A recent viral story claimed that British tourists travelling to Spain now require Travel Insurance or risk a fine of £5,900.

The UK’s consumer watchdog, Which? has now weighed in, setting the record straight that it is in fact nonsense. Which? reached out to the FCDO and Spanish officials—they confirmed no such border fine exists and that they aren’t rejecting tourists or charging them at border controls over lack of Travel Insurance.

We’ve looked at what is required for travel to Europe now and in the future.

This information is up to date at the time of publish however, it is your responsibility to check the latest advice prior to travel.

Passport Validity

• Must be issued less than 10 years ago
• Valid for at least 3 months after your return date

Stay Limits

You’re allowed up to 90days in any 180-day period within the Schengen Area. You can view a full list of the countries that fall into this area here.

GHIC

The Global Health Insurance Card replaces the EHIC card. It allows UK citizens to necessary state health care in the European Economic Area (EEA) and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. Depending on the country the treatment can be free or require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay.

A GHIC card is free and lasts up to 5 years. Only apply via the NHS website and avoid any unofficial websites as they may charge a fee.

You can apply for a GHIC card via the NHS website here. It is important to remember and understand that the GHIC card is not a replacement for Travel Insurance and all travellers are recommended to have a valid Travel Insurance for the duration of their trip.

EES – Entry/Exit System

A new digital border system is being introduced on 12th October 2025 which collects biometric data and is set to replace passport stamping.

The new system is for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area and is set to be rolled out over a period of time, with passport stamping still taking place until the full implementation date of 10th April 2026.

So what is it?

All non-EU citizens will be required to provide fingerprints or have a facial photograph taken the first time they cross the border for short stays in a Schengen zone. Your data will be stored in a digital file and verified by border guards for any future border crossings.

It will help the EU to better track whether travellers are respecting the EU’s 90/180-day rule and after full implementation both fingerprints and facial photographs will be required. Under 12s are exempt and your digital record is valid for 3 years.

The EU has created an app called Travel to Europe that would allow travellers to upload a photograph and pre-register their passport details however the UK has yet to confirm if UK citizens will have access to this.

You can find more information on Gov.uk here. This is not to be confused with ETIAS (more information below).

ETIAS

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System and is designed to improve security for border agents in 30 European Countries as well as speed up processing times at the borders.

More information can be found here.

FCDO

Any new requirements or travel warnings will be updated on the FCDO website. It contains Foreign Travel Advice on all destinations including entry requirements, safety and security tips, health and getting help. You can sign up for email alerts for your destination, so you have the most up-to-date information before you travel.

It is important to note that if the FCDO deems a country unsafe to travel and you continue your trip against their advice you risk invalidating your Travel Insurance policy.

Don’t skip Travel Insurance

Although it is not a legal requirement for entry to Spain, it is important to protect yourself against the unexpected.

Travel Insurance can help with medical expenses, cancellation cover, lost and stolen luggage and personal items, along with other benefits. If you are hospitalised and can’t fly back home on the original travel date or require repatriation it can help cover the costs. It is important to read the terms and conditions of your policy to ensure that you have the appropriate cover for your trip.

Here at Just Travel Cover we work with a panel of insurers providing you multiple quotes from different insurers. There are three levels of cover to choose from bronze, silver and gold with no upper age limit. We also specialise in pre-existing medical conditions and can help find cover for undiagnosed conditions and those on waiting lists. If we can’t assist, we will signpost you to a provider who can.

You can also access your Travel Insurance documents online through your My Account portal – so no matter where you are in the world as long as you have access to the internet you have all your policy information at the click of a button.

All policies, and claims, are subject to acceptance criteria and policy terms and conditions.