Travel documentation from US - Financial Means?

I was in Spain for six weeks in 2022, and plan to return for two weeks in June. I've not heard of anything that will be needed beyond the passport.

What I'm reading here on Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements.
Trave.State.Gov on Traveling to Spain

Shown an alert from who?

British Airways

TravelGirlie16, the entry and exit requirements listed in the link you provided are generally applicable to Schengen zone entry, not specific to Spain. Don't worry about it. We've traveled to Schengen Zone numerous times recently. If you have round-trip tickets, you'll be fine.

We flew to Spain from London on January 17 and only requirement at immigration was to show our US passport.
No questions were asked.

It’s been in the news here that Spain have brought in a rule showing you must have sufficient funds for your trip of €114 per day or €1000 in total for longer stays. This could be a credit card or bank statement etc. In reality, I don’t think it’s ever checked so I would not worry about it.

This has been the case for a few years now so if it was a routine check somebody would have experienced it by now

It depends on where you are coming from. If you’re traveling within the Schengen Area, there are no passport checks or stamps—it’s just like moving between states in the U.S. However, since you’re transiting through London, which is outside the Schengen Zone, you’ll go through passport control when you arrive in Spain.

Since Brexit, UK layovers mean you’ll now face passport checks when entering Spain. From my experience, the questions are usually simple—where you’re staying, how long you’ll be in Spain, and your purpose of travel.

Regarding financial proof, it’s more of a formality. Simply stating that you’re covering your expenses with a credit card is generally enough. I’ve never seen anyone asked for an actual bank statement at passport control. They just want to be sure you have the means to support your stay.

So no need to stress! Have your passport ready, a general idea of your travel plans, and you should be fine. Hope you have a great trip!

Thank you all! I feel better about this. Not going to worry about it (much). I will follow up in this thread in the off chance something happens but as mentioned and asked above, I have a round trip ticket, and accommodations are paid for.

Thank you!

I read similar things before my trip last month, but none of that occurred. Have a wonderful time in Spain!

the UK was never in Schengen, only the EU.

Britain has always had passport checks when entering the EU (and Spain is part of that). Cursory but nominally there.

Bottom line is that these rules are aimed at a different travel cohort from US and UK residents. I would expect African American or Arab American travelers might be more likely to be queried by immigration personnel than those of European or east Asian ancestry. Unfortunate reality.

While I could be asked, in all my trips to Spain, I’ve never been asked.

There is a reality TV show called Border Security with different versions using Canadian, American and Australian border agents and it would feature unique situations of people being checked at the airport or land borders. It would appear that this kind of requirement is common among all countries as a way to check if your a desirable person to enter the country or not. On the few times it happened on the show it was usually with suspicion that they were entering the country to try and stay. If it ever happens I would think that showing an account balance via a banking app on your phone would be enough.

It’s a safe bet that simply presenting a U.S. or Canadian Passport is going to be sufficient and get you past the post with all the financial requirements of entering Spain. Immigration officials simply don’t have the time to inspect bank statements of every traveler entering Spain, much less perform a medical exam!

We always carry about $200 in small denominations and about $500 worth of Euros also in small bills, split between the two of us. We each carry the airline credit card and at least one other card that is not the same kind (VISA, MasterCard, AmEx) as the airline card. No one at any European airport has ever asked me about money. At US customs they sometimes ask if I have over $10,000 cash.

It would appear that this kind of requirement is common among all countries as a way to check if your a desirable person to enter the country or not.

Yes, it is, specifically there is a standard set of requirements as part of the agreement for the Visa Waiver program, that travelers must comply with. Many of the same requirements are mandatory if you were to seek a formal visa.

As others stated, in addition to evidence of financial means, evidence of a place to stay, proof of onward travel, proof of medical insurance, are the most common. I think maybe the OP was confusing "Medical coverage" with "Medical exam" likely, but border control does have the authority to perform medical checks if you show symptoms of a communicable disease, and can even detain you if needed for test results or if positive (remember the Covid days?)

There were specific stories run in the UK, saying Spain was targeting ex-pats and package tourists from the UK, making them physically show sufficient currency, but those later proved to be false or misinterpreted, but the Spanish would be within their rights to do so, (as would the UK in reverse)

Do you need to have proof, or worry? Very likely not, or at least for the typical Rick Steves traveler. Show up at the border (any border, not just Spain) on a one way ticket, be a person of color or from a "less desirable" country, be in your 20's, then expect questions, lots of them. It is worth perusing the requirements and having a basic answer ready if asked, but other than "where are you staying?", "How long will you be here?", and "purpose of travel?", I have not experienced any other questions.

Only once have been asked more than how long are you staying and purpose of travel.

That one time I was flying between Schengen countries...Greece to Sweden. Upon arrival in Sweden, everyone had to go through intense questioning. Mine lasted about 10 minutes. My plan was to spend four days in Stockholm then fly to Finland. I had to show my flight ticket to Helsinki, as well as my flight out of the Schengen area. She also quizzed me on what I planned to do while in Sweden.

I wasn't sure how I was going to get back to the UK after Helsinki but it's a good thing I made up my mind and bought my air tickets a couple of days earlier.

I still wonder what she would have done if she didn't want me to enter Sweden. I'd already been admitted to Schengen so I don't think she could kick me out. I think the worse she could do is send me back to Greece.