Citizens of any member nation of the European Union do not need a a travel visa upon entering Spain, which is also a member of the EU. EU citizens may carry their national identification cards or driver's licenses in lieu of their passports, as EU ID cards serve as adequate identification for European Union citizens. For a list of countries in the EU, see the Resources section.
The Schengen agreement allows passport-free travel across the borders of its member countries. The Schengen group includes 24 nations, all members of the EU (however, not all members of the EU are Schengen members). For a list of Schengen group members, see the Resources section.
Non-EU citizens of the following countries are required to bring their passports upon entry to Spain, but do not require a visa if the stay is less than 90 days: Australia, Canada, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, New Zealand, Romania, USA, Vatican City and Venezuela, among others. Citizens of other nations must contact the nearest Spanish Embassy for visa information.
For Non-EU citizens planning on staying in Spain for more than 90 days for any reason, a visa is required. Visas very by type (student, work, long-stay and seasonal), and these citizens must apply for the visa in person at the nearest Spanish Embassy (see Resources for a list of Spanish Embassies in the US). Be prepared to supply a number of documents for a long-term visa, including a notarized birth certificate, financial records, such as bank statements and any other applicable documents that prove the identification, financial support and purpose of travel. Registration with the local Spanish police authorities will be required upon arrival with the close of the visa application.
Non-EU citizens require an entry stamp in their passports. This stamp date is the first of the 90-day permission to travel throughout countries of the Schengen region. Therefore, the traveler may stay in Spain, or visit multiple countries, but regardless, the traveler is required to exit the Schengen region (including Spain) before the 90-day expiration or be ready to provide proof of a long-term visa. Citizens of countries not specified in Section 3 must apply for the Schengen visa before entering Spain.
Other countries whose citizens do not require a travel visa or official passport for Spain are Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
