outlook hasn't fed through to household finances yet".

"Defaults across all unsecured lending increasing over the same three-month period indicates many people are still struggling to meet their day-to-day costs. Lenders will need to be vigilant and continue to offer support for borrowers in the interim," he said.

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