The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) revised its Spain travel advice on 17 July, warning UK holidaymakers transiting France to check for rail and road disruptions linked to continuing public-sector strike action and to prepare for Entry/Exit System (EES) registration on first entry to Schengen. The notice also reminds motorists to carry a physical V5C registration certificate and UK identifier sticker. The update comes as ferry and Eurotunnel bookings surge for the school holidays. Travel management company Clarity says Spain remains the top European destination for British corporate roadshows this quarter, with more than 800 events scheduled in Barcelona, Madrid and Málaga between July and September. Under the new guidance, travellers arriving by air in Spain must ensure their passports have at least three months’ validity and a spare page for an entry stamp until the EES fully replaces stamping later this year. The FCDO also flags that Spanish police have stepped up spot checks on proof of accommodation and funds—€113 per person per day—particularly for visitors flying on low-cost carriers. For employers, the advice reinforces the need to brief staff on the 90/180-day rule for Schengen stays. Mobility teams should log cumulative days spent in the zone, including business and leisure, to avoid fines or entry bans that could jeopardise future assignments. The British Embassy in Madrid says it is monitoring the impact of the French rail strikes on through-train services from Paris to Barcelona and Zaragoza and will issue further updates if significant delays occur.
