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Visa & entry requirements for lanzarote.

Do you know which documents you'll need to travel to Lanzarote ? Plan ahead and find out if you need your passport, visa, national ID or all of the above!

EU and Schengen countries

Citizens of the European Union and European Economic Area  won ' t need a visa  to enter Lanzarote, as Spain is part of the EU and Schengen Convention. A valid passport or national identity card is required .

EU member countries Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden.

EEA countries Iceland , Liechtenstein and Norway. 

If you're from the UK, please check the UK Government's Foreign Travel Advice website for up to date advice regarding travel, entry requirements and Brexit.

Other visa-free countries

For stays shorter than three months, nationals of the following countries need only a valid passport to travel to Lanzarote :

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong , Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Switzerland, Singapore , USA, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Other countries

Citizens of other countries should check their entry requirements online with the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

You may also be interested in

Learn what currency to buy, whether you need a visa, what time you can visit the shops and tourist attractions, what to pack for the weather, and answers to many other questions you may have about travelling to Lanzarote.

The island of Lanzarote enjoys excellent weather all year round. Mild temperatures, long hours of sunshine and rare rainfall have earned it the nickname "Island of Eternal Spring".

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Turismo Lanzarote

Practical Information

Below you will find useful information to enable you to avoid unpleasant surprises and to enjoy your stay in lanzarote to the maximum:, before coming, arriving on the island.

• Necessary documentation: to travel to the Canary Islands, the only documentation you need to carry with you is your National ID document or passport, if you are a citizen of a country in the European Union.
• Brexit: You may need to do extra things before you travel to the UE from the UK. Check UK’s travel advice for the latest information.
• Medical attention : it is advisable to take out travel insurance that includes medical attention. That way you will be free to attend your assigned doctor if the need arises.
• Luggage: with an annual average temperature of 22º and practically 300 days of sunshine, it is advisable to bring comfortable light clothing and a jumper or a jacket for nighttime, in addition to beach clothing and sun cream.
• When to visit: given that the prevailing climate throughout the year in Lanzarote is sunny and without rain, there is no specific tourist season. This means that you can enjoy a vacation at any time of the year. High season is focused on the summer period and other holiday times, such as Christmas and Easter.
• Hiring a car: to hire a car you will need a current driving licence. In the case of using your own vehicle, you will also need to have all your vehicle documentation in order, as well as car insurance.
• Time zone: Lanzarote, like the rest of the islands in the Canary archipelago, uses Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) throughout the year, except from April to October, when it changes to GMT+1. The Canary Islands are one hour behind the rest of the Iberian peninsula throughout the year.
• Currency: Euro
• Public holidays: Public holidays in the Autonomous Region of the Canaries: 1st January (New Year), 7th January (Epiphany), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, 1st May (Labour Day), 30th May (Day of the Canaries), 15th August (Ascension Day), 1st November (All Saint’s Day) and 6th December (Day of the Constitution), 8th December (Immaculate Conception) and 25th December (Christmas). Public holiday on the island: 15th September (Nuestra Señora de los Dolores) Local public holidays: Arrecife: Carnival Tuesday and 25th August (San Ginés) San Bartolomé: Carnival Tuesday and 24th June (San Juan) Haría: Carnival Tuesday and 24th June (San Juan) Yaiza: 7th July (San Marcial) and 8th September (Nuestra Sra. de los Remedios) Teguise: Carnival Tuesday and 16th July (Nuestra Sra. del Carmen) Tinajo: Carnival Tuesday y and 16th August (San Roque) Tías: 2nd February (Nuestra Sra. de Calendaría) and Carnival Tuesday
• Accessible tourism: Isla De Los Volcanes Home Help Service  www.sadiv.es
• Calling your home country: Depending on the country, you must dial the following codes before the telephone number:

Germany: +49           Austria: +43 Belgium: +32            Bulgaria: +359 Canada: +1                Denmark: +45 Slovenia: +386         USA: +1 Estonia: +372           Finland: +358 France: +33              Hungary: +36 Ireland: +353           Italy: +39 Latvia: +371              Lithuania: +370 Luxembourg: +352  Norway: +47 Netherlands: +31     Poland: +48 Portugal: +351          United Kingdom: +44 Czech Rep.: +420     Slovakia: +421 Sweden: +46             Switzerland: +41

• Airport: Airport tax: usually your ticket will include airport tax. César Manrique Lanzarote airport: located 6km from the capital, between Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen. It is in the municipality of San Bartolomé and is divided into 2 terminals: T1 is for flights to the peninsula (with daily flights from several airline companies, such as Air Europa, Iberia and EasyJet) and for flights to the rest of the world. T2 is for scheduled inter-island flights (Binter Canarias and Canaryfly).
• Travel agencies: In Lanzarote there is a whole network of receiving agencies through which you can access all the services you will need at your destination, such as transfers, excursions, etc…
• Opening hours The opening hours for leisure and commercial activities, banking and restaurants vary according to the numbers and needs of tourists. The exact information related to each offer can be found in the menu corresponding to the appropriate section of this web portal.
• What should I do if I have a problem in an establishment? If you have a problem with any establishment (restaurant, hotel ,etc.), request the corresponding complaints form to explain the reasons for your complaint and you can be sure this will reach the relevant bodies.
• Transport During your visit to the island you can use the Guaguas bus service, which connects the capital to the different towns, as well as the taxi service. There are also boats and ferries that connect Lanzarote with La Graciosa and with the other islands in the Canary archipelago.
• About traffic regulations The maximum speed limit on highways is 90 km/h and in urban areas it is 60 km/h, unless otherwise indicated. There are traffic regulations that control and penalise not wearing a seatbelt, driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of mobile phones without a hands-free system. If you are involved in a serious accident, call 112. If you are not injured, exchange the necessary details with the other drivers involved in the accident. Car hire agencies must have taken out insurance for the driver and the vehicle, and must also have a number for vehicle breakdown.
• Health Hospital:  you can consult all the information  here . Insurance: if you have private insurance, you must contact your insurance agency to request a transfer card. If you attend any of the public hospitals or clinics, remember that you will need to present your Social Security card. Sun protection: the hottest and sunniest months are July, August and September, with an average of 12 hours of sun per day and daytime temperatures of between 27º and 29º. During these months you should avoid sunbathing at midday and use a high protection sun cream. Medicines: do not forget to bring with you any medication that you need to take. Local pharmacies stock all the main brands of analgesics and other common medications. There are pharmacies in all tourist areas and there is always one on duty.
• Does the island have safe drinking water? Tap water comes from desalination plants and is perfectly drinkable. However, if you do not like the taste of the water, you will find a large variety of bottled water in any shop.

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KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN LANZAROTE

TURISMO LANZAROTE

• Lanzarote Convention Bureau
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DISCOVER LANZAROTE

• The Lanzarote Effect
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PLAN YOUR TRIP

• Tourist information offices
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WHAT TO SEE

• Events Calendar
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• The Hidden Corners of Lanzarote
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• La Graciosa Island

A walk through the 'Magic Villages' of Lanzarote Just like in Mexico, Lanzarote also boasts magical villages that tell the story of a mythical island where human beings live in a friendly coexistence with the elements: sea, wind, land, volcano... These are unique places that have preserved their original architecture, traditions, history and culture. Would [...]

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• Consular services

Conditions for entry into Spain

​Please read our FAQs  here​

Nationals of third States who travel to Spain for stays of up to 90 days (during any period of 180 days) for tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, study, non-work internships or volunteer activities with a duration not exceeding 3 months, or for other non-gainful activities, must meet the entry conditions established in the Schengen Borders Code.

Entry requirements​​ 

• Enter via an authorised border-crossing point.
• Present proof of identity and a valid travel document.
• Present the corresponding visa if required, according to nationality.
• Provide evidence of meeting the conditions for the proposed stay and of possessing sufficient financial resources.
• Not be subject to a ban on entering Spain.  

Documents to present at the border​​  

1. Valid passport or travel document : The document must be valid until three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen territory, and must have been issued during the ten years immediately before the date of entry. 

2. Visa : For certain nationalities, a valid visa is required. This visa will not be necessary if the interested party has a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by a Schengen State. 

3. Documents accrediting the purpose and conditions of the planned stay : At the request of the competent authorities, the reasons and conditions of the planned stay must be accredited by documentary proof or other means. To this end, the presentation, among others, of the following documents may be required: 

• Return or tourist circuit ticket, in all cases. 
• For professional trips, the invitation from a company or authority to participate in a meeting, or documents that prove the existence of a relationship associated with professional activity, or access cards to a trade fair or congress. 
• For tourist or private visits, the confirmed reservation of an organized trip, or proof of accommodation, or letter of invitation from a private individual (such a letter only proves the availability of accommodation and does not release the traveller from the obligation to meet the other requirements for entry). The proof of accommodation may indicate whether it includes all or part of the traveller's living expenses. 
• For study trips, training programmes, non-work internships or volunteer work with a duration of less than three months, enrolment documentation or proof of admission to an educational establishment or internship contract or proof of admission to a volunteer programme.  
• For travel for other reasons, an invitation, reservation, programme or certificate of participation in related activities, entrance card/ticket, or receipt. 

Accreditation of financial means​​​  

At the request of the competent authorities, the traveller must present proof of having sufficient financial means for the proposed stay or of the ability to legally obtain such means. 

In 2020, the minimum amount required is 90 euros per person per day. In any case, and regardless of the length of stay, the traveller must have at least 810 euros or its equivalent in foreign currency. 

Economic means may be accredited by presenting cash, traveller's cheques, a credit card accompanied by a bank account statement, an up-to-date bank book, or any other resource that accredits the amount available, such as a credit statement regarding the card or bank account. Bank letters or online bank statements will not be accepted.

Entry authorization​​​  

Authorization to enter Spain may be granted to nationals of third States who have the necessary documentation, including, where appropriate, a visa, and sufficient financial means, and who are not subject to an entry ban and do not pose a danger to public order, the internal or external security of the State, or public health.

Denial of entry​ 

The competent authorities will deny entry to nationals of third States who do not meet the entry requirements or who are subject to an entry ban. Entry may also be denied if, in the previous 180 days, the traveller has exhausted the 90-day period for authorized stay in the Schengen area. 

The denial of entry will be notified by means of a reasoned decision, together with information on the procedure for appealing against this decision, in accordance with Spanish regulations. However, filing an appeal does not suspend the effects of the denial of entry.

Citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, and their family members​​ 

Citizens of the Member States of the European Union, and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, may enter Spain with their national identity card or with a valid passport. Minors who travel with an identity document and are not accompanied by a parent will need the authorization of one of their parents. 

Family members who are not nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland may enter with a valid passport. Depending on their nationality, they may need an entry visa, unless they have a valid residence card as the relative of a European Union citizen.

Relevant legislation 

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Canary Islands holidays: What are the latest travel rules and do you need a Covid test?

The canary islands have been struck off the uk’s travel corridors list, article bookmarked.

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The UK government has removed the Canary Islands from its “safe” list, starting 4am on Saturday 12 December.

It means travellers from the UK can’t venture to the Spanish holiday isles off the coast of west Africa without having to self-isolate on their return. 

Still, with eight main islands to choose from – Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa – and balmy weather well into winter, you may have booked a getaway despite the rule change.

But what are the rules for entry now there’s a new tier 4 and a new mutation of coronavirus? And do you need to take a Covid test before you go?

Here’s what you need to know.

Am I allowed to travel to the Canary Islands from the UK?

Whether you’re allowed to travel to the Canary Islands will depend on where you live. But whether you’ll be allowed in or not will depend on your nationality or residency status

From England, international travel is permitted in tiers 1, 2 and 3. Although the government has advised everyone to consider whether they need to travel right now. 

Those living in tier 4 have been banned from international travel unless for an essential reason such as work.

However, the rules are different from the devolved nations

Wales has banned international leisure travel until January 2021, with the ban being kept under review. It is still permissible to travel for essential reasons such as education or work.

Northern Ireland does not forbid international travel. The government advice says : “Everyone is asked to be mindful of the risks of spreading the virus by travel and should use their judgement when deciding whether or not to undertake a journey based on the individual circumstances."

In Scotland, the rules depend on where you live and what your local Covid-19 rates are like. For those living in tiers 0 to 2, there is no advisory against international travel , but those living in tiers 3 and 4 are told not to travel outside of the area except for essential purposes such as work or caring responsibilities.

“Going on holiday, including abroad, is not a reasonable excuse to leave a level 3 or 4 area,” reads the guidance 

How can you get there

• Where to find cheap Covid-19 PCR tests for travel
• Everywhere UK holidaymakers can travel to when lockdown is over
• New travel rules for different tiers explained

There are currently direct flights from the UK to Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote with British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. 

Tui and Jet2 are also offering flight-inclusive package holidays. As the Foreign Office hasn’t updated its travel advice for the Canary Islands, the two operators are still running trips as normal. However, some customers who do not wish to travel due to the need to quarantine on return may be able to move their holiday to another time.

La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro can be reached via connecting flights or boats from other islands, but La Graciosa is only accessible by boat from Lanzarote.

Will they let me in when I arrive?

This depends on your nationality and your residency status. 

In response to the new variant of coronavirus, Spain has banned almost all arrivals from the UK. The only exceptions are Spanish citizens and those with residency status in Spain.

Those who only hold UK passports, for example, would not be allowed to enter any Spanish regions if they’re not normally resident in Spain, even if they’re intending to travel for work.

If you are allowed to enter, you will need to fill in the Spanish government’s health form within 48 hours of travel. This will include your contact details as well as your history of exposure to Covid-19. Once you’ve completed the form, you will be sent a QR code, which you will need to show on arrival.

Once you get to Spain, you will also be temperature checked and undergo a visual health assessment. Those presenting with coronavirus symptoms will have to see a health professional.

You will also need to download the RadarCOVID app for use on the islands.

Will I have to take a Covid-19 PCR test?

No, other tests are now also acceptible.

Since 23 November, the Spanish government has required all passengers (including children) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from “risk” countries, such as the UK, to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test. This must be taken within 72 hours of arrival.

However, the Canary Islands announced that antigen tests are also permitted, contrary to the advice from the Spanish government.

Now the Canary Islands advises : "You need to have diagnostic test for active SARS-COV-2 infection with a negative result. The tests that are allowed are PCR (RT-PCR for COVID-19), and antigen tests that detect SARS-COV-2 antigens with an accuracy of 97 per cent and a sensitivity of over 80 per cent as defined in their supporting documentation.

“The test must come with a printed or digital certificate that contains the following information:  name, surnames and ID number of the person tested, name of the health organisation or authority that does the test, contact details of the medical centre, brand and health authorisation of the test, date and time of the test, and the test result. In the case of antigen tests, the certificate must include the accuracy and sensitivity of the test. It is preferable if the test certificate is in English or Spanish.”

It would allow British holidaymakers heading for Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and the other islands to take a test on the way to the airport rather than visit a test clinic two or three days before departure.

Mainland Spain has also since updated its requirements. The Foreign Office said: “From 10 December, a TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification) swab test or a LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) test are also accepted by Spanish authorities, again taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.” 

Meanwhile, the Canary Islands have issued a list of approved testing centres in the UK .

Will I have to quarantine when I arrive?

No, Spain does not require travellers arriving from the UK to quarantine. If you’re travelling from elsewhere, double check with the local embassy.

Will I have to quarantine when I come home?

Yes - as of 4am on Saturday 12 December, all arrivals from the Canaries into the UK will need to quarantine for up to 10 days .

From 15 December,  travellers who live in England may opt to leave self-isolation early by paying for a Lamp test five days after they leave a country that’s not on the travel corridors list. If it is negative, they can stop self-isolating. So if you leave Tenerife on Saturday 12 December, you can take a test from 17 December onwards.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not signed up for this. 

Can I travel between the islands?

Although some areas of Spain are currently subject to additional entry and exit restrictions, the Canary Islands are not affected at present, which means you can travel between the islands without any issues.

Are hotels open?

Yes, but you should double check. While hotels have been permitted to open since mid-May, some will have closed after a quieter summer season.

However, as the Canary Islands are very much an all-year destination, many will still be open through the winter months.

Are restaurants, shops and attractions open?

Like hotels, many restaurants, shops and attractions will still be open, but not all.

There are additional restrictions in place , however.

In restaurants, the tables will be more spread out, and there’s a limit of six people for all social gatherings. No customers will be admitted after 11pm, with all establishments closed by 12am.

Only bars with an outdoor space are open, with a 75 per cent capacity limit in place, and drinks are table-service only – so you can’t congregate around the bar, for example. And as dance floors remain closed, there are no nightclubs. As with restaurants, customers won’t be allowed in after 11pm and the premises must close by 12am.

If you’re hoping to visit an attraction, you will need to pre-book as there are now additional limits on capacity in place. Many will also have introduced one-way systems to allow social distancing and manage crowds.

As for cultural spaces such as cinemas and theatres, you may find that you’ll be assigned a seat rather than getting to choose.

What rules are in place?

Spain has made the wearing of face coverings mandatory for anyone over the age of six on public transport and in many indoor and outdoor public spaces. The only exceptions are for those who are disabled or have a respiratory condition, or when you’re eating and drinking or exercising.

You must wear masks when entering beaches, swimming pools or outdoor areas, and when you’re moving around. However, you can take off your mask when you’re swimming, or when you’re sitting or lying in one spot with at least 1.5 metres between you and people outside of your group. All of these areas will also have additional capacity restrictions in place.

What if you get sick?

If you experience any coronavirus symptoms, you should self-isolate at your accommodation and call 900 112 061 for instructions. They will put you in touch with the most appropriate medical centre.

In order to boost tourism, the Canary Islands are also offering free medical insurance for tourists, which covers medical expenses, medical repatriation and your stay if you need to quarantine on the islands for 15 days.

The policy is offered to all tourists visiting the Canary Islands who test positive for coronavirus during their stay at “any regulated establishment”, as well as their accompanying relatives, even when the latter have not tested positive for Covid-19.

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Travelling To Lanzarote From United Kingdom

The UK government has just announced their travel “traffic light” system and here’s an explanation of what that means for readers who want to travel to Lanzarote. This takes effect from 17th May. It currently applies to England only, but the other UK countries are expected to follow suit.

Note that currently, UK citizens cannot travel to Spain until 31st May, but there is a possibility that will change over the coming two weeks.

Disappointingly, UK has not considered Spain and the islands separately, so The Canaries are lumped in as part of Spain, despite the fact that our Covid levels are lower than the mainland of Spain.

Currently Lanzarote Is Amber.

This means:

• You’ll need to complete a passenger locator form 48 hours before returning home
• You’ll need a Covid test within 3 days before travelling home (done here)
• You’ll need a PCR test on days 2 and 8 after travelling home
• You’ll have to self isolate for 10 days after you get home, or test to release on day 5

We’ll keep this page updated as things change. There will be UK government reviews every three weeks. 

More reading:

Lanzarote In Numbers

2023 – A Record Year For Tourism

Fred Olsen Express’ 50th Anniversary

Charity Corner – Great Walk For Parkinson’s

• Lanzarote Carnival 2020
• Biosfera Plaza
• MSRun Lanzarote 2018
• Lanzarote Airport hits record
• More overnight stays in Puerto del Carmen
• More Tourists in 2015
• Camp Site in Playa Blanca
• Visitors to Lanzarote hit record
• Architecture

Lanzarote Map

• Economy & Industries
• Environment
• Tourist Offices
• When to go to Lanzarote
• Lanzarote Airport (ACE)
• Port los Mármoles
• Airport Transfers
• Buses (Guaguas)
• Driving in Lanzarote
• Opening Hours
• Electricity
• Time & Water
• Dangers & Nuisances
• Emergency Numbers
• Communications
• Speaking Spanish
• Gay & Lesbian Travellers
• Disabled Facilities
• Weather Forecast
• Average Temperatures
• Satellite Image
• Castillo de San Gabriel
• Castillo de San José
• Charco de San Ginés
• Iglesia de San Ginés
• Playa Blanca & Surroundings
• Puerto del Carmen
• Puerto Rubicón
• Puerto Calero
• Salinas de Janubio
• Los Hervideros
• El Golfo & Lago Verde
• Parque Timanfaya & Fire Mountains
• Mancha Blanca & Timanfaya Visitors’ Centre
• Valley of la Geria
• Arrieta & Surroundings
• Costa Teguise
• Guatiza & Jardín de Cactus
• Jameos del Agua
• Cueva de los Verdes
• Graciosa & Chinijo Archipelago
• Mirador del Río
• La Caleta de Famara
• Masdache & El Grifo
• Mozaga & Campesino
• Tiagua & Museo El Patio
• Teguise & Castillo de Santa Barbara
• Tahíche & César Manrique
• San Bartolomé
• Playa Blanca
• Punta del Papagayo
• Playa Quemada
• Arrecife & Surroundings
• Playa Charco del Palo
• Playa de la Cantería
• Playas de la Graciosa
• Playas de Famara
• Playas de La Santa
• Playa de Las Coloradas
• Walking & Hiking
• Camel Safaris
• Horse Riding
• Guinate Tropical Park
• Pardelas Park
• Water Sports
• Traditional Spectator Sports
• César Manrique
• Lanzarote Events
• Public Holidays
• Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
• Beach Bar Costa Teguise
• Puerto del Carmen Beach
• Lanzarote Cruise Port
• Lanzarote Airport Strip
• Arrecife Bay Live
• Arrecife Playa Reducto Beach
• Travel Info /
• How to get to Lanzarote

How to get to

Getting into lanzarote.

So you are all ready to enjoy a wonderful holiday in the Canary Islands, the bags are packed, the sun cream is ready… what else do you need to know before you travel?

Important information to remember is knowing exactly which documents to bring along. Lanzarote is part of the Canarian archipelago, which belongs to Spain, which means that all travellers must have a valid passport or in some cases visitors need a visa. This kind of travel permit is necessary for some people depending on where they come from, how long they expect to stay in the Canaries and why they are travelling here (work, studies, leisure). The best idea is to check with the Spanish embassy or consulate for details of the type of travel documents needed.

Cheap charter flights run to Lanzarote from many European countries, both from their main airports and small regional airports. It is also possible to fly to Madrid and pick up an internal flight to Lanzarote. Most people arrive in Lanzarote at Arrecife (ACE) Airport , which is located between Arrecife  (the capital of the island) and Puerto del Carmen  further south.

There is a ferry from the Spanish harbour of Cádiz to Lanzarote, although the traverse is quite long and can get rough at times, so unless you really like sea voyages (or you have a car to transport) you are probably better off travelling by air.

Vaccinations

The good news is that travelling to Lanzarote does not require visitors to get any special vaccinations. If you are in any doubt or are travelling from a country with a specific outbreak of a particular infection, please contact your Spanish Embassy for further advice.

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Ireland Threatens to Return Asylum Seekers to U.K., Sparking Diplomatic Squabble

The Irish government said it was drafting emergency legislation to return asylum seekers to Britain, after seeing a surge of people leaving there for sanctuary in Ireland.

By Mark Landler

Reporting from London

Britain’s newly ratified plan to put asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda has drawn objections from human rights groups, British and European courts, the House of Lords and even some members of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.

To that list, add another aggrieved party: Ireland.

The Irish government said last week that asylum seekers in Britain who fear being deported to Rwanda are instead traveling to Ireland . It is drafting emergency legislation to send them back to Britain, triggering a clash with its neighbor, which said it would refuse to accept them.

Irish officials estimate that 80 percent of recent applicants for asylum crossed into the country via Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and with which the Republic of Ireland has an open border. That suggests that Britain’s vow to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is already having something of a deterrent effect, which was Mr. Sunak’s sales pitch for the policy.

But it comes at the expense of Ireland, which is already struggling to absorb an influx of refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere, and has seen violent clashes over immigration erupt in small towns and major cities. On Sunday, Ireland’s prime minister, Simon Harris, said, “This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody else’s migration challenges.”

“Other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration,” said Mr. Harris, who became prime minister earlier this month. “From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are in force, where rules are seen to be enforced.”

British officials, however, countered on Monday that they would not accept any asylum seekers from Ireland, a European Union member, unless they had a broader agreement with the E.U. to return them to France, another E.U. member, from where many refugees set off for Britain in small boats across the English Channel.

“Of course we’re not going to do that,” Mr. Sunak said to ITV News about accepting returnees from Ireland. “I’m determined to get our Rwanda scheme up and running because I want a deterrent.” He added, “I make absolutely no apology for doing everything I can to tackle illegal migration.”

The Rwanda policy has unexpectedly put the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic back in the spotlight, echoing the tensions between Britain and Ireland after Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. The Republic of Ireland fought to keep an open land border with Northern Ireland, which necessitated complex negotiations between London and Brussels over trade arrangements in the North.

After years of friction, Mr. Sunak last year struck a deal with the European Union, known as the Windsor Framework, which finally seemed to defuse the issue. But Britain’s abrupt cancellation on Sunday of a meeting between its home secretary, James Cleverly, and Ireland’s minister for justice, Helen McEntee, added to the sense of a fresh diplomatic crisis. A meeting of lower-level British and Irish officials produced only a vague agreement to “monitor this issue closely.”

“It’s something that needs to be solved, and I don’t see any easy solution,” said Bobby McDonagh, a former Irish ambassador to Britain. “It clearly isn’t workable if a very large number of refugees are going through the U.K. and coming down here through Northern Ireland.”

The problem is, political pressures on both sides militate against resolving the issue. For Mr. Sunak, who lobbied for months against legal challenges to pass the Rwanda plan, the diversion of asylum seekers to Ireland is proof that his policy is working. Far from taking back these people, he has vowed to round up thousands of those still in Britain and put them on planes to Rwanda.

Mr. Harris, analysts in Dublin said, is under pressure to act firmly because the swelling numbers of asylum seekers, combined with Ireland’s acute housing shortage, are causing social unrest. Last week, protesters in County Wicklow clashed with the police over proposed accommodations for refugees. A riot rooted in anti-immigrant hatred convulsed parts of Dublin last fall.

“The protests have become increasingly ugly and violent, orchestrated by groups that see Ireland as fertile ground,” said Diarmaid Ferriter, a professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin. “The politicians are under pressure to be seen as doing more, and they’re trying to reduce the ground for anti-immigration forces.”

The tensions are even altering Ireland’s political landscape. For example, the poll ratings of the main opposition party, Sinn Fein, have fallen in recent months because of criticism that it is not hard-line enough on immigration.

Sinn Fein’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald, criticized the Irish government for failing to level with residents about how immigration would affect their towns and cities.

“You need rules and regulations,” Ms. McDonald said at a recent briefing for journalists in London. “Particularly in more deprived areas, where services are poor, they feel the struggle all the more when they consider the people coming in.”

Mr. Sunak predicted that Britain’s use of Rwanda to process asylum applications would be copied by other countries. But critics say that would pose a thorny challenge to the global legal system for protecting refugees. If more countries outsource the processing of asylum seekers, they may simply end up displacing the flow of refugees to their nearest neighbors, as Britain has.

Mr. Harris, moreover, faces some of the same legal obstacles that dogged Mr. Sunak in his quest to enact the Rwanda policy. Ireland’s high court has ruled that the government cannot designate Britain as a “safe third country” and return asylum seekers there, because of the risk that Britain would send them to Rwanda.

Britain’s Supreme Court struck down an earlier version of the Rwanda legislation because it determined that Rwanda was not a safe country. Mr. Sunak then signed a treaty with the Rwandan government and revised the legislation, essentially overruling the court. Parliament passed that law last week.

Immigration experts in Ireland have expressed doubts about the government’s claim that 80 percent of recent asylum applicants crossed the border from Northern Ireland. Some, they said, could have arrived at airports or seaports in the Irish Republic and not immediately applied for asylum status.

Still, said Nick Henderson, the chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, “If people are moving to Ireland from the U.K. in numbers, it should be viewed in the context that the U.K. is not a safe country for people seeking protection.”

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief of The Times, covering the United Kingdom, as well as American foreign policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has been a journalist for more than three decades. More about Mark Landler

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Thousands of people in Canary Islands take to streets calling for limit to tourist numbers

The seven main Canary Islands are home to a total of 2.2 million people - yet welcomed nearly 14 million international tourists in 2023 alone.

Saturday 20 April 2024 22:41, UK

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Thousands of people have taken to the streets on the Canary Islands to protest against tourism and say the region is "not for sale".

The residents are calling for the Spanish group of islands to temporarily limit tourist arrivals in a bid to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction - which is driving up housing costs for locals.

Tourism accounts for 35% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the Canary Islands , but demonstrators say changes to the industry must be made.

Groups protested in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma on Saturday.

Signs reading "We don't want to see our island die", "Stop Hotels" and "Canaries not for sale" were seen as thousands of people took to the streets.

"It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn't benefit this land and needs to be changed," said one protester in Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Marches were also held in cities on mainland Spain.

They were organised by two environmental organisations and timed to fall just before the peak summer holiday season.

The groups are calling for local authorities to temporarily limit visitor numbers in order to alleviate pressure on the islands' environment, infrastructure and housing situation. They also hope the proposal will curb property purchases by foreigners.

Antonio Bullon, a protester in Tenerife, said: "The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious.

"The Canary Islands have limits and people's patience too."

Read more from Sky News: From Venice to Barcelona, cities are plagued by 'overtourism' Ex-model almost died trying to cure cancer with juice diet

The seven main Canary Islands are home to 2.2 million people and in 2023, nearly 14 million international tourists visited them - up 13% from the previous year.

Authorities are concerned about the impact high volumes of tourists are having on the locals, and a draft law toughening up the rules on short-term lets is expected to be passed this year.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

The islands' president said on Friday that he felt "proud" the region is a leading Spanish tourism spot, but acknowledged more controls are needed.

"We can't keep looking away. Otherwise, hotels will continue to open without any control," Fernando Clavijo told a news conference.

Related Topics

• Canary Islands