Spain operates under the Schengen Agreement, which removed internal border controls among 25 European countries in favor of one shared external border. This means that a U.S. citizen traveling directly to Spain, for tourist or business purposes, can enter and stay in Spain without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for three months beyond the length of stay. It is common for Spanish authorities to incarcerate or deport visitors staying past the 90-day visa-free period or past their visas' expiration.
Police officers may ask for proof of identity, and Spanish law requires you to provide the proof. Acceptable documents are a passport or national identification card. Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor and subject to parental control or adult supervision.
Spain has severe laws for possessing, using or trafficking in illegal drugs. The cities of Madrid and Barcelona, along with the Canary and Balearic Islands, prohibit the consumption of alcohol in the street.
U.S. citizens should obtain an International Driving Permit prior to arriving in Spain. It is illegal to drive using only an American license. Driving is on the right side of the road in Spain. The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts, regardless of where they sit in the car. Child safety seats are required for children. Spain prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, unless you use a hands-free unit.
Spanish law requires a driver to carry two red warning triangles in the car. In the event of an accident or breakdown, the driver should place one triangle in front of the car and the other behind the car. Drivers are also required to carry a spare tire and full set of spare bulbs along with the tools to change them. In addition, the car has to carry reflective vests for the driver and all passengers. The reflective vests are to be worn when exiting a car stopped on the side of the road.
The legal limit for blood alcohol level is .05 percent for experienced drivers and .01 percent for new drivers.
