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Destination · Europe · Schengen area

Spain visa requirements (2026)

Of 198 passports, 93 can travel to Spain without arranging a visa in advance. 0 can apply online for an e-Visa and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Who can visit Spain: passports by requirement

How to enter Spain: official routes

Checked November 2026

⚠️ The official ETIAS site says it is the only EU website that takes ETIAS applications directly and warns that intermediary sites collect your data and charge extra; ETIAS is not yet accepting applications, so any site selling one now is not official. Use only the official links below.

Official route

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

Fee
EUR 20 once the system starts (raised from the originally planned EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 pay nothing
Valid for
3 years, or until the passport used to apply expires if that is sooner; covers multiple trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Processing
Most decisions within minutes; some applications can take up to 30 days
Status
Not yet live. As of November 2026 the official ETIAS site says the system is not in operation and no applications are being taken; the EU says it will give the start date several months ahead. No start date was found on the official pages checked. Applies to visa-exempt travellers only.
Official site →
Official route

Schengen short-stay visa (type C), for nationalities that need a visa

Fee
EUR 90 for adults; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; free under 6. Some nationalities pay reduced rates under EU agreements (for example EUR 35; EUR 67.50 for Cabo Verde). External service-provider charges are extra.
Processing
Normally decided within 15 calendar days; can be extended to 45 days. Apply no earlier than 6 months and normally at least 15 days before travel.
Official site →

At the border

  • Passport (or travel document) must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
  • Visa-free and visa holders alike may stay no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together.
  • Entry/Exit System: on your first crossing since EES started, border officers record your passport data, a facial image and fingerprints; passports are no longer stamped since 10 April 2026.
  • Visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including emergency care and repatriation.
  • A return ticket is required, plus proof of purpose and lodging (hotel booking, organised tour, or a private host's 'carta de invitación', which only proves lodging).
  • Funds for 2026: EUR 122.10 per person per day, with a minimum of EUR 1,098.90 per person whatever the length of stay; cash, traveller's cheques or cards with statements are accepted.

Recent changes

  • October 2025: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began a phased rollout at external borders on 12 October 2025.
  • April 2026: EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced manual passport stamping for short-stay non-EU visitors.
  • July 2025: the European Commission set the future ETIAS fee at EUR 20 instead of EUR 7; ETIAS itself has not launched.
  • April 2026: Spain's border funds reference was updated to EUR 122.10 per day (minimum EUR 1,098.90), published in the EU Official Journal on 27 April 2026 and tied to the minimum wage.

Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation (exteriores.gob.es) - consular and visa services · Not yet confirmed officially: Spain's Interior Ministry page shows EUR 121.10 per day, conflicting with the EUR 122.10 in the 2026 Official Journal notice and consulate page (used the latter), Spanish official warning about look-alike visa sites, Exact url of a single national Schengen-visa page (procedures vary by consulate; consulate pages on exteriores.gob.es were used)

Do I need a visa for Spain?

Entry requirement Choose a passport and a destination.

Popular passports

PassportRequirementStay
United States Visa-free 90 d
United Kingdom Visa-free 90 d
India Visa required –
Philippines Visa required –
Nigeria Visa required –
Pakistan Visa required –
Canada Visa-free 90 d
Australia Visa-free 90 d
China Visa required –
Germany Visa-free –

Access by passport region

Passports that enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA.

RegionPassports
Europe 43/45
Asia 12/50
Africa 2/54
North America 18/23
South America 8/12
Oceania 10/14

Spain is in the Schengen area: visa-free visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. Calculate your remaining days.

Working remotely from Spain? The Spain digital nomad visa requires €2,442 per month.

Passports that can enter Spain visa-free

93 passports

Passports that need a visa for Spain

105 passports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Spain?

It depends on your passport. 93 passports can enter Spain visa-free, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 need an eTA, 0 can apply for an e-Visa online and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Which countries can enter Spain without a visa?

93 passports can enter Spain visa-free, including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados and others.

Is Spain part of the Schengen area?

Yes. Short stays in Spain count toward the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared across all Schengen countries.

Holding a Spain passport? See where the Spain passport can travel visa-free.

Data last updated February 2026. Rules can change at short notice and may differ by purpose of travel. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of Spain before you book.