UK tourists visiting Ibiza and other Spanish regions could face up to £8,000 in fines if they cannot provide proof of accommodation on entry, per a new rule.
The rule applies to all British citizens and non-EU passport holders heading to Spain and asks them to show proof of accommodation for the entirety of their stay, which must be less than 90 days.
The travel advisory also states that non-EU tourists will need to show proof of a return or an onward ticket in order to enter Spanish regions.
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Proof of accommodation can be a booking confirmation from a hotel, Airbnb, or hostel, or evidence of visiting a holiday home or second home in Spain. Alternatively, if you’re looking to visit a friend or family member, you must show a “carta de invitación” (invitation letter) on arrival.
A hefty fine of up to £8,000 could be handed out to holidaymakers or hosts if the right paperwork isn’t produced, Olive Press reports.
To issue a carta de invitación – which cannot be a handwritten letter – the host must be either a Spanish national, an EU citizen living in Spain, or a non-EU citizen with legal residence in Spain.
The invitation will also set your host back around €70 to €80, and, according to Olive Press, must be applied for at the local police station via a scheduled appointment. The full process, which includes multiple steps, can take between 20 and 60 days.
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Olive Press also reports that any guests who outstay the 90-day limit could face fines of up to €10,000, sometimes higher in extreme circumstances.
In other news, tourists visiting Spanish regions have also been warned of earlier closing times at restaurants and bars following the Prime Minister’s decision to cut work hours down to 35 a week.
“It’s madness to carry on extending opening times; that a restaurant is open at 1am is not reasonable,” Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz said. She’s now asking for closing times to mirror other European countries.
Read the full entry requirements for visiting Spain here.
[Per Olive Press]
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
