Guidelines of Visa for Spain

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements:

All travelers require a passport, with the exception of:

1. With the exception of Denmark, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Romania, and the United Kingdom, citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, and the member states of the European Economic Region carry national identification cards.

2. Travellers with travel documents given to permanent residents of Kosovo by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

3. Travelers with the travel papers below:

– According to the 1954 New York Convention, ‘Titre de Voyage’ was given to people without nationality or citizenship;

– ‘Titre de Voyage’’issued under the Geneva Convention of 1951 or the London Convention of 1946 to refugees;

– Travel documents issued by Switzerland or a Member State of the European Economic Area along with a residency permit for accepted immigrants, non-nationals, non-citizens, and non-nationals.

4. Travellers released by the United Nations with a ‘Laissez-Passer.’

5. ‘Kinderausweis’ passengers, a German identification document given to children less than 16 years old.

6. Travelers with official certificates provided by the United States, such as a ‘Laissez-Passer’ while they are traveling on duty.

7. Travelers with a travel permit given by Macao (Chinese Special Administrative Region).

7.1. Tanzania (mainland only);

7.2. Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Iran, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Republic of Korea, Austria, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Malta, Congo (Brazzaville), Brazil, Mauritius, Cuba, Mexico, Djibouti, Canada,  Morocco, Fiji, Netherlands, France, Norway, Ghana, Panama, Greece, Portugal, Guatemala, Romania, Guyana,  Senegal, Barbados,  Denmark, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, the United Kingdom (including territories) and Uruguay.

8. Travelers with a travel permit given by Macao (Chinese Special Administrative Region).

9. Travellers with an ID provided by Hong Kong (China’s Special Administrative Region).

10. With National Identification Cards, Spanish citizens.

11. Travellers with a ‘Laissez-Passer’ given by the 1990 Dublin Convention.

Document Validity:  

For the duration of the intended visit, the passport or alternative documentation must be valid:

a. An expired passport (without limit) issued to Spanish citizens is recognized.

b. Expired passports (for a period not exceeding one year) issued to German citizens are accepted.

c. Replacement passport documents issued to citizens of Spain must be valid on arrival.

d. Expired passports (for no more than one year) issued to British subjects are accepted, given that British people have authorized passports.

e. Those residing in Spain can enter on arrival with a travel document that is legitimate.

f. Citizens of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden may join, upon arrival, in possession of valid passports.

g. It accepts expired passports (no more than five years) issued to residents of Austria, Belgium, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, or Switzerland.

Additional information:

1. Spain does not accept passports issued to people of the Republic of Kosovo living in other Schengen member states that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo.

2. Students living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, with the exception of their nationality, do not need a passport on condition that they do not need a passport:

– Their names are indicated on a ‘List of Travellers’ stamped by the school and accredited in their home country by the authority concerned;

– One of the teachers at that school accompanies the school group;

– A picture of the student must be included in this ‘List of Travelers’.

This kind of ‘List of Travelers’ is not provided by all European Union member countries. Furthermore, the exemption would not extend to the ‘List of Travellers’, which is only stamped without images by the school.

Minors:

Children younger than 18 years of age are permitted to travel while accompanied or traveling alone, whether they are either:

a. Spanish citizens:

IMPORTANT: Children of Spanish nationals may not be included in the passport of one or both of their parents or legal guardians.

– A passport or national identification card, along with a parent’s permit, is required if children travel to or from Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

– If children are traveling within the Schengen countries, a national identification card is approved.

b. Foreign children:

A passport is required if the country of residence does not allow children to be included in the passport of one or both of their parents or legal guardian(s), as well as the required documentation requested at the time of departure from the country of residence.

Warnings:

The Schengen Agreement, designed to lift immigration limits on travel within all the territories of the signatory member countries, became effective on 26 March 1995. This led to the emergence of a ‘Schengen area’ known as a borderless zone. Consequently, residents of the signatories of that agreement can travel between the countries referred to above without having their papers checked. However, a ‘Schengen Visa’ is provided for travelers who need visas for one or more Schengen States to which they are ticketed and whose final destination is a Schengen State for which a visa is not needed. In addition, transit without a visa (TWOV) is not possible if the Schengen country for which a visa is required is one of the next travel or transit countries as the traveler reaches the Schengen region or borderless territory. This means that travelers from countries requiring a visa for all the Schengen States and travelers from countries requiring a visa for one or more of the Schengen States to which they have a ticket still require a visa. Travelers should obtain Schengen visas prior to their arrival in the Schengen region.

Visa Issuance:

Until arrival: Travelers are kindly requested to contact Spain’s nearest department.

Visa Exemptions:

A visa must be carried by all travelers except for the following:

1. Spanish citizens.

2. ‘British Resident’ or ‘British National (Overseas)’ is endorsed by travelers with British passports.

3. Nationals of Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Greece, and Switzerland.

4. Travelers are residing in Liechtenstein for no more than five days, irrespective of their nationality, and keeping proof of their residency, given that they are in transit through the Schengen country.

5. Travelers living within a half-year period for no more than three months, if they have British passports endorsed:

5.1. Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Saint Helena, and the Virgin Islands, with the name of each of the following territories on the front cover;

5.2. ‘British National (Overseas).’

5.3. ‘British Overseas Territories Citizen’ as long as ‘British Subject’ or ‘Holder’ are endorsed, which only applies to residents, is classified as British Citizens for Community Purposes.

6. Turkish people remain within a half-year span of not more than three months, given they have diplomatic, official, or special passports.

7. Citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia staying within a half-year span of no more than three months, provided they have the government, diplomatic, or service passports.

8. Algerian residents, if they have a service or diplomatic passport, remain for no more than three months within a half-year period.

9. Travelers who stay for tourism for no more than three months, given they are people of Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Antigua and Barbuda, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Barbados, Singapore, St Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, Australia, United States of America, Canada, Vatican City, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.

10. Travelers are remaining within a half-year span of no more than three months provided they have passports issued by Hong Kong (China Special Administrative Region) or Macao (China Special Administrative Region).

11. Philippine people remain for no more than three months within a half-year period, given they have official or diplomatic passports.

12. Travelers are remaining within a half-year period for no more than three months, given they are people of Albania, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, Republic of Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Tunisia, and Ukraine with diplomatic passports.

13. Travelers are remaining within a half-year span of not more than three months, given that they are residents of Peru and of the United Arab Emirates with special or diplomatic passports.

14. Travelers with a residency permit granted by Spain, provided that they are in possession of a passport.

15. ‘Laissez-Passer’’ travelers were released by the United Nations.

16. To a limit. Three-month stay for government workers who are assigned to one of the countries of the European Union or Andorra and their corresponding families provided that they have an accreditation pass.

17. To a limit. Stay of 3 months with travel documents and residency permits issued by a Member State of the European Economic Region or Switzerland for recognized refugees and individuals without nationality or citizenship.

18. Travelers, irrespective of their nationality, stay for a duration not exceeding 90 days and hold a residence permit granted by Andorra, Monaco, or a Schengen country.

19. Travelers, irrespective of their nationality, stay for a maximum of 90 days and hold a ‘family member’ residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union to a member of the family who is a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area or a citizen of Switzerland if they are traveling with or traveling to join a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area or a citizen of Switzerland.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

For travelers continuing their journey to a third country without leaving the airport transit area, TWOV is permissible on condition that they are:

– keeping all the documents required for their next trip; and

– arriving from and departing from a country outside the Schengen area; and

– Holding tickets with onward bookings confirmed.

a. People of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Conga (Kinshasa), Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Angola, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Togo, They need a transit visa if they have regular passports or are merchant seamen. Travellers with normal passports can use the TWOV facility referred to above, provided that Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Romania, San Marino, the United States of America, or the United Kingdom have a residency permit.

b. The TWOV facility referred to above can be used by citizens of Ghana or Nigeria with Seaman Books or regular passports if they have a visa to Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Romania, the United States of America or the United Kingdom.

c. The TWOV facility referred to above may be used by Djiboutian citizens with Seaman Books or ordinary passports if they have a visa to Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, the USA, or the United Kingdom.

c.1. If they have a residency permit for Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Republic of Ireland, Romania, the USA, or the United Kingdom, it is not mandatory to have a visa, as the TWOV requirements apply.

Additional information:

1. Immigration officials can, for tourism or for private reasons, request travelers arriving in Spain to show proof that their stay will be longer than three months; sufficient money to cover the expenses of their stay; or a letter of invitation. Travelers must apply to the Department of Immigration to apply for an extension.

1.1. Exemptions:

People of Andorra, member states of the Economic European Region, and Switzerland.

2. Because of the swine flu (H1N1) epidemic, all travelers arriving on flights from Mexico and the United States of America are expected to fill in a travel inquiry form with a contact address and personal details for the next ten days.

3. Students living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, with the exception of their nationality, do not need a visa on condition that:

– Their names are indicated on a ‘List of Travellers’ stamped by the school and accredited in their home country by the authority concerned;

– One of the teachers at that school accompanies the school group;

Every student must bring his / her own travel document and proof of place of residence if the ‘List of Travellers’ is only stamped by the school and is neither validated by the relevant authority nor contains pictures of the students.

Warnings

1. Travellers may be expected to display tickets for departure or return, at least EUR 561,60 or equivalent in another freely exchangeable currency, and all documentation appropriate for their next travel.

EXCEPTS:

1.1. Foreign citizens of the member states of the European Economic Union, Andorra, and Switzerland.

1.2. Diplomatists, who just need to provide documents for their next journey and tickets for return or onward.

1.3. People of the member states of the European Economic Union, Andorra, and Switzerland.

2. If travelers do not comply with transit or entry rules, fines of between EUR 6,025 and EUR 60,240 may be imposed.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations:

1. Travellers who arrive with products purchased for personal use within the European Union only:

a. There are no limitations on the number of sales, including taxes, made in shops in any of the countries of the European Union and taken to Spain, given that such items are meant to be used by travelers or their family members or are offered as gifts which are not meant for commercial use.

2. Travelers coming from countries outside the European Union, including the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, and other related areas, are entitled to import:

a. 200 cigarettes; 100 cigarillos each weighing no more than three grams; 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; or a proportional mixture of those items are licensed to travelers aged 17 years and older;

b. One liter of alcoholic beverages over 22 percent volume is approved for travelers aged 17 years and older; non-denatured ethyl alcohol over 80 percent volume; two liters of alcoholic beverages or aperitifs made of wine or related beverages under 22 percent volume; Sparkling wines or liqueur wines; or a proportional mixture thereof, in addition to four liters of still wine; and 16 liters of beer; or a proportional mixture thereof;

c. Medicines exclusively for personal use;

d. Other goods up to a total value of EUR 430 per adult person or EUR 150 per traveler less than 15 years of age are approved for air travelers.

3. Forbidden Goods:

Animal products not originating in the Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland cannot be imported into the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of small quantities of animal products originating in Andorra, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small quantities of specific products originating in other countries. 

4.1. For further details, please check the website of the European Union: http://europa.eu/

Export regulations:

No limits exist on the export of fair quantities of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. In the Canary Islands, no limitations apply.

Customs Rules for Crew Members:

For crew members, the same rules apply as for regular travelers.

Pets:

The special regulation (EC no. 998 of 2003) of the European Parliament and of the European Council relates to the import of cats and dogs. The same laws apply to pet animals arriving from Gibraltar as to pet animals arriving from European Union countries. If the traveler has a visa, imports of unvaccinated pet animals aged less than three months may be permitted. Import laws apply if five or more pet animals are imported by a traveler. The Customs Veterinarian must inspect all animals. After working hours and at weekends, the clearance of animals can be postponed. It is recommended that pet animals be carried inside a sturdy box made of cardboard or some similar material while transporting cats and dogs in a traveler’s cabin.

For all details, please contact the Ministry of Agriculture: http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/

Specifically, Bilbao (BIO) airport does not allow the entry of service animals.

Baggage Clearance regulations:

The luggage of a traveler at the final destination airport in Spain should be cleared. There is a separate customs entrance in Madrid (Barajas) for Spanish crew members.

a. Exception: transit luggage for passengers whose destination is outside Spain.

Airport tax:

When leaving the airport, all travelers are not allowed to pay any airport fees.

Currency rules

Rules of Currency Import & Export:

For travelers coming from or traveling to a country within the European Union, there are no limits on importing and exporting local currency (Euro-EUR) and foreign currencies. As far as travelers coming directly from or commuting to a country outside the European Union are concerned, amounts greater than or equal to EUR 10,000 must be reported in another currency, including drafts of bankers and cheques of any sort.

Additional information on regulations:

Imports of plans, technical drawings, etc. are not free.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Even if the traveler has received a prior permit from the local district police, the import of ammunition and arms is forbidden. For hunting weapons, no particular rules exist if they are temporarily imported, but they must be reported upon arrival.