The rule also applies to France, Greece and many other countries
09:47, 12 Feb 2026Updated 10:38, 12 Feb 2026
Tourists on the beach in Spain(Image: fhm via Getty Images)
Each year, millions of people from the UK fly to Spain for their holidays, eager to enjoy the sunshine and soak up some Spanish culture. The European destination has consistently remained the top choice for UK tourists, with Spain expected to attract substantial numbers of British holidaymakers once again in 2026.
While going on holiday is an exciting experience, it’s important for anyone travelling to Spain to be aware of all regulations and requirements. This is particularly important in the post-Brexit landscape, which has brought in new rules in recent years.
Prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, British passport holders could enter Spain without requiring their travel documents to be stamped, and faced no restrictions on the length of their stay. However, current regulations now limit UK visitors to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period in Spain, or any other Schengen Area nation.
As well as this, travellers’ passports must display a “date of issue” within the previous 10 years before their arrival date and an “expiry date” of at least three months beyond their intended departure from the Schengen area. According to Foreign Office guidance, failure to adhere to these requirements when visiting Spain or other Schengen nations, such as Greece, France, and Italy, could lead to an extended ban.
Foreign Office guidance warns: “If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.”
The Schengen area is made up of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.