Wasn’t sure which section to post this advice received from my travel ins blog. For anyone without EU passport.
If you’re staying with friends or family for up to 90 days, you’ll need a letter of invitation or a ‘carta de invitacion’ to confirm your accommodation. This official document must be handled and funded by your host, who must be one of the following:
- Spanish National
- EU citizen living in Spain
- Non-EU citizen with legal residency in Spain
It’s wise to apply well in advance, as the process can take 20-60 days. Without the letter of invitation, you risk being denied entry.
To find more information on how to apply for a letter of invitation, visit the Spanish Ministry of Interior website.
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An ordinary HO is not going to go through this trouble.
In practice, this is not really necessary, I think (I am of course not an immigration lawyer). Nationals of the UK, the US, and numerous other countries can travel to Spain without a visa as tourists. So that is what you answer at the border when asked about the purpose of your travel. Don’t mention petsitting.
I don’t know what their policies are in practice, how many questions they would ask or if they might search your phone. My only experience was at the Gibraltar border. That is a bit a weird one, walking over the airfield. Yes, different queues for EU citizens and others when walking back into Spain. No checks at the border with France (just a change of railway gauge).
This was the rest of the article.
"Since the UK parted ways with the EU, British holidaymakers heading to Spain without an EU passport must show they have accommodation arranged or risk being sent back.
Pretty straightforward if you’ve booked yourself into a hotel, hostel or apartment, but what happens if friends or family are putting you up?"
I always book alternative accomodation with booking.com with free cancellation for sits abroad. I print off the booking even thought I’ve cancelled if sit goes ahead in case I’m asked for proof of hotel etc.
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It’s rubbish that the British press like to throw out on a regular basis. Some Brits have been asked at Gibraltar because there are issues between Spain and Gibraltar. I fly in and out of Spain at least 6 time a a year and have done for the last 7 years olus irregularly before that. Never been asked.
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I lived in Barcelona until quite recently and this was an issue raised on various Forums. The consensus seemed to be if you didn’t need a visa to visit (UK, USA etc as you have said) then you were not going to be asked for an invitation letter.
Quite honestly it was hard enough to get an appointment to renew residency let alone police stations being flooded with people asking for letters of invitation for visitors.
Of course there are always border officials who either don’t know or don’t apply the regulations correctly but no one I have heard of on the Spanish forums has had any problems with visitors coming from a visa-free country and they haven’t needed to get letters.
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Just book one night in a cheap hotel. I went to Spain, and never did any of this .
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These more detailed checks seem only to be happening when you cross the border ifrom Gibraltar into Spain.
They will not accept a hotel booking with 24hr or any cancellation term.
In Dec i was asked for prove of return flight. I stay in my parents holiday flat. So they live in UK and cant get a letter of invitation as you have to get it from the Spanish police station. They are too old to travel. Luckily i had an electricity bill in my name as i have been managing their flat.
If you own the property they may ask to see the deed. I met a elderly couple who were staying in Gib but were refused entry to go into Spain for a day trip. They only do this to UK passport holders.