Holidays at private homes

The answer is a bit vague at the moment. In theory any visitor to Spain from a non-EU country has to be able to prove they have a return ticket, have enough money and somewhere to stay. That now applies to UK citizens. 

Having said that, the gov.uk website says they should have an invitation from their hosts and that “could be” an official letter of information. Interestingly it doesn’t say “must be”.

Shaun

Yes I'm afraid that it's correct what you have heard.

You will need a "Carta de Invitación" 

It will confirm that the visitors will be staying at your home. 

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2021/05/21/spains-carta-de-invitacion-could-apply-to-brit-tourists-as-embassy-announces-official-word/

Steve 

Hi Diane,

Both the Spanish government website and the UK government websites are unclear on whether the "Carta de invitacion" (letter of invitation) is a mandatory requirement.  The extract below is from Gov.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements#additional

"At Spanish border control, you may need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. You may also 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 (e.g. second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family. The Spanish Government has clarified that the “carta de invitation” is one of the options available to prove that you have accommodation if staying with friends or family. More information is available from the Spanish Ministry of Interior."

Hi Kimmy

I’ve read a couple of threads re this recently

Many second home owners, like myself, only book outward bound flights. Depending on a number of factors, I book my return flights when in Spain.

As for proving enough money for the stay, along with proof of accommodation, it will be interesting to see what they require, if anything. I really hope it’s going to be rather more clear cut than hoping they’ve got out of bed the “right” side 😉

I’m a bit with Steve (Dinnerout) on this. Are we really to suppose that they’re going to check every visitor to Spain, ensuring they’re staying where they say they are?

Hopefully the next few weeks will see members, travelling to Spain, posting their experiences 🤪🥂

Hi Ange,

As a property owner in Spain, the 'Carta de Invitacion' doesn't apply to your own visits, only (possibly/perhaps/maybe!) to people travelling from the UK to stay in your Spanish home.  Without definitive guidance from the Spanish government and based on the UK government's advice that the invitation letter is only "one option", I think it's going to be a case of wait and see - as unhelpful as that is!

Kind regards,

Kim

Thanks Kimmy

Being devils advocate really.......how do you suppose they’ll determine “home owner” as opposed to “holidaymaker”. Surely I’m not going to have to carry my deeds around as proof of ownership 🤦‍♀️ and my bank statements for financial status?

Just my musings Kim, I don’t expect you to have the answers 😉🤪🥂

Hi Ange

I suspect (and hope) this is a story that will fade from prominence. I have my own conspiracy theory as to why it's getting so much publicity but I wont add that herring here...

Case Study #1

A Ryanair flight arrives from Luton followed 15 minutes later by an Easyjet flight from Manchester. 10 minutes later another Ryanair flight arrives from Glasgow and another from Birmingham. Repeat and repeat again, we've all seen the Departure and Arrivals screens...

Baggage collection is busy and everyone starts filing into Immigration. Non EU passport holders (the badly dressed ones) follow the signs and are met by Border Control Agents. Armed to the teeth, obviously..

Each Border Control Agent has a checklist of tasks and questions. Listen carefully I will say zis only vunce......

1 Examine/verify passport (can you take your glasses off please)

2 Can I see your return ticket please (yes, here it is/no I don't have one/why not)

3 Can I examine your financial position please as it impacts on your little jolly to our lovely country (is that your bank account sir/can you prove that/sorry madam a printed bank statement from 3 weeks ago is unacceptable, next flight home love)

4 Where are you staying please? Can you show your accommodation booking please/ok sir thankyou/oh you don't have one/ok staying with friends eh, ok show me your Carta and be smart about it! What do you mean by staying in your own house please? Prove it, I just don't trust you....

Meanwhile 6 hours have passed, the Immigration hall is packed with 600 people having lunch children or dying, or all 3, the queue is back out to the tarmac and Priti Patel has been on Sky News all morning saying "well THAT'S a hostile environment, I'm nice by comparison!"

Steve

😂😂 Well, that’s made me smile!

As unlikely as it seems...........!

Let’s hope, for sanity’s sake, members arriving over the next weeks can report differently 🤪🥂