New Spanish airport security

[Ian]

If you are flying to Spain from June 13, 2007 you now need to provide extra information, as the Spanish government moves to introduce tighter entry procedures.

The new regulations will be introduced on June 13. All visitors entering Spain will have to submit Advance Passenger Information (API), which includes full names, nationality, travel document details (passport number) of every passenger, including children. The system is similar to that introduced for travellers to the US in 2004.

The new rule, issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, will apply only to countries that are not signed up to the Schengen treaty, an agreement which allows free travel, without presentation of a passport, between the 15 European countries that are members. The UK is not a member of this scheme.