The Spanish Tourist Office has released a statement about the rules regarding how much money tourists are required to have. It comes amid a wave of press regarding the £750 minimum spending money and £85 per day budget required of travellers.
Officials clarified that the requirement wasn't new - it came into force on January 1 this year - nor was it unusual. They added that the regulation is not specific to Spain and applied to visitors from most countries outside the EU and Schengen border-free travel area.
In the 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.
"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."
He pointed out that there are similar rules for visitors entering the UK, adding: "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 financial rules as per Spain's Ministry of Interior website say that the amount of money tourists must have depends on the length of their stay, though the minimum amount is 900 euros, which is equivalent to about £750.
It says: "The length of your stay, to keep in mind, in order to calculate the economic quantity demanded, will be the number of days following the date of entry into Spain until the departure date on the ticket, referred to in item B of this section, both dates included.
"Currently, the minimum amount of money that you need to prove you have is €100 per person per day, with a minimum of €900 (or its equivalent in foreign money) effective from January 1, 2022."
The UK Foreign Office advises British citizens that Spanish border officials may request proof they have sufficient money to cover their holiday. What's more, travellers are also required to provide two other documents.
The Foreign Office says: "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."
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