Spain – Travel Advisory
Entry Requirements
This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people traveling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Spain set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Spain’s embassy or consulate in the UK.
If you are planning to travel to Spain through France, check the latest FCDO travel advice for France before you start your journey.
If you are planning to travel to Spain through Gibraltar, check the latest FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar before you start your journey.
COVID-19 rules
There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travelers entering Spain.
Passport validity requirements
Suppose you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland) or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or Vatican City. In that case, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.
Your passport must be:
issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Contact Spain’s embassy or consulates in the UK if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
Visa requirements
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
If traveling to Spain and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.
To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel, or other reasons, you need to meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements. Check with Spain’s embassy or consulates in the UK before you travel about what type of visa or work permit you may need.
If traveling to Spain for work, read the guidance on visas and permits.
If you cannot return to the UK before the expiry of your visa, permit, or visa-free limit, contact the Spanish government’s national information service (In Spanish, English-speaking operators are available). You can dial 060 from a Spanish phone.
Suppose you are visiting Spain and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency. In that case, you must apply to the immigration authorities (‘Extranjería’)(in Spanish).
If you stay in Spain with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
