Spain Imposes Minimum Spending for Non-EU Tourists

Spain recently imposed a requirement that non-EU tourists provide evidence of sufficient funds for their trips at the rate of €100 per day as a minimum spending limit, a policy not been welcomed by many.

Guidelines published by the Spanish Ministry of Interiors require that funds be in the form of foreign currency, traveler’s checks, cash, payment letters, or credit cards with sufficient funds available on them.

In addition, the financial requirements go even further, as tourists may have to provide evidence they have a minimum of €900 available in total together with two other forms of proof, a return or onward ticket, and evidence of accommodation.

Border guards are not required to check all arrivals, but tourists must, nevertheless, meet the requirements in order to enter Spain.

It is worth bearing in mind that EU countries were recently accused of ‘punishing’ British holidaymakers for Brexit, as it emerged that Spain would possibly mandate UK tourists to provide proof of a daily £85 spending allowance to enter the country. Germany and France blamed channel delays on voters’ decision to leave the EU.

Referencing the new budget guidelines for tourists, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said, “In terms of the Spanish, it’s up to them whether they wish to apply the spending rule, but they should bear in mind that the Brits are their biggest tourist market. It won’t make anyone feel very welcome.”

He further noted that, “When it comes to British tourists, the Europeans appear to be cutting off their nose despite their own face as a punishment for Brexit.”

“I doubt that the café owners in France and the bar owners in Spain would be of the same opinion as their political leaders,” he said.

Further, it should also be noted that the same €100 per-day requirement applies to people who need Schengen visas from Spain as well as to foreigners from third-party countries, according to the Spanish Ministry del Interior.

Social media rants as Spain imposes spending and travel restrictions

The recently imposed guideline changes applied by authorities in Spain took social media by storm making the issue the main topic of discussion, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

One Facebook user wrote, “Looks like Spain is making it too difficult and too elitist for many families. Bit of a kick in the teeth to all those who have been going for years. Families and pensioners will be most affected.”

Another person wrote: “Let’s see where they are going to get their tourism from now if people chose other countries… good luck Spain!”

Another wrote: “Pretty obvious what the Spanish are trying to do, restrict people coming for a holiday who don’t have a lot of money.”

Another Twitter user accused Spain of being an “anti-Brexit EU country,” urging his followers to avoid traveling to the European country all together. “Great. Do NOT go to Spain. Tired of these anti-Brexit EU countries pushing us around,” he said.

Still, on Twitter, someone else pointed out that Brits are now considered ‘third country’ travelers in all twenty-seven EU member states since leaving the union.

These controversies come as France recently continued to escalate the war of words with Britain over lines at Dover and Folkestone by insisting that Brexit and not a lack of Gallic border staff are to blame for the chaos that threatens to wreck the summer.

Spanish authorities still emphasized the fact that foreign nationals must reach an amount that represents ten percent of the minimum of gross interprofessional salary or its legal equivalent in international currency, multiplied by the number of days they plan to remain in Spain.