Airfares fall, beaches thin out, and late-summer bargains tempt you back to the sun. Yet new border rules loom.
Spain remains a firm favourite for British travellers, but autumn brings fresh checks at the frontier. If you plan an October getaway, you’ll need to juggle passport dates, Schengen limits and a new EU border system that records every short stay.
Spain entry requirements you must meet
Spain applies Schengen rules to British visitors. Your passport has to meet two time limits: when it was issued and when it expires. Border officers also check whether you have stayed within the visa-free allowance.
Your passport’s date of issue must be less than 10 years before the day you arrive in Spain.
Your passport must expire at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Watch for older renewals
If you renewed a UK passport before 1 October 2018, you could be carrying extra months beyond 10 years on the face of the document. Airlines and border police may still judge the “date of issue” rule strictly. Check the issue date, not just the expiry date, before you book.
Your 90/180-day allowance
British nationals can visit Spain and the wider Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. The allowance covers tourism, family visits, short business trips, conferences, cultural or sporting events, and brief training courses.
- Tourism and family visits: part of your 90 days
- Business meetings and trade fairs: allowed without a visa within 90 days
- Short study or training: permitted within the 90-day limit
Working is different. Paid activity usually needs a work visa or permit. Border officers may examine your stamps to confirm you have not overstayed.
What border police may ask for
Prepare to show evidence that matches the purpose and length of your stay. Officers can ask for proof on arrival, even if the airline has already checked your passport.
- A return or onward ticket dated within your 90-day window
- Travel insurance details covering your stay
- Funds for accommodation, meals and transport; the minimum varies with where you stay
- Hotel or rental confirmation, or proof you own the property where you will stay
- If you stay with friends or family: an address and, where requested, a “carta de invitación” completed by your host
From 12 October: the EU’s new entry/exit system
From 12 October, the EU starts rolling out its Entry/Exit System (EES) at external Schengen borders, including Spain. The system replaces manual passport stamping for short stays and records your arrivals and departures electronically.
At your first entry after 12 October, you may have your fingerprints and a photo taken and answer routine Schengen border questions.
What changes for you at the airport
EES registration happens at the border, not at home. You do not pay a fee and you do not need to pre-register. Expect a little extra time at queues as officers capture biometrics and complete the new process, especially in the first weeks.
| Before 12 October | From 12 October |
|---|---|
| Passport checked and stamped by hand | Passport scanned; biometric capture and electronic record created |
| Officer reviews recent stamps to count days | System calculates your 90/180 balance automatically |
| Queue times varied by flight volume | Allow extra minutes for first-time EES registration |
| No separate database for short stays | Your entries and exits stored digitally for future crossings |
| No additional cost | No additional cost |
Practical tips for a smooth first EES crossing
- Arrive at the airport earlier than you usually would for a peak flight.
- Keep your passport, boarding pass, proof of stay and insurance to hand.
- Remove hats and sunglasses before the photo step to speed things up.
- Stay with your party so families process together.
How the 90/180 rule works in real life
The 180 days is a moving window. Each day you spend in Spain counts against your 90-day allowance. On any date you plan to enter, look back 180 days and add up the days you were inside Schengen. If the total reaches 90, you must wait outside Schengen until some days “drop off” the window.
- Example 1: You stay 30 days in May–June and 30 days in July–August. On 15 October, you have 30 days left until the May days fall outside the window.
- Example 2: You book 14 October to 20 December (68 days). If you already spent 25 days in the last 180, this trip would exceed the 90-day limit by three days. Shorten the booking or delay departure.
Border systems will calculate your balance, but you remain responsible for planning your days.
Money, insurance and the “show me” test
Officers can check you can pay for your stay. There is no single EU figure. Spain sets guidelines that vary with accommodation type. Bring card statements or a banking app screenshot if you plan to rely on cards. Carry travel insurance details; medical care in Spain is not free for visitors.
What happens if documents don’t match
Airlines must refuse boarding if your passport fails the 10-year or three-month rules. If you reach a Spanish border with missing documents or a passport reported lost or stolen, you can be refused entry. The Foreign Office advises checking with your airline or travel provider before departure.
Planning extras that save headaches
Check dates with a calendar, not guesswork
Open a calendar and mark every day you spent in any Schengen country in the last six months. Count the days, including both the day of entry and the day of exit. Repeat for your intended trip to verify the total remains at or below 90.
When your plans involve work
Remote work from a sun lounger might sound harmless. Spanish law treats work differently from tourism. If your trip involves paid activity for a Spanish employer, contract work delivered in Spain, or on-the-ground services, ask about visas before you travel. Border questions can probe the purpose of your visit.
Families and groups
Put the most time-sensitive passports at the front of your group in the queue. Keep accommodation proofs for each traveller. Hosts preparing a “carta de invitación” should start early to avoid delays.
You do not need to do anything before you arrive for EES, and there is no fee for registration.
If your passport is close to its limits
Run a quick test. Take your planned arrival date in Spain and check the passport’s issue date. If the gap is 10 years or more, renew first. Then count three months forward from your planned exit date. If the expiry falls before that point, renew. Many travellers still trip up on these two checks.
Smart timing for autumn travel
Queues often ease outside weekend peaks. A midweek arrival after lunch can move faster than a Saturday morning wave. Choose flights that land with fewer long-haul arrivals, when possible, to avoid bottlenecks at biometric kiosks.
Final checks before you set off
- Passport: issued less than 10 years before arrival; expires at least three months after departure.
- Stay length: within the 90 days allowed in any 180-day period.
- Proofs: tickets, accommodation, funds and insurance ready to show.
- Timing: allow extra minutes at the border from 12 October for EES.
These steps keep your holiday on track from the moment you leave for the airport. A few minutes with the calendar and the right papers at hand spare you the costliest surprise of any trip: being turned away at the gate, or at the border, when the beach is only a short flight away.
90/180 still confuses me—any good calculators to double-check?
Super helpful breakdown—especially the bit about checking the issue date, not just expiry. I almost booked with a passport at 10y+1m; that would’ve been a disaster. Definately saving this.