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5 ways to enter

Spain visas

Spain tourist visa

Some travellers can visit Spain without a visa. Others need a short-stay Schengen visa. The usual limit is 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area.

Ways to get a Spain tourist visa

  1. Visa-free short visit

    No visa needed

    Ordinary-passport holders from the listed visa-waiver countries and territories can visit without a visa. Kosovo is also included.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.

  2. Short-stay Schengen visa

    Visa needed

    Travellers who need a visa for a short tourist visit and meet the Schengen visa requirements.

    Stay
    A short stay within the usual limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
    Valid for
    New applicants usually receive validity for their intended trip. Some visas are valid for up to five years.
    Entries
    One, two or multiple entries.
    Fee
    €90 standard fee; €45 for children aged 6–12; free for children under 6. Other exemptions apply. The fee may rise to €180 for some nationalities, except for children under 12. An external application service may charge up to €120 extra.
    Processing
    15 calendar days for an admissible application without issues; longer processing times can occur.
    1. Choose Spain's embassy or consulate if Spain is your main destination. If there is no main destination, apply to your first Schengen entry country.
    2. Submit the application no more than six months before entry, through the embassy's application channel.
    3. Attend in person for your first application and interview. Provide fingerprints and a digital photo if required.
    4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for the decision.

  3. Entry with an existing visa or residence permit

    No visa needed

    Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen country, Gibraltar or Monaco can make short visits to Spain without an additional visa.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in any 180-day period when visiting other Schengen countries.

  4. Freedom of movement

    No visa needed

    Citizens of European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can enter, live and work in Spain without a visa.

    Stay
    Entry, residence and work are covered by freedom of movement.

  5. New Zealand bilateral visa waiver

    No visa needed

    New Zealand citizens can use a bilateral agreement for a stay in Spain without counting time spent in other Schengen countries against that Spanish allowance.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in Spain without reference to time spent in other Schengen countries.

    Passports that qualify (1)

Who needs it

Travellers whose nationality requires a visa need a Schengen visa unless they qualify for an exemption.

Who doesn't

Citizens of visa-waiver countries, people with freedom of movement, and some holders of visas or residence permits can enter without a new visa.

How to apply

  1. Apply to Spain's embassy or consulate if Spain is your only or main destination. If no main destination can be identified, apply to the country where you will first enter Schengen.
  2. Submit your application no more than six months before your planned entry. The embassy may use an external application service.
  3. For a first application, attend in person for an interview. Fingerprints and a digital photo may be required.
  4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for the decision.

What to bring

  • A travel document accepted for a Schengen visa.
  • Ten fingerprints and a digital photo, if required. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints.

Good to know

  • Count your time across the whole Schengen Area, rather than separately for Spain.
  • A visa is valid throughout Schengen unless it states otherwise.
  • Tourist entry does not give a general right to work in Spain.
  • Visa validity is the period when you may use the visa. It does not let you stay for that whole period.
  • Fingerprints may not need to be taken again if you provided them within the previous 59 months.
  • The European Union Visa Application Platform, called EU VAP, is described as planned, with introduction scheduled for 2026 and a transition through 2031. ETIAS is also described as a planned online travel permit.
  • Spain also grants visa-free entry to refugees resident in Ireland and stateless people resident in the United Arab Emirates.

Questions

Do I need a tourist visa for Spain?

Travellers whose nationality requires a visa need a Schengen visa unless they qualify for an exemption. Citizens of visa-waiver countries, people with freedom of movement, and some holders of visas or residence permits can enter without a new visa.

What are the ways to get a tourist visa for Spain?

There are 5 options: Visa-free short visit (no visa at all); Short-stay Schengen visa (a visa from an embassy); Entry with an existing visa or residence permit (no visa at all); Freedom of movement (no visa at all); New Zealand bilateral visa waiver (no visa at all).

Who can go to Spain without a tourist visa?

Ordinary-passport holders from the listed visa-waiver countries and territories can visit without a visa. Kosovo is also included. Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen country, Gibraltar or Monaco can make short visits to Spain without an additional visa. Citizens of European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can enter, live and work in Spain without a visa. New Zealand citizens can use a bilateral agreement for a stay in Spain without counting time spent in other Schengen countries against that Spanish allowance.

How long can I stay on a Spain tourist visa?

Usually up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.

How much does a Spain tourist visa cost?

Standard Schengen visa fee: €90. Children aged 6–12: €45. Children under 6: free. Other reductions and exemptions apply. An external application service may charge up to €120 extra.

How long does a Spain tourist visa take?

A decision is due within 15 calendar days after an admissible application is lodged, if there are no issues. Appointment shortages and longer processing times can occur.

How long is a Spain tourist visa valid?

For the intended trip for new applicants; up to five years for some visas. Entries: One, two or multiple entries..

What documents do I need for a Spain tourist visa?

A travel document accepted for a Schengen visa.; Ten fingerprints and a digital photo, if required. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints..

How do I apply for a Spain tourist visa?

1. 1. Apply to Spain's embassy or consulate if Spain is your only or main destination. If no main destination can be identified, apply to the country where you will first enter Schengen. 2. 2. Submit your application no more than six months before your planned entry. The embassy may use an external application service. 3. 3. For a first application, attend in person for an interview. Fingerprints and a digital photo may be required. 4. 4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for the decision.

What rules do I have to follow on a Spain tourist visa?

Count your time across the whole Schengen Area, rather than separately for Spain. A visa is valid throughout Schengen unless it states otherwise. Tourist entry does not give a general right to work in Spain.

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