The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for British tourists planning to visit Spain this summer, highlighting the importance of safeguarding passports. The update, which was added to the ‘safety and security’ section on Friday (May 17), comes as Spain remains a top holiday destination for UK travellers, attracting more than 15 million visitors annually who are drawn by its beaches, climate, culture, and nightlife.
However, the Foreign Office has warned that not having proper travel documents can disrupt holiday plans. Tourists are advised to be vigilant with their passports, especially at airports during luggage collection or check-in, and when arranging car hire, as thieves often target these areas using distraction techniques.
On May 17, the guidance was further clarified: “If your passport is lost or stolen, you must renew your passport or apply for an emergency travel document. You cannot use a police report to leave Spain.”
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This statement underscores the necessity of either renewing a lost or stolen passport or obtaining an emergency travel document, which is typically valid for a single journey back to the UK. Applications for such documents require evidence of the urgency and essential nature of the trip and are assessed individually.
The Foreign Office provided tips for tourists visiting Spain: “Do not carry all your valuables in one place. Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport somewhere safe,” reports Birmingham Live.
To enhance the security of passports, travellers are decreed not to leave their passport at hotel check-in points for subsequent collection. Instead, they should persist until the hotel personnel have recorded or duplicated their passport information.
Spain adheres to stringent entry instructions for non-EU tourists, inclusive of Brits post-Brexit. Your passport must bear an issue date within ten years of entering Spain and possess an expiry date greater than three months from the planned departure day.
The Foreign Office says: “You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.”