Security info for Spain

[Andyvon]

If you are travelling to Spain from the UK you now have to provide the Spanish authorites with your passport details. You must do this within a minimum of 48 hours before travelling or the Spanish will refuse you entry.

I wondered whether this is still the requirement when entering Spain through a land border such as France or Portugal. Two years ago my wife and I toured the Algarve in a hire car and we spent two days in Spain, entering across the River Guadiana. Both occasions were unplanned until the previous evening and we just drove across the border and returned to Portugal in the evenings.

We hope to tour the Algarve again later this year. If we decide to cross into Spain again are we now required to inform the Spanish authorities before we enter the country or can we just drive across the bridge again? What would happen if we are found in Spain without having informed the authorities first? Will the Guardia Civil stop our Portuguese hire car along the road in Spain for these security checks?

Thanks.

[dzug]

The requirement applies to air (and maybe sea) travellers only.

[Buenchico]

More specifically, the requirement only applies to travel from non-Schengen countries. You can enter Spain by any means (including air) from any country which is a full signatory to the Schengen Agreement (which basically means any EU country except the UK and Ireland) without any need to provide prior notification.

Chris

[kempie]

As of 13th June 2007 Spain was the first EU country to mandate the collection of API (Advance Passenger Information) from incoming travellers. The requirement is for (non-Schengen) travellers to provide their booking agent/carrier with specific information including their full name, nationality, date of birth and passport number and this information must be supplied to Spanish customs authorities before anyone boards the craft. This will soon become standard practice for all EU states.

API currently exists for travel between UK and several other countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia) and forms part of the soon to be implemented UK e-Borders programme...

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingbord ers/technology/eborders/howebordersworks/

[sqad617]

buenchico/kempie....excellent descriptions.

[Andyvon]

Thanks everyone, especially you for the link kempie.