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Belmonte Castle near La Mancha, Spain

© 123rf.com / Matt Trommer

Spain: visa and passport requirements

Passport required Return ticket required Visa required
Australian Yes No 2
British Yes No No
Canadian Yes No 2
Other EU 1 No No
USA Yes No 2
Passports: 

To enter Spain, a passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay is required by nationals referred to in the chart above, except EU nationals (1) holding a valid National ID Card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Passports held by EU nationals need only be valid upon entry to and exit from Spain. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

Passport note: 

Spain is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas: 

Visas for Spain are not required by nationals of EU countries regardless of 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.

Visa note: 

Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Spain.

Types and cost: 

There are various types of visa available: tourist, business and transit visas. To check if you need these visas, refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website www.maec.es. Application is made directly at the Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country. The Schengen visa costs £52.20 plus embassy fees.

Validity: 

Entry visas are normally valid for three months. An extension of the visa is mandatory if you’re planning to stay more than three months. A transit visa is only valid until your departure flight from Spain.

Transit: 

A transit visa will only allow entrance into the International Lounge and not into Spain. You are not allowed to leave the airport.

Application to: 

All visa applications should be done at least 6 weeks prior to your trip in your home country’s Spanish embassy or consulate.

Schengen visas: 

Spain is part of the Schengen visa scheme. With the Schengen visa, you are allowed to travel between its 15 European member countries in a maximum period of 90 days. You are not allowed to live permanently or work in Europe using this visa.

Temporary residence: 

The temporary residence permit allows you to reside in Spain for more than 90 days but less than one year. To apply for it, you should visit the Oficina de Extranjeros within the first month of your stay in Spain. However for non-EU citizens, 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.

Working days: 

Visas are not issued on the day of application and may take up to four weeks depending on the nationality.

Sufficient funds: 

There is no requirement to prove you have sufficient funds to enter Spain, although authorities may ask for your payslips for the last three months (not mandatory).

Entry documents: 

To enter Spain, you’ll need a valid passport or National ID (only for EU citizens) and visa (for the nationalities required). You may be asked to show a valid return ticket to your home country or proof of funds.

Extension of stay: 

If you wish to stay longer than 90 days in Spain, you should obtain an extension from the Spanish immigration authorities. This can be applied at the Spanish National Police (Calle Moratin 43, Madrid 28014) at least three weeks before the entry period expires. This will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.

For those considering a stay in Spain longer than 90 days, prior to your departure you should check with your Spanish embassy or consulate at least one month before leaving your home country.

Entry with children: 

EU citizens under 16 can have their documentation included on their father, mother or guardian’s passports as long as they have the same nationality as the passport holder. They will of course need to be travelling with him or her. If the minor is travelling alone with his/her own ID, it must be accompanied by written permission from the parents.

Entry restrictions: 

For EU citizens, you’ll just need a valid National ID for entry into Spain. For nationalities that require an entry visa into Spain, you’ll not be allowed into the country unless you have a valid visa from your home country.

Entry with pets: 

Visitors are allowed to bring pets into Spain, granted that they carry the pet passport or International Vaccination Health Certification with them. The health certificate must be issued no more than 15 days prior to your arrival into Spain with the pet. If you’re travelling from the UK to Spain with your pet, you will need to check the regulations of the pet travel scheme (www.defra.gov.uk). 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.

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