New regulations for family or friends staying with you for holidays - Page 2

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:04am

nikkimunday

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:04am

Stevec61 wrote on Sun May 30, 2021 8:52am:
Thanks Nikki for taking the time to post this very informative article, I’ve not delved any deeper than reading what you have posted, but will do in due course!
I’m thinking exactly the same as Kenbo here, as I have a holiday home in Playa Flamenca that I let family and friends use free of charge. I will not be hopping onto a plane to fly out and go to the local police station to fill in and submit any forms!...

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...
I’m wondering if this invitation letter is only required for visitors going to a friend or relatives house and actually staying with them - ie the owner has invited them to stay with them, and not simply letting them stay at their home while the owner is away?
With regards to the below extract
In this sense, there are 3 different groups of individuals that can legally request it:
Spanish nationalsEU citizens who live in Spain on a regular basis.Non-EU citizens with residency in the country.Myself and other holiday home owners who live on the UK don’t fall into any of the categories above, as we are now classed as non-EU citizens, so can’t apply for the letter anyway?Such a minefield which I am sure will generate a lot of interest and many posts on this forum!

It does, indeed, seem like a veritable minefield. It also appears to be quite complex. Best thing to do would be to seek clarification from the Spanish Consulate perhaps.

None of these rules would apply to us as we are permanent residents and do not have family come over but, if these rules do apply it is going to be a nightmare for those who do have visitors staying with them, especially as this letter has to be paid for and obtained from this end and then sent to the visitor in their country to then use to get their Visa. It seems like a way of stopping people from overstaying in Spain. You know, those who come here on holiday and do not go back to their own countries at the end of their holiday period but I could well be wrong.

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:16am

Kenbo

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:16am

Stevec61 wrote on Sun May 30, 2021 8:52am:
Thanks Nikki for taking the time to post this very informative article, I’ve not delved any deeper than reading what you have posted, but will do in due course!
I’m thinking exactly the same as Kenbo here, as I have a holiday home in Playa Flamenca that I let family and friends use free of charge. I will not be hopping onto a plane to fly out and go to the local police station to fill in and submit any forms!...

Read more...

...
I’m wondering if this invitation letter is only required for visitors going to a friend or relatives house and actually staying with them - ie the owner has invited them to stay with them, and not simply letting them stay at their home while the owner is away?
With regards to the below extract
In this sense, there are 3 different groups of individuals that can legally request it:
Spanish nationalsEU citizens who live in Spain on a regular basis.Non-EU citizens with residency in the country.Myself and other holiday home owners who live on the UK don’t fall into any of the categories above, as we are now classed as non-EU citizens, so can’t apply for the letter anyway?Such a minefield which I am sure will generate a lot of interest and many posts on this forum!

Good post Steve,

This subject has been doing the rounds on various platforms for a couple of weeks now.

To add to your above categories I have also read that it only applies to those who require a visa to enter Spain, uk subjects don't need a visa.

Kimmy11 has also previously posted on this subject and has sought clarification, from memory she did have a reply of sorts but it was still ambiguous.

Why is always so difficult to obtain clarification ? You would think that it is an easy enough question to answer.

Do holiday home owners without a tourist licence need official paperwork to share their homes with family and friends ?

Yes or No ???

Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:38am

nikkimunday

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 9:38am

I have emailed the Spanish Consulate in Alicante and the British Embassy about this for clarification. I will post their reply if and when I receive it

Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 10:01am

Stevec61

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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 10:01am

nikkimunday wrote on Sun May 30, 2021 9:38am:
I have emailed the Spanish Consulate in Alicante and the British Embassy about this for clarification. I will post their reply if and when I receive it

Thanks Nikki 👍👍

Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:40am

Paul

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:40am

Thanks for doing the legwork Nikki, the way I read the article it says "if you come from a country where a visa is required to enter Spain" as far as I'm aware UK nationals don't need visas. If this does affecct us maybe registering with Air BnB would be the way to go with a minimal charge of a euro per night for guests. Everything I read these days makes me hate Brexit even more.

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 12:58pm

Kimmy11

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 12:58pm

Paul wrote on Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:40am:
Thanks for doing the legwork Nikki, the way I read the article it says "if you come from a country where a visa is required to enter Spain" as far as I'm aware UK nationals don't need visas. If this does affecct us maybe registering with Air BnB would be the way to go with a minimal charge of a e...

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...uro per night for guests. Everything I read these days makes me hate Brexit even more.

Hi Paul,

I agree with your interpretation of the visa exemption for UK nationals, but your suggested AirBnB solution would create a liability to the Spanish tax office and, for short stays, contravention of Tourist Licence laws. The sooner the British Embassy can confirm clarification for us, the better 🤞

Kind regards,

Kim

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 2:39pm

Davebev1

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 2:39pm

Paul wrote on Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:40am:
Thanks for doing the legwork Nikki, the way I read the article it says "if you come from a country where a visa is required to enter Spain" as far as I'm aware UK nationals don't need visas. If this does affecct us maybe registering with Air BnB would be the way to go with a minimal charge of a e...

Read more...

...uro per night for guests. Everything I read these days makes me hate Brexit even more.

Hi Paul,

Agree with Kimmy - it looks as if Brits won't need the Carta de Invitacion as they do not require a visa, but we really need the official confirmation, which seems to be inexplicably slow in coming. You cannot charge even a nominal rent to friends/family using your property without a Tourist License, paying tax, registering guests, proper contracts, public liability insurance and meeting general license requirements. If you are resident and charge friends and family for staying with you then you would need a business license as a guesthouse or BnB.

Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 4:59pm

nikkimunday

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 4:59pm

Davebev1 wrote on Tue Jun 1, 2021 2:39pm:
Hi Paul,
Agree with Kimmy - it looks as if Brits won't need the Carta de Invitacion as they do not require a visa, but we really need the official confirmation, which seems to be inexplicably slow in coming. You cannot charge even a nominal rent to friends/family using your property without a Touris...

Read more...

...t License, paying tax, registering guests, proper contracts, public liability insurance and meeting general license requirements. If you are resident and charge friends and family for staying with you then you would need a business license as a guesthouse or BnB.

As I posted a couple of days ago I have sought confirmation from both the Spanish Embassy and the British Consulate. Neither have as yet replied. I shall give them until Thursday and send the enquiry again

Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:31pm

JaneC

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:31pm

nikkimunday wrote on Tue Jun 1, 2021 4:59pm:
As I posted a couple of days ago I have sought confirmation from both the Spanish Embassy and the British Consulate. Neither have as yet replied. I shall give them until Thursday and send the enquiry again

We obtained a carta de invitacion last month for my daughter to visit us in Torrevieja on the basis of family illness here. The process was straightforward, online form downloaded for completion, payment forms downloaded and an appointment at the Policia National in Alicante obtained from the website for 2 days later. A file was created at the appointment, then we had to go to a bank with the payment forms that the officer stamped for us and then the carta document was ready for collection an hour later. The carta was only required as my daughter needed to travel here before the 24th May.

Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 11:43pm

Paul

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Posted: Tue Jun 1, 2021 11:43pm

JaneC wrote on Tue Jun 1, 2021 10:31pm:
We obtained a carta de invitacion last month for my daughter to visit us in Torrevieja on the basis of family illness here. The process was straightforward, online form downloaded for completion, payment forms downloaded and an appointment at the Policia National in Alicante obtained from the web...

Read more...

...site for 2 days later. A file was created at the appointment, then we had to go to a bank with the payment forms that the officer stamped for us and then the carta document was ready for collection an hour later. The carta was only required as my daughter needed to travel here before the 24th May.

So am I right in thinking that you had to complete the form because of the Covid situation rather than our change of status due to Brexit?