Visitors on holiday

Hi Gary,

Impossible to say categorically without seeing the article to which you refer.  As you mention "rental property", I'm going to take a guess that the article was about holiday letting?  In that instance, your friends and family are allowed to stay in your property, but if it doesn't have a Tourist Licence, you cannot take payment from them for using it.

If you can post a link to the article, we can probably give you a definitive response.

Kind regards  

Kim

Hi Kim , thanks for your reply . I have been searching for the article but can't find or remember where I read about it. You are probably right about the article being about holiday letting , but I'll keep searching and see if can find the article

Gary

Hi Gary,

       you may have read the article below in the Guardian. As far as I know Spain are not at the moment asking for any proof of accommodation for people arriving from the UK. My daughter was over in August and stayed at our property in Spain, there were no questions at the airport about accommodation.

  A friend who has a property in France was questioned at Calais in July about proof that he had his own property (in France). He only got his passport stamped when he managed to find utility bills on his phone with his name and address on them that he could show to the border guard. Not sure if this was a one-off or if France are asking everyone for proof of accommodation. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/20/uk-travellers-to-france-may-be-asked-proof-of-accommodation-as-part-of-post-brexit-changes

Rgds,

Aitch.

HI Gary,

If the article was about the "Carta de Invitación" that's a different matter.  The British Embassy has already advised that, so long as travellers have a return ticket, they are highly unlikely to be required to provide a letter of invitation from the property owner.

Kind regards,  

Kim

Thank you all , it seems very likely that I was reading about " the letter of invitation" and as Kim has pointed it out , as long as you have a return ticket you should be fine .

Thank you all for your replies 😊

This does not apply to Spain. The Spanish Government are amused that the British Press and even the UK Government are making an issue out of something that doesn't apply to the UK. There is no requirement for UK family or friends to be issued with such a document to visit Spain whether staying in second residences belonging to family or friends or staying with relatives. 

Bee

Hi Bee,

We know this isn't required by Spain and I suspect "the UK Government are making an issue out of something that doesn't apply to the UK" because they're covering their backsides after France said it would be required - even the wording on Gov.UK says it "may" be required, rather than "will".  I'd be interested to see your source for "The Spanish Government are amused that the British Press and even the UK Government are making an issue.....", if you would post a link please.

Kind regards,

Kim

It is a requirement for countries who need a Visa and as  UK citizens, as well as a host of other 3rd countries  do not require a visa for visits up to 90/180 the CDI doesn't apply to them.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/carta-de-invitacion-and-why-we-should-let-sleeping-dogs-lie/

Bee

Thanks Bee.  I think CAB Spain's blog is generally very supportive of UK citizens, other than the comment, "A quote from a Spanish regional government official..... He added “porque los guiris quieren complicar todo”.  Otherwise, it lays criticism at extranjeros offices and those trying to make money out of British travellers by "jumping on the bandwagon".  Good to see too that, although the blog is 4 months old, it includes the information that was updated at the time on Gov.UK and which has been repeatedly advised by the British Embassy since.  Unfortunately, while this forum and one or two professionally-run Facebook sites can be trusted to give the correct information, most of us will have seen nonsense regurgitated on other "expat" social media.  All we can do is to keep reinforcing the correct information.

Kind regards, 

Kim