Spain Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | Yes | No | No |
| Australian | Yes | No | No |
| Canadian | Yes | No | No |
| USA | Yes | No | No |
| Other EU | 1 | No | No |
Passports
A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals listed in the chart above except (1) EU nationals holding a passport or national ID card which is valid for the duration of stay.
If travelling from one border-free Schengen country to another however, EU nationals are not required to show a passport or national ID card. It is still recommended that you travel with your passport or ID card to prove your identity if necessary though. Note that Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK are not part of the Schengen area, so a passport or ID card is required if travelling to/from these countries.
EU nationals are not required to possess a return ticket or show sufficient funds.
Visas
Visas for Spain are not required by nationals of EU countries regardless of the purpose and/or length of stay; and not required by nationals of other countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
Spain is part of the Schengen system which allows visitors to travel to all participating countries without a visa. Please click here for information regarding the Schengen visa.
Apart from citizens listed in the chart above, citizens from the following countries can also visit Spain without a visa for up to 90 days within a six-month period: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vanuatu.
Citizens from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine who hold a biometric passport can also visit Spain without a visa. Otherwise a visa is required.
Visa Note
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Spain.
Types and Cost
Schengen visa: €60.
Validity
Schengen visa: 90 days within a six-month period.
Transit
A transit visa will only allow entrance into the international transit area and not into Spain. You are not allowed to leave the airport.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy). UK residents should apply to the Spain Visa Application Centre (https://uk.blsspainvisa.com), which charges an additional processing fee. All visa applicants aged 12 and over must submit biometric data at their visa appointment.
Schengen Visas
Spain is part of the Schengen visa scheme.
Temporary residence
If you're a non-EU citizen planning on staying longer than 90 days, you should apply for a visado de residencia (residence visa) from the Spanish Embassy in your home country before departure. This allows for the residency application process to begin.
EU citizens staying beyond 90 days must obtain a registration certificate at the Oficina de Extranjeros or local police station.
Working days
Allow at least five working days for visa processing. Some cases may take longer however.
Sufficient Funds
Schengen visa applicants must be able to provide proof of funds to cover their stay.
Extension of stay
Schengen visa holders wishing to stay longer than 90 days in Spain should obtain an extension from the Spanish immigration authorities. This will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.
Entry with pets
Visitors are allowed to bring pets into Spain, provided that they carry the pet passport or international vaccination health certification with them. If you’re travelling from the UK to Spain with your pet, you need to check the regulations of the pet travel scheme (www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/pet-passport). If you’re travelling from elsewhere, be sure to have a valid veterinary certificate, valid rabies vaccines and a microchip. Before flying to Spain, you should check with your airline regarding their pet travel regulations. Some carriers do not transport pets in the luggage compartment.
This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Spanish Embassy and Consulate in the USA
Telephone: +1 202 452 0100.
Website: http://www.spainemb.org
Address: , 2375 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, 20037,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Spanish Consulate in the UK
Telephone: +44 20 7589 8989.
Website: http://www.conspalon.org
Address: , 20 Draycott Pl, London, SW3 2SB,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0930-1400 (visa information by appointment only).
Spanish Embassy in the UK
Telephone: +44 20 7235 5555.
Website: http://spain.embassyhomepage.com
Address: , 39 Chesham Pl, London, SW1X 8HW,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0930-1400
British Embassy in Spain
Telephone: +34 917 146 300.
Website: http://www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk
Address: , Paseo de la Castellana, 259D, Madrid, 28046,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0830-1600 (phone line); Mon-Fri 0830-1330 (consulate).
