Spain visa and entry requirements

The UK government says British visitors' passports must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and expire at least 3 months after the day they plan to leave the Schengen Area.

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No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

The EU Visa Code requires Schengen visa applicants to hold travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid throughout the Schengen states for the whole stay.

No official source we could read states that a return or onward ticket is required to enter Spain. The Schengen Borders Code (Annex I) lists a return or round-trip ticket among the supporting documents that may be used to verify that entry conditions are met.

Spain's Order PRE/1282/2007 sets the minimum at 10% of the gross national minimum wage per person per day, and at least 90% of the minimum wage in total. The European Commission's table of reference amounts gives these as EUR 122.10 a day and EUR 1,098.90 in total.

• EES — Entry/Exit System (biometric registration) — Non-EU travellers arriving at a Schengen border crossing point for the first time since the EU Entry/Exit System started have a photo of their face taken and/or their fingerprints scanned, and passports are not stamped; the EU says this can be quicker if you register some data in advance. The UK government's travel advice says there is no cost for EES registration. (at the border on first entry) travel-europe.europa.eu ↗(opens in a new tab)
• ETIAS — European Travel Information and Authorization System — ETIAS is the EU's new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. It is not yet in operation, and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. (before travel, once etias starts) travel-europe.europa.eu ↗(opens in a new tab)

Fine: 501 to 10,000 EUR

Being irregularly in Spain because a stay extension was not obtained, or because the person has no residence authorisation or it expired more than three months ago without a timely renewal application, is a serious infringement fined EUR 501 to 10,000. Instead of the fine, expulsion may be applied, on the principle of proportionality, after an administrative procedure. Expulsion and a fine are never imposed together. Expulsion carries an entry ban, set case by case, of at most five years, and exceptionally up to ten years for a serious threat to public order, public security, national security or public health.

within 24 hours of arrival. Done by the accommodation.

Accommodation providers collect their guests' data. Every guest over 14 signs the entry form (parte de entrada). The provider sends the data to the competent authorities immediately, and in any case within 24 hours of the booking and of the start of the service. The data are kept in files of the Secretary of State for Security and may be processed only by the security forces. Missing records or communications are serious infringements by the provider (fine EUR 601 to 30,000 under LO 4/2015); late communication is a minor one (EUR 100 to 600).

If not done: For the accommodation provider: missing records or omitted mandatory communications are serious infringements under article 36.20 of Ley Orgánica 4/2015 (fine EUR 601 to 30,000); late communications are minor infringements (fine EUR 100 to 600).

• Catalonia tax on stays in tourist establishments (Impost sobre les estades en establiments turístics) — Depends on the Catalan municipality where the establishment is and on its category. Per person, the number of days of stay (at most 7) is multiplied by the tariff, plus the municipal surcharge where it applies. Barcelona and other municipalities add a surcharge of at most 4 euros per establishment category, never above the tariff. Paid at the accommodation.

  People staying in a tourist establishment in Catalonia (hotels, hostels, campsites, tourist flats, cruise ships and others) pay this tax through the establishment, which shows it on the invoice. The amount depends on the municipality and the category of the establishment. Per person, it is the number of days (at most 7) times the tariff, plus the municipal surcharge where it applies (Barcelona and other municipalities; at most 4 euros). Under-17s and certain stays are exempt.

  Exemptions: Under-17s; stays for health reasons that meet the set requirements; stays subsidised by social programmes of a public administration of any EU member state; stays due to force majeure, as set by regulation.

• Balearic Islands tax on tourist stays (Impuesto sobre estancias turísticas) — Euros per day of stay or fraction, by class of establishment: 4 (five-star, five-star grand luxury and four-star superior hotels; four-key and four-key superior tourist apartments; non-residential accommodation of tourist-residential companies), 3 (four-star and three-star superior hotels; three-key superior apartments), 2 (one- to three-star hotels; one- to three-key apartments; holiday homes and homes marketed for tourist stays; rural hotels, agrotourism and inland tourism accommodation; other tourist establishments or homes; cruise ships), 1 (hostels, guesthouses, inns, campsites, albergues and refuges). 75% reduction in low season (1 November to 30 April); 50% reduction from the ninth day for stays of more than eight days in the same establishment. Paid at the accommodation.

  Everyone staying in a tourist establishment in the Balearic Islands pays a tax per day of stay or fraction, from 1 to 4 euros depending on the class of establishment. There is a 75% reduction in low season (1 November to 30 April) and a 50% reduction from the ninth day of stays of more than eight days in the same establishment. Stays of under-16s are exempt. The establishment charges the tax to the guest at any time before the stay ends.

  Exemptions: Stays of under-16s.

  Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: boe.es (opens in a new tab) · Ley 2/2016

The EU says cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving the EU.

• Under EU rules, travellers arriving from outside the EU may bring in 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits and other goods worth up to €300 (€430 when arriving by air or sea) duty-free, according to Your Europe.
• Between EU countries, no further duty or tax is due on alcohol and tobacco bought for your own use, though customs may check whether the goods are for your own use, according to Your Europe.