Hespress English reported on 3 July that Spain’s 3.1 % rise in the Inter-Professional Minimum Wage (SMI) has automatically increased the amount non-EU visitors may be asked to show at the border. Under Article 34 of Spain’s Aliens Act, short-stay travellers must demonstrate at least 10 % of the SMI for each day of their trip, with a minimum of 90 % of the SMI. The new floor therefore climbs to €1,098.90 for stays of up to ten days (previously €1,067). Border officials rarely request bank statements from business travellers arriving with hotel bookings and return tickets, but random checks do occur—especially at secondary airports such as Girona and Reus. Consular posts are already applying the higher figure when issuing Schengen C-type visas. Travel-policy teams should update template invitation letters and pre-departure briefings. Multinationals hosting global conferences in Spain may wish to reimburse advance cash declarations or pre-load corporate payment cards to meet the threshold. Failure to evidence sufficient means can result in refusal of entry under Article 15 of the Schengen Borders Code. The change also affects dependants of digital-nomad and start-up visa holders entering on tourist status before their residence cards are issued, so mobility teams need to communicate the new requirement clearly.
Source: Hespress English
