Carta de Invitación: Requirements for Hosting Friends or Family in Spain

If you're hosting friends or family visiting Spain from a non-EU country, you may need to help them obtain a document called the Carta de Invitación. This letter officially confirms that your guest has accommodation arranged in Spain and is now critical for successful entry at border control. Enhanced checks in 2025 mean that missing or improperly registered paperwork can result in significant fines or denied entry.

What is a Carta de Invitación?

The Carta de Invitación is an official document issued by the Spanish National Police. It proves that a non-EU visitor will stay at your home rather than a hotel or rental, serving as formal proof of accommodation. In 2025, Spanish immigration officers are actively demanding this letter for guests using private addresses, with penalties for non-compliance now running into thousands of euros.

Handwritten or informal invitations are not accepted—only the authorized police-issued letter is valid. Hosts must also ensure the guest’s visit is registered digitally in the National Police system before arrival.

Who Needs a Carta de Invitación?

Any non-EU national visiting Spain for less than 90 days and staying in a private home (not in a hotel or registered rental) will require this letter on arrival if asked by border officials. This typically includes visitors from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and countries outside the Schengen Area.

Checks and document verification, previously sporadic, are now routine for all non-EU arrivals at Spanish airports and land borders.

Exceptions:

• Visitors with an EU passport or dual nationality
  
  
• Holders of Spanish residency cards (TIE) or valid Spanish visas
  
  
• Second-home owners (proof of property ownership required)

What Other Documents Are Needed for Entry?

Alongside the Carta de Invitación (where required), non-EU visitors must carry:

• Valid passport
  
  
• Proof of funds (updated for 2025: at least €118 per day)
  
  
• Return or onward travel ticket
  
  
• Health insurance covering the entire stay

How Much Does It Cost?

Fees vary regionally, but you should expect:

• Application fee: around €75
  
  
• Issuance fee: about €6.50
  
  
• Extra documents: approx. €1 each if requested

Applying for a Carta de Invitación

The host must apply in person at the local National Police station (Extranjería) and provide:

• Proof of their own identity (DNI, NIE, or TIE) and property documents
  
  
• Full details of the guest (passport details)
  
  
• Empadronamiento certificate
  
  
• Dates of the intended visit
  
  
• If applicable, evidence of the host-guest relationship

Expect at least a month for processing—apply early and send the original, signed letter to your guest by post, as digital copies may not be accepted.

What’s New for 2025?

• Routine, digitized police checks: All private stays must be registered; digital monitoring of incoming travellers is now the norm.
  
  
• Severe fines: Guests arriving without a valid and properly registered Carta de Invitación risk fines up to €9,000 and refused entry. Hosts can also face penalties for false or missing registrations.
  
  
• Formal reporting for hosts: If your guest stays with you rather than commercially, you must register their data with National Police prior to arrival. Hotels and rentals always register guests too—but now all “private” hosts must do the same.
  
  
• Checks at border and during stay: Immigration may ask for documentation not only at arrival, but at random during the guest’s time in Spain.

Where to Find the Official Information

Official, current guidance is available directly from:

• Spanish Ministry of Interior: Carta de Invitación
• National Police application page
• UK Foreign Office: Spain Entry Requirements

Thinking About Residency or Longer Stays?

If you or your guests wish to remain longer, secure compliant health insurance and always ensure paperwork is prepared in advance. The rules apply even for short single visits—random spot checks can and do happen.

Sources: Official Spanish Government and Police websites, latest immigration legal guides, and embassy travel updates (September 2025).

Background Image by Rob Wilson on Unsplash

Planning a longer stay or residency in Spain? A carta de invitación is just the first step. To meet visa or residency requirements, you’ll also need comprehensive private health insurance that is accepted by Spanish consulates and immigration offices. Explore our range of health insurance plans and get cover that fits your needs.