Carta de Invitation

No. It's been discussed before that the Spanish government says it will not be checked. The police have replied that only those who require a visa to enter Spain will be required to have one. This, as pointed out on several different posts on the same subject, has been going around for about 5 years. In that time I have had 2 or 3 sets of visitors (apart from one year in the pandemic) each year and they have never been asked to show it. Even during the pandemic they were only asked for vaccine passports by the airline and never asked at the airport.

Seems like new clarification is required by the police on this matter. Most of the sites saying you need one are from a few years ago and, like showing you have something like a few hundred euro for every day you are here, has never been checked.

None of the airlines are asking for this document before boarding.

Thanks for the info. It's just that my friends were worried about coming to visit as there is a lot in the papers in the UK at the moment about this.

Discussed yesterday

Letter of Permission to stay

In short, forget about it, just the UK gutter press stirring up trouble.

Has anyone actually seen the procedure for this? It requires an official form to be completed, an appointment at a National Police Station plus a tax form to be paid at the bank.

To complete the form, you need copies of the passports for those staying, a birth certificate, marriage certificate or some other form to prove their identity and all translated to Spanish. In addition, a minimum amount of 113 euro per day with a minimum of 1020 euro regardless of how short the duration is. It also states of copy of the "visa" which, of course, UK nationals do not require.

The Citizens Advice Bureau Spain brought this matter up and asked a government official if this was necessary. The reply was

"A quote from a Spanish regional government official when asked about the published news “A UK national can visit Spain for 90 days in any 180 day period visa free and no “carta de invitación” is required”. (to date that appears to be the case). He added “porque los guiris quieren complicar todo”.

The last bit is why do foreigners try to complicate everything? 

I have'nt seen anything in the UK press recently regarding the carta de invitación, where did they read that it was needed?

Rgds,

Aitch. 

Brit tourists staying with friends in Spain warned after hosts could face £8,000 fines (msn.com)

Hi John,

As others have said, the "Carta de Invitación" is not required for UK citizens.  Although we're Third Country Nationals, Spain offers us visa-free travel for up to 90 days (in 180) - this isn't the case for all TCNs, some do need to obtain it.  

I haven't seen it in the British press recently, but it has been all over Fakebook because, apparently, it's occasionally asked for in Gibraltar when they want to be awkward - and when that happens, it gets regurgitated in the expat press.  And just when it's a slow news day!  ;o)

Kind regards,

Kim

I think we should put this one to bed. Costa Blanca News press reader

"British ambassador, Hugh Elliot, has clarified that British visitors to Spain who do not have accommodation reservations are not required to have a so-called carta de invitacion. 

Mr Elliot made the statement with Costa Blanca news in Murcia. He was able to lay to rest a controversy which has been raging on expat forums in recent weeks. 

The Ambassador stated "We have talked to the Spanish authorities about this and they have told us very clearly that there is not a requirement to have a carta de invitacion which is very important."

He did say that things had changed since Brexit and there was no longer freedom of movement. He advised that people visiting to stay with relatives have the address where they are staying and show their return travel arrangements. 

I agree, I was just sending the link Aitch asked for.