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Hi all my husband and I spent 90 days in Mojacar we left at the end of May. We loved it so much we would love to come back again in September for another 3 months . Could any one tell me if this would be permitted (not because of covid but for immigration reasons). Thank you
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:11pm
Helpful member
Lesleymeadows wrote on Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:07pm:
Hi all my husband and I spent 90 days in Mojacar we left at the end of May. We loved it so much we would love to come back again in September for another 3 months . Could any one tell me if this would be permitted (not because of covid but for immigration reasons). Thank you
Hi Lesley
Glad your route back to UK was successful !
As I understand the regulation you are able to be in Spain as a visitor for 90 days in any 180 day period. So you would need to be back in the UK for 90 days before returning. Given that you intend to return to Spain in September you should have no problem. Just make sure you have a minimum of 90 days in the UK and make sure that you do not stay in Spain longer than 90 days. I have first hand experience of how strict Spain can apply the rule if they so wish.
Hope this helps
regards,
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:58pm
Very helpful member
Good advice truenudist. I would just to add don’t forget to get travel insurance for medical costs, God forbid anything happens. Better to be safe than sorry.
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:49pm
Legendary helpful member
truenudist wrote on Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:11pm:
Hi Lesley
Glad your route back to UK was successful !
Read more...
As I understand the regulation you are able to be in Spain as a visitor for 90 days in any 180 day period. So you would need to be back in the UK for 90 days before returning. Given that you intend to return to Spain in September you should have no problem. Just make sure you have a minimum of 90 days in the UK and make sure that you do not stay in Spain longer than 90 days. I have first hand experience of how strict Spain can apply the rule if they so wish.
Hope this helps
regards,
Spot on - and would you be able to post an overview, drawing on your own experience, but without directly telling your story, of how strict Spanish authorities can be? What penalties may apply etc?
It may be invaluable information for any thinking that Spanish authorities don’t really care and won’t take any action ...
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:10pm
Helpful member
DarioMartin wrote on Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:49pm:
Spot on - and would you be able to post an overview, drawing on your own experience, but without directly telling your story, of how strict Spanish authorities can be? What penalties may apply etc?
It may be invaluable information for any thinking that Spanish authorities don’t really care and won’t take any action ......
Read more...
...
Its a bit of a long story. But very briefly we were detained at the airport. We got away with €100 fines ( each ) for overstaying the 90 days. We didnt overstay long ( a few days ) but I think we were lucky. I'm not certain but I believe the fine for not having a valid visa is €1000 and a mark on your passport. They were talking about sending us to the Oficina de Extranjero to get a visa extension ( at a price ! ) which would have made matters 10 times worse!
We learned a lesson.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:34pm
Legendary helpful member
truenudist wrote on Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:10pm:
Its a bit of a long story. But very briefly we were detained at the airport. We got away with €100 fines ( each ) for overstaying the 90 days. We didnt overstay long ( a few days ) but I think we were lucky. I'm not certain but I believe the fine for not having a valid visa is €1000 and a mar...
Read more...
...k on your passport. They were talking about sending us to the Oficina de Extranjero to get a visa extension ( at a price ! ) which would have made matters 10 times worse!
We learned a lesson.
Many thanks for that - definitely worth taking note of.
truenudist wrote on Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:10pm:
Its a bit of a long story. But very briefly we were detained at the airport. We got away with €100 fines ( each ) for overstaying the 90 days. We didnt overstay long ( a few days ) but I think we were lucky. I'm not certain but I believe the fine for not having a valid visa is €1000 and a mar...
Read more...
...k on your passport. They were talking about sending us to the Oficina de Extranjero to get a visa extension ( at a price ! ) which would have made matters 10 times worse!
We learned a lesson.
I was under the impression that the new restrictions took effect after the transition period ie from 1 Jan 2021 and whilst we are in the transition period the rules of travel remain unchanged
Everything I can find on GUV uk website seems to say this....i guess I must be reading this wrong!
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 1:52pm
Legendary helpful member
Brian1 wrote on Sun Jun 21, 2020 1:03pm:
I was under the impression that the new restrictions took effect after the transition period ie from 1 Jan 2021 and whilst we are in the transition period the rules of travel remain unchanged
Everything I can find on GUV uk website seems to say this....i guess I must be reading this wrong!
Rules have LONG been 90 days in any 180 day period in the Schengen area. Being a member of EU didn’t change that. There is often confusion, with people thinking that because UK is/was an EU member, they can spend 6 months here.
This is most definitely not the case. The rules for the entire Schengen area are that unless you have residency permission from a member country, then you are restricted to 90 days in any 180 day period inside the Schengen area. Residency permission will allow remaining longer than 90 days in the country in which you have that permission ONLY
DarioMartin wrote on Sun Jun 21, 2020 1:52pm:
Rules have LONG been 90 days in any 180 day period in the Schengen area. Being a member of EU didn’t change that. There is often confusion, with people thinking that because UK is/was an EU member, they can spend 6 months here.
This is most definitely not the case. The rules for the entire Schengen area are that unless you have residency permission from a member country, then you are restricted to 90 days in any 180 day period inside the Schengen area. Residency permission will allow remaining longer than 90 days ...
Read more...
...in the country in which you have that permission ONLY
I never knew that!
I suspect a lot of holiday home owners and motorhomers did not either. Certainly a lot of the motorhome community spend most of there time in the Schengen area and I have never heard of anyone being fined. I guess it is only now we have the scanning of passports that the periods of time can easily be recorded.
Looks like I will have to plan my travels more carefully in future!
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:06pm
Legendary helpful member
Brian1 wrote on Sun Jun 21, 2020 4:19pm:
I never knew that!
I suspect a lot of holiday home owners and motorhomers did not either. Certainly a lot of the motorhome community spend most of there time in the Schengen area and I have never heard of anyone being fined. I guess it is only now we have the scanning of passports that the periods of time can easil...
Read more...
...y be recorded.
Looks like I will have to plan my travels more carefully in future!
I think that this is something that will now come to haunt many unwary travelers. As Truenudist pointed out, he has first hand experience of the law being applied.
As electronic scanning of passports becomes more prevalent, so too will more people be caught out.
The introduction of ETIAS in 2021 would have been the final nail in the coffin of overstayers, but that has been put back a couple of years; still, I can’t help but feel that the exit of UK from the EU will bring about tighter passport checks
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