Move to Spain
NIE, TIE, padrón, EU registration, visas, and residency.
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Vacation in Spain
Short visits, entry rules, transport, places to stay, and practical trip planning in Spain.
Live in Spain
Healthcare, banking, taxes, digital access, and the key admin steps for everyday life in Spain.
Trip planning notes — confirm details before you book or travel.
IberiGo guide
Entry rules and short stays in Spain
Check whether your trip to Spain falls under EU free movement or Schengen short-stay rules.
Entry rules and short stays
Entry to Spain depends on your passport. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can enter freely with a valid passport or national ID for any length of stay. Most other nationalities — including many visa-free passports such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia — can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not just Spain. Some nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa from a Spanish consulate before travelling. At the border you may be asked for accommodation, return or onward travel, and enough money for the stay. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is in force: non-EU visitors have their fingerprints and photo registered at the border on first entry instead of a passport stamp, and the system tracks the 90/180 allowance automatically — EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and non-EU holders of a Spanish residence permit or long-stay visa are exempt. ETIAS, a separate pre-travel authorisation for currently visa-free non-EU visitors, is expected later and not yet required — check the current status before you travel. Travel insurance is not legally required for EU citizens but is strongly recommended; it may be required for Schengen visa applicants.
Next 3 steps
- Confirm that your stay is an ordinary short visit rather than a move or residence plan.
- Check whether you are travelling as an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or under Schengen short-stay rules for non-EU passports.
- If you are a non-EU visitor, expect biometric registration (fingerprints and photo) at the border under the EES on entry.
Official links
Spanish Government
Spain: stays up to 3 months
Official Spain government website
European Union
Check visa or ETIAS requirement
Official European Union website
European Union
Entry/Exit System (EES)
Official European Union website
European Union
Official EU 90/180 calculator
Official European Union website
Planning notes for trips in Spain. Always confirm booking and entry rules with the provider or official source before you travel.
Documents that often slow people down
Identity and civil records
- Valid passport or EU national ID.
- Birth, marriage, or partnership records where relevant.
- Legalization or Hague apostille for many foreign public documents.
- Sworn Spanish translations when documents are not accepted as-is.
Spain-side basics
- Address in Spain and, when requested, padrón certificate.
- Immigration appointment confirmation.
- Correct EX form for your procedure.
- Paid tasa receipt, often Modelo 790 with the matching code.
Money, health, purpose
- Proof of economic means for routes that require it.
- Health insurance or public coverage proof where required.
- School admission, remote-work evidence, family link, or permit approval.
- Criminal record certificate for some visas and residence routes.
Not every document applies to every route. The guide should help you narrow this down.
Official sources
Appointments and fees
Identity and residence
Digital access
Residence routes
Planning notes for trips in Spain. Always confirm booking and entry rules with the provider or official source before you travel.
Last reviewed: July 2026