Brits could be hit with £5,900 fine when landing in Spain if they don't have this document
Holidaymakers travelling to Spain could be fined thousands of pounds if they fail to provide a document that is often overlooked. New Spanish airport rules mean tourists are legally required to show proof of health cover as part of their travel insurance.
Spanish authorities can deny entry at the border if tourists cannot provide proof of sufficient health insurance, and travellers already in Spain without proof may face fines of up to £5,900. Spain's Health Minister recently announced the change in rules and said travellers may be asked to show proof of cover.
The country's Health Minister Carolina Darias said: "The health of our visitors is a priority. We are committed to ensuring that all travellers, including British citizens, have the necessary coverage to protect themselves and the local health system."
The new rules put in place hope to ease the strain currently being put on the country's health system.
According to Travel and Tour World, UK tourists' insurance should cover emergency medical care, hospitalisation, repatriation, and not have excessive deductibles or exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions.
ABTA reported in May 2025 that a quarter of people who went on a holiday abroad in the past 12 months did so without travel insurance.
"Those most likely to forgo insurance are travellers aged 25-34, with two in five (41 per cent) admitting that they went on at least one trip uninsured in the past year," it said.
Martin Lewis shared his top advice for holidaymakers, insisting on the importance of snapping up travel insurance 'ASAB.'
The 52-year-old stressed that securing your travel insurance early on guarantees you're covered for delays or cancellations, and stressed that getting onto it quickly can be really beneficial.
Appearing on This Morning, he said: "My travel insurance rule is get it ASAB (as soon as you book).
"People do get a little confused about this, so let's break it down."
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He further explained: "If you're getting a single trip policy, so that is a policy to cover just one holiday, then what you do is as soon as you book, you go on one of the travel insurer's website, you tell it your holiday dates and you buy the policy then."
According to Mr Lewis, if your holiday is in August and you've booked in January, you should sort your insurance in January, too.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance.
"Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency."
They further advise: "If you travel internationally you should buy appropriate travel insurance before you go, covering you for existing physical or mental health conditions (including those currently under investigation) and any activities you will be doing whilst you are away."
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