Yesterday afternoon, 28th November 2025, two British friends, Simon and Analie , arrived at Barajas Airport , and their experience illustrates how entry controls currently work for UK and third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area. This was the actual process they had to follow:
1) Digital form prior to the control
They had to complete an electronic form where they were asked:
- Expected duration of stay,
- Reason for trip (business, tourism)
- Can you prove where you’re going to be? (They both came to our house. Simon said yes because he had a copy of an email. Analie said no and had to show her passport to the police again and wait longer .) Bring a copy of your hotel reservation or an email from the owner of the house where you’re staying.
- Available financial resources (€1,020).
It is advisable to travel with access to an account with more than €1,000 and be able to provide proof of funds upon request (printed screenshot or online access). Although there is no single official amount, the police may request proof of sufficient funds depending on the duration of your trip and the country of entry.
2) Biometric control:
They went through a facial recognition machine , which compares the biometric data in the passport with the image taken at that moment. The current machine you are familiar with.
3) Final Police Check
Finally, an officer checked the passport , the consistency of the information and, if necessary, the supporting documentation.
This triple screening process is already the current standard at Barajas Airport for non-EU travelers. It will form the basis for the integration of the new European Entry and Exit System (EES), which will make these controls even more uniform.
If you are coming to Spain at Bennet & Rey Lawyers, we can help you.
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