Every year millions of Britons go on holiday to Spain to take the sun in the will of Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla and Mallorca.
It is such a popular destination that is expected to be the most visited country in the world by 2040.
But those who soon rinse, be warned, because there are new rules for entering the country that will be rolled out October 12.
From this date, the European Union implements a new Entry and EXIT system (EES) at airports, ferry ports and other border crossings.
Designed to follow border crossings digitally with the help of fingerprints and face recognition, the stricter system has been in the making – and several times delayed.
As such, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has Shared advice For tourists who go to Spain, let you know what to know.
Register with the escape newsletter
Put your travel spirit with our composite newsletter of travel offers, guides and inspiration. Register here.
Civil servants say that you are obliged to:
- Have your fingerprints and photos taken upon arrival and departure
- Answer the questions of Schengen Border Code
A complete list of questions has yet to be granted. But based on what we know so far, they can ask about your reason to travel, whether you have enough money for the duration of your stay and where you stay.
All this will of course make waiting times a little longer, so be prepared to allow more time than you are used to.
As always, anyone traveling to Spain must have a passport with a date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive and an expiration date at least three months after the date you want to leave.
Those who travel to Spain for up to 90 days can stay without a visa within a period of 180 days, as long as they do not intend to work there.
However, the new EES rules are not only for Spain – they are being rolled out over the EU.
They come in phases, instead of all at the same time, starting with the 29 countries in the Schengen area.
It is not the only change that tourists have to face.
Although we have always been great fans of Paella and Pintxos, it seems that Spaniards are not so impressed by us.
Backlash to Mass Tourism has been snowed in the past year, where the locals complain about overcrowding and short -term rental that ways out affordable homes in hotspots for vacation.
Early in the summer thousands protested in the streets of Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. Events also took place in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, as well as Venice and Genoa, in northwestern Italy.
Activists in Barcelona sprayed tourists with water guns and say that some of them treat their city as an ‘amusement park’.
As a result, the local authorities of Spain have rolled out new rules for visitors.
So if you plan to go to Spain or the Canary Islands this year, this is what you need to know.
Full list of Spanish tourist rules that travelers need to know
Balearic Islands’ Tourist tax
Where: The Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza or Forera.
When: It is unclear. The new measures are waiting for approval.
How much will it cost: Overnight tourist costs can increase from £ 3.36 to £ 5.04 per person per night. Rates will vary depending on the quality of your accommodation, with guests of four and five star hotels that pay the most in June, July and August.
This means that holidaymakers in luxury accommodation pay £ 35.31 per person per week – an increase of £ 11.77.
Passengers of cruise ships will be worse off, with accommodation costs by 200% from £ 1.68 to a maximum of £ 5.04 per person per night.
Exemptions: These costs do not apply to tourists who visit in January or February. Children under the age of 16 are also exempt.
Barcelona’s tourist tax
Where: Barcelona.
When: By the end of 2025.
How much will it cost: Tourist tax will double and reach up to £ 12.40 per person per night – again this depends on the quality of the accommodation.
Currently, the maximum reimbursement is £ 6.20 for guests in five -star hotels and £ 4.70 for guests in four -star hotels. Those who stay in flats have been charged £ 5.20.
Tourists who visit wider Catalonia are charged between 99p and £ 4.95 per day.
Exemptions: Children under the age of 16 are exempt.
The six-drink cap
Where: Playa de Palma, S’arenal and Magaluf, all in Mallorca, and the west end of San Antonio, Ibiza.
There was once that you could swing all-inclusive deals as much food and drink as you could save.
After an increase in disorderly behavior in 2024, the Spain, however, clamped Balearic government on Boozy British.
On the Feest Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza, guests now have a limit of six drinks. According to the rules you can get three drinks during lunch and another three during dinner.
However, the limit only applies to regions that are poorly affected by disruptive guests.
Pubcrawls are also prohibited on Magaluf’s notorious strip.
Walking Tour Caps
Where: Mallorca.
There has also been a performance against walking tours, especially in Palma. New requirements will be limited to 20 people per group, making them probably more expensive.
But it is not yet clear how these group numbers will be monitored. These caps do not apply to the rest of the Balearic Islands, so walking tours are still able to house a maximum of 70 people.
Currency changes
British are more likely to achieve cash when paying for something on vacation than we are at home, according to ABTA Travel moneyBut if you go to Spain, you might want to think again.
That is because the European country carries out currency changes, so that your banknotes can be rejected when you try to buy something.
From July, if you try to use crumpled or worn banknotes, it is unlikely that they will be accepted by retailers because of the plans of the central bank to withdraw damaged banknotes from circulation to tackle fraud.
Other note values such as € 5, € 10 and € 20 should all be in order, but the € 50 is the target of banks because it is damaged one of the most sensitive to forged and damaged protection systems on cash points.
Forbidden beach items and behavior
Where: Gran Canaria.
In March, authorities released a new list of forbidden items on the beaches of Gran Canaria, and you could see the use of this smuggling war on Spanish sand with a fine of £ 2,500.
You can’t:
- Smoke or vape
- Play music in sunbathing – This includes beaches, promenades and coastal areas
- Cook on the beach
- Use an umbrella for shade
- Put on any type of tent or shelter
- Reserve spots on sun decks and bath platforms
- Collect scales or rocks from the beach or water, or turn stones to return to their original position without returning
- Have public sex, so that is obvious
- Hinder all access routes or walkways
- Abuse public showers or footwas stations, for example by wasting water or using the water to fill containers, or washing with soap
- Fish with a rod within 150 meters of bath zones or near divers
Boetes: The violation of these rules means that your authorities must pay £ 25 to £ 629 for a small violation, £ 630 to £ 1,258 for a serious violation and fines up to £ 2,517 for a very serious violation.
It is not clear what is considered a small, serious or very serious crime, so don’t risk it.
The only area of a resident
Where: Mallorca.
The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, has praised a destination as a ‘typical old Mediterranean city’, Sóller.
If you plan to visit the car there, you have to think twice. Some locals were worried about the number of tourists, so the council introduced a ‘only’ zone ‘zone at the zone of the city center.
In 70 hectares of the city, which includes 12 streets, only residents can drive with registered cars, without rental cars or cars that are not registered in the area – permitted.
According to the Sóller councilor for mobility, Pep Porcel, the new policy will ensure that visitors arrive in a car, “” in the parking garages “let alone” next to the Desvío Road. “
Discover the few well -known destinations of Spain with Metro
Forbid alcohol
Where: Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.
When: 2024.
A ban on the late night that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages from 9.30 pm to 8 am the next day was introduced last year.
The prohibition means that you cannot just take a drink for the evening clock and keep drinking the night, because you are not allowed to drink on public roads in these times.
And if you think that ‘well, I will just go to a boat party’, you may have to think again – according to a law adopted in 2020, party boats are not allowed to work within one nautical miles of the designated area.
The alignment is an attempt to save the popular resort areas from Rowy Behavior caused by excessive drinking.
The tourist ban of ‘three years’ disprove
Where: Malaga.
When: January 14, 2025.
A new three -year law introduced in Malaga has been called a ‘tourist ban’ by some. The term is misleading – the law does not prohibit tourists from anywhere. Instead, it prevents the registration of new holiday rental in 43 districts in the area.
The measure, introduced by the Malaga and Costa del Sol city council, is expected to take the first three years and is intended to stop the rise of holiday rental homes in the most busy parts of the city and to give the locals a better chance to find long-term letters.
Do not panic, you can still book hotels, Airbnbs and other accommodation as normal.
Where otherwise the ban has introduced: Alicante, Madrid and possibly Seville.
This article was originally published on 17 June 2025 and was updated.
Do you have a story to share?
Please contact the e -mailing of metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
More: rapist who falsified his own death to avoid prison, finally becomes six years in prison
More: Ibiza floods stopped me in Pacha
More: Tourists come to a mind -expanding Chinese Megaity where Google Maps does not work
#travel #rules #Spain #tourist #warnings