Schengen Visa or ETIAS to travel to Spain and other overseas regions?

Spain welcomed 37.1 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2018 alone. A great number of visitors can travel to Spain visa free whilst others are required to obtain a Schengen visa to enter the territory. Whether you need a visa for Spain will be determined by your country of citizenship. However, current visa exempt nationals should be aware that ETIAS will come into full force by 2026. Citizens of more than 50 countries will need to apply online for an ETIAS for Spain with their personal and passport details.

Spain offers unlimited experiences and extraordinary destinations within its borders. From the alternative scene in Barcelona, the theater and art world in Madrid, the dramatic rocky coasts in the North, the paradisiac beaches in the South, to the party scene in Ibiza, the list of what to do and see in Spain can go on. Without a doubt, Spain is a top destination worth considering for a well deserved vacation.

What do I need to travel to Spain

If you are thinking about traveling to Spain there are a few things you need to enter the country. If you are from a visa exempt country, including the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, among others, you do not need to obtain the Schengen visa for Spain. However you do need the following:

Beware that just because you don’t need a visa it doesn’t meant that you will automatically be granted entry to Spain. Each country in the Schengen Area has immigration officials that will check foreign travelers before allowing then to enter.

What is Schengen visa for Spain

Spain is a Schengen member country. But, what exactly is the Schengen Area? and, why some travelers need the Schengen visa to visit Spain? Let’s go back to 1985, when the Schengen Agreement was first signed by Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Schengen Agreement is a treaty that led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area in which internal borders of its member countries have been eliminated. It was signed on June 14th, 1985, near the town of Schengen, hence the name. From this moment forward, the internal borders of several european countries were abolished. Over time more and more countries joined the agreement and benefited from the free movement of people and goods. Currently, there are 27 european nations that are part of the Schengen Zone.

The Schengen Area works as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes with a common visa policy: the Schengen visa. In 2026, the Schengen Area will require that eligible travelers obtain ETIAS. The region shares external borders which they wish to protect.

The Schengen visa must be obtained by citizens of many foreign countries who wish to visit the region for periods of up to 90 days. In order to get the Schengen visa for Spain, foreign travelers must contact their nearest Spanish embassy or consulate for additional information. Among the requirements for a Schengen visa, the traveler must have a valid passport, two recent passport-sized photos, a completed application, round trip reservation or itinerary, travel insurance policy, proof of accommodation, and proof of final means. Foreign travelers who need a Schengen visa to travel to Spain must also pay a visa fee of 90 Euros.

What is an ETIAS Travel Authorisation

ETIAS stands for Europe Travel and Information Authorization System. The system is being developed by the agency eu-LISA which currently manages large scale immigration and border control systems. ETIAS will be an entry requirement for citizens of over sixty countries.

On November 2016, president Jean-Claude Juncker addressed the importance of higher levels of security in his State of the Union Address. He pointed out how essential it is for Europe to know who is coming to the region. Several countries in the Schengen Zone, including Spain, have been the targets of terrorist attacks in recent years. Besides the need to protect the area, Europe has also identified an immigration crisis that needs to be taken seriously.

ETIAS will make it more difficult for people who have committed frauds or other crimes to travel to any of the countries in the Schengen Zone. At this time, travelers from visa exempt countries can come to Europe and move freely within the Schengen Area.

The purpose behind ETIAS is to have a better control of the people that enter and leave the Schengen Zone. To obtain an ETIAS for Spain, eligible travelers will simply need a valid passport, debit or credit card and an email address. They will be able to complete their ETIAS for Spain application online. Theform will not take more than ten minutes to complete and it is expected that applications will be processed within minutes.

The ETIAS system will cross check the data provided by the traveler with several security databases, some which are already managed by eu-LISA.

ETIAS or Schengen visa for Spanish overseas regions

Spain is made up of 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities. Although it is primarily known as a European country, 1 of these autonomous communities and both autonomous cities are actually located in Africa.

The Canary Islands are an autonomous region of Spain found off the coast of Western Africa, while the cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located on the Mediterranean coast, bordering Morocco.

When visiting these overseas regions of Spain, it is important to have any visas or travel authorisation you need.

The rules depend on whether these locations are considered part of the Schengen Area or not.

Are the Canary Islands a part of Schengen?

Yes, the Canary Islands are all officially part of the Schengen Area. They have the same status as any other autonomous community in mainland Spain.

This means that all 8 main islands and the various islets and rocks in the archipelago all form part of the open-borders region of Europe. The 8 main Canary Islands are as follows:

Passengers may travel from any part of the Schengen Area to the Canaries without border control.

Likewise, travellers can fly from the Canary Islands to anywhere in the Schengen Area without having to go through immigration.

Those arriving in the Canaries from outside the Schengen Area will only need to show their passport and visa when clearing border control on their initial arrival. After this, they may travel freely between Schengen member states.

Do I need a Schengen visa for the Canary Islands?

Some passengers may need a Schengen visa to travel to the Canaries. This depends on the nationality of the traveller.

You will not need a Schengen visa for the Canary Islands if you have one of the following:

Citizens of certain countries are visa-exempt to visit for Schengen countries, such as Spain. In the near future, nationals of these countries will need to register online with the ETIAS visa waiver to enjoy this visa exemption and travel to the Canaries visa-free.

EU and/or Schengen citizens can also travel to the Canaries without a visa.

Passengers travelling with passports issued by other countries will need to apply for a Schengen visa instead of ETIAS to visit Tenerife, Gran Canaria, or any of the other Canary Islands.

Will ETIAS be required for the Canary Islands?

When the Schengen Area launches its electronic visa waiver system, travellers who meet the ETIAS Spain requirements must register online before travelling to the Canary Islands.

This applies to nationals of countries on the EU’s visa liberalisation list. These countries are exempt from visa requirements for short-term visits for tourism and business. Registering with ETIAS will allow visitors from these countries to continue to enjoy these privileges.

Nationals of other EU and Schengen countries are also visa-exempt. Travellers from these countries will not have to register with ETIAS to visit the Canaries.

Citizens of any other countries will not be eligible to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver. They will need a Schengen visa for the Canaries instead.

Are Ceuta and Melilla a part of Schengen?

Yes, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla are officially considered part of the Schengen Area. Like all Spanish territories, they are party to the Schengen acquis and the rules of the Schengen Area apply to them.

However, there are a few unique rules regarding travel to and from Ceuta and Melilla. These include document checks when departing from the cities when travelling to other parts of the Schengen Area.

This means that technically, international travellers arriving in Ceuta or Melilla from a non-Schengen state have not yet arrived in the European free movement zone.

To travel to mainland Spain or another Schengen state from Ceuta or Melilla, passengers will need a passport and may need a visa.

Rules for Moroccans visiting Ceuta and Melilla

Residents of the neighbouring Moroccan provinces of Tetuan and Nador can enter Ceuta and Melilla visa-free.

However, other Moroccan nationals will need a visa.

However, residents of Tetuan and Nador are not visa-exempt for the whole Schengen Area, or even for the rest of Spain.

To this end, all passengers travelling from Ceuta or Melilla to mainland Spain or other Schengen countries will have to go through border checks when boarding their flight or ship.

Do I need a Schengen visa for Ceuta and Melilla?

Currently, the following travellers may visit Ceuta and Melilla visa-free:

Travellers from other countries must instead apply for a Spanish Schengen visa for Ceuta and Melilla from an embassy or consulate.

In the near future, visa-exempt visitors will need to complete a Spain ETIAS application to travel visa-free.

Residents of Tetuan or Nador will need a Schengen visa if they intend to travel to mainland Spain or other Schengen countries from Ceuta or Melilla.

Will ETIAS be required for Ceuta and Melilla?

Yes, ETIAS will be needed for Ceuta or Melilla. The visa waiver will launch in 2026. There will be a 6-month transition period followed by a 6-month 'last chance' grace period before ETIAS becomes fully mandatory.

Visitors travelling with a passport issued by a visa-exempt country can register for the ETIAS for Ceuta and Melilla online.

Unlike most places in the Schengen Area, your ETIAS will be checked when leaving Ceuta or Melilla, along with your passport, if travelling to another part of the Schengen zone. This includes other parts of Spain itself.