Parents whose children are travelling abroad solo are advised to double check guidance before letting them head to the airport.
If your teens have a Spanish holiday planned this summer, you might want to take note of a warning from the Foreign Office website.
This is because Spanish law states that anyone under the age of 17 is considered a minor and must be accompanied by an adult when travelling.
The website clearly states that under-17s are not allowed to travel alone in Spain – which might pose a problem, particularly for those born later in the year but wishing to jet off for a summer holiday post-exams with pals.
According to the Foreign Office website: ‘Spanish law considers anyone aged 17 and under to be a minor. If an unaccompanied minor comes to the attention of the Spanish authorities (particularly in connection with criminal incidents or when in hospital), they will be considered vulnerable and may be taken to a minor’s centre until a parent or guardian is found.’
This travel alert may come as a shock to many Brits, with many setting off for fun and in the sun after the age of 16.
And this isn’t the only travel rule for Spain that families might want to be aware of this summer.
The European country adheres to Schengen zone standards — meaning your passport must fit a certain criteria. It can often be overlooked, especially as the UK is not in the Schengen space.
To be eligible to fly into a Schengen zone country, your passport must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date of arrival plus an expiry date of at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
There’s no room for misunderstandings, either, with the Foreign Office being clear on ensuring passports and documents are valid and meet the necessary requirements before you jet off.
It states: ‘You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.’
You can find more information on travel advice and entry requirements to visit Spain here — as well as any other country where you might be planning a trip.
It’s not the first time tourists have been advised of travel requirements. At the beginning of July, Brits were warned that they must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before flying across the world.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
MORE : 10 Brits busted in £127,000,000 cocaine smuggling sting across Atlantic
MORE : I can’t stand holidays – I’m baffled by people who love travelling
MORE : Millions face pay delays and summer holiday chaos after CrowdStrike IT disaster
Get need-to-know travel news, inspiration and advice from Metro every week.
Sign up here…
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.