Spain
Important Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel
It is illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays. Follow current COVID-19 rules where you live: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In England, you must have a permitted reason to travel abroad and complete the declaration form.
Some countries have closed borders, and any country may further restrict travel or bring in new social distancing rules with little warning. Check our advice for each country you will visit or transit through.
When you return, follow the rules to enter the UK from abroad (except from Ireland).
Entry requirements
The information on this page covers the most common types of travel and reflects the UK government’s understanding of the rules currently in place. Unless otherwise stated, this information is for travellers using a full ‘British Citizen’ passport.
The authorities in the country or territory you’re travelling to are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry. If you’re unclear about any aspect of the entry requirements, or you need further reassurance, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.
You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.
Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Entry to Spain
Entry restrictions and testing requirements continue to apply for travel to Spain. Only citizens and legal residents of the European Union, Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican (Holy See); and San Marino, and those who can demonstrate through documentary evidence an essential need to enter Spain, will be granted passage under current travel restrictions. See Permitted reasons to enter Spain and Testing requirements. You should refer to the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in the country you are in for further advice.
Some travel restrictions and testing requirements are in place for international transit through Spanish airports by passengers on flights departing from the UK. See Transiting Spain.
Since 23 November 2020, pre-travel COVID-19 testing requirements have been in place for those travelling by air and sea from ‘risk’ countries (as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control). Arrivals from the UK are currently subject to this requirement. See Testing requirements for details.
If you are resident in Spain, you should carry your residence document (the green paper EU residence certificate or the new TIE), as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you are not in possession of a residence document, see Additional Requirements for UK Nationals resident in Spain for further information.
Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus. See the Coronavirus section for further information.
Mandatory pre-travel declaration form for all passengers
Before travel to Spain, all passengers travelling by air or sea must complete and sign an online Health Control Form no more than 48 hours prior to travel declaring any known history of exposure to COVID-19 and giving contact details.
You can do this on the Spain Travel Health website or downloadable app. On completion of the form, you will be issued a QR code which you must show (electronically or hardcopy) at airport health controls on arrival. See Spain Travel Health video for further details.
Anyone who has not completed this form electronically via the Spain Travel Health website or app, may submit it in paper format prior to boarding.
Testing requirements
All passengers (excluding children under the age of 6 years old) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from ‘risk’ countries (as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control) are required to present a negative PCR, TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification) or a LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) swab test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Passengers arriving from the UK are currently subject to this requirement.
This requirement applies to all passengers arriving in Spain by air or sea, regardless of your residence status in Spain and the length of time you intend on staying. Property owners in Spain are subject to this requirement.
A minimum fine of €3000 may be issued to anyone who arrives in Spanish airports or ports from ‘risk’ countries without adequate evidence of a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test.
While TMA and LAMP tests are not currently widely available in the UK, you should refer to testing facilities directly for specific information on the types of tests available to you, prior to booking an appointment.
You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test and should confirm with the testing facility the type of tests available prior to booking an appointment.
All overland travellers (excluding children under the age of 6 years old) who wish to enter Spain by road or rail from France, are required to present a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test taken within 72 hours prior to entry. The following groups are exempt from this requirement:
- Haulage workers
- Frontier workers
- Residents of border regions within a radius of 30 km
While these testing requirements don’t apply to overland travellers from Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar, travel into Spain from all locations is limited. See Permitted reasons to enter Spain.
Preparing for arrival
On arrival into Spanish ports and airports, you may be subject to the following requirements at the point of entry:
- Present the QR code (hardcopy or digital) issued on completion of the online Health Control Form prior to travel. See Mandatory pre-travel declaration form for all passengers
- Undergo a temperature check
- Undergo a visual health assessment
- If travelling from a ‘risk country’, be prepared to show evidence certifying you have undertaken a PCR, TMA or LAMP test within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, and have tested negative for COVID-19. See Testing requirements
- If travelling from a country where Spain has issued a travel ban, be prepared to show evidence of your residency. Due to current travel restrictions, be aware that you may be questioned on arrival by Spanish border authorities to ensure you meet the legal entry requirements. Spanish border authorities will only grant entry if they are satisfied that you are returning to Spain to your habitual place of residence or can demonstrate an essential reason to enter (see Permitted reasons to enter Spain), and reserve the right to deny passage.
Anyone who presents symptoms or fails to meet one of the above requirements will be required to undergo a test on arrival and will be obliged to observe the COVID-19 protocols in place as determined by the local authorities of your destination in Spain.
Passengers may also be contacted and required to undertake a PCR, TMA or LAMP test at any point up to 48 hours after their arrival in Spain.
Permitted reasons to enter Spain
Only citizens and legal residents of the European Union, Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican (Holy See), and San Marino, and those who can demonstrate through documentary evidence an essential need to enter Spain, will be granted passage under current travel restrictions. You should be aware that Spanish border authorities reserve the right to deny passage and will only grant entry if they are satisfied that you are returning to your habitual place of residence or that your journey to Spain is for one of the permitted circumstances outlined below.
Those individuals who are permitted entry into Spain from the UK are listed below:
- Habitual residents of the European Union, Schengen States, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican (Holy See) or San Marino; who are travelling to their country of residence and can duly accredit their residence status with documentary evidence. For further information on documents accepted as proof of residence in Spain, see Additional requirements for UK nationals resident in Spain.
- Holders of a long-stay visa issued by a Member State or Schengen Associated State, who are travelling onto said country.
- Health professionals, including health researchers, and elderly care professionals who are going to or returning from essential work.
- Transport personnel, seafarers and aeronautical personnel.
- Diplomatic, consular, international organizations, military, civil protection and members of humanitarian organizations.
- Students enrolled in courses starting after 1 January 2021 who carry out their studies in an EU Member or Schengen state and who have the corresponding permit or visa and medical insurance, provided that they are travelling to the country where they are studying, and that entry occurs during the academic year or 15 days previous. Students who started an on-site or in-person course in Spain prior to 1 January 2021 will not require a permit or visa to enter, but should be prepared to provide evidence of this, such as a residence document or proof of enrolment and accommodation (dated prior to 1 January 2021)
- Highly skilled essential workers whose work cannot be postponed or carried out remotely, including participants in high-level sports events due to take place in Spain
- People travelling for imperative family reasons who can demonstrate an essential need to travel
All of the circumstances above must be justified by documentary evidence. You should check with the Spanish consulate in the UK if you are unsure whether your circumstances meet the current exemptions and for further information. You should be aware that you may be questioned on arrival by Spanish border authorities to ensure you meet the entry requirements.
Testing requirements continue to apply for travel to Spain. See Testing requirements for details.
Additional requirements for UK nationals resident in Spain
The Spanish government has formally confirmed to the UK government that UK nationals who were legally residing in Spain before 1 January 2021, and as such are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, can use any of the following documents to prove their residence status when entering Spain:
- Residence card issued under Article 18.4 of the Withdrawal Agreement (the TIE – Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
- Temporary or permanent EU residence certificate (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadanos de la Unión)
- Receipt of application for the TIE (Resguardo de presentación de la solicitud de la tarjeta de residencia)
- Confirmation of the positive outcome of your residence application (Resolución favorable por la que se concede la tarjeta de residencia)
- In the absence of any of the above, other documents that credibly evidence your legal residence in Spain before 1 January 2021, such as a padrón certificate (issued by your town hall), a work contract, a rental contract, or proof of property purchase may be presented. However, due to current travel restrictions, be aware that you may be questioned on arrival by Spanish border authorities to ensure you meet the legal entry requirements. Spanish border authorities will only grant entry if they are satisfied that you are returning to Spain to your habitual place of residence or can demonstrate an essential reason to enter (see ‘Permitted reasons to enter Spain’), and reserve the right to deny passage.
The above list of documentation has also been communicated to airlines and other operators.
You must also show a valid passport when you travel and comply with the other documentation requirements, as set out in this travel advice. See Pre-travel declaration form and Testing requirements for arrivals from ‘risk countries’.
Transiting Spain by air
Where permitted, transit times should be no more than 24 hours. Travellers must be able to present a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival into Spain.
Transiting Spain by air to non-EU/Schengen associated destinations:
- Transit through Spanish airports to destinations outside the EU/Schengen area is currently permitted for flights departing or returning to the UK. Travellers must remain airside and be able to a present a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test. Please contact your travel operator before departure.
Transiting Spain by air to destinations within the EU area and Schengen associated states:
- Only citizens and residents of EU or Schengen associated states (including Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican City (Holy See), and San Marino) or holders of a long-stay visa issued by an EU or Schengen associated state may transit Spain to a destination inside the EU or a Schengen associated state, in order to travel to their place of habitual residence.
Overland transit
Spain’s land borders are open, however travel restrictions, border controls and testing requirements may be in place depending on the country you are travelling from.
All overland travellers (by road or rail) from France are required to present a negative PCR, TMA or LAMP test taken within 72 hours prior to entering Spain. See Testing requirements for further information and exemptions. While these testing requirements don’t apply to overland travellers from Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar, travel into Spain from all locations is limited. See Permitted reasons to enter Spain.
Portuguese authorities are enforcing border control checks at the land border with Spain. Only cross border workers, goods traffic and those entering or exiting Portugal to return to their usual place of residence will be granted passage. Rail and ferry connections between Spain and Portugal have been suspended. See FCDO travel advice for Portugal.
If you are travelling to Spain via Gibraltar, check the latest entry requirements and FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar. Entry requirements and testing requirements are currently in force for travel into Spain, see Permitted reasons to enter Spain and Testing requirements.
Inter-regional travel is permitted, providing your point of origin and destination do not fall within a confined area where entry and exit restrictions are in place. Transiting confined areas to reach your final destination is permitted, however you should be prepared to show evidence of your onward journey such as train or flight tickets to your final destination. See Coronavirus for further information.
If travelling with people who are not from the same household, all passengers must wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth. Penalties may be imposed if you do not comply. See Use of face-masks.
Regular entry requirements
Visas
The rules for travelling or working in European countries changed on 1 January 2021:
- you can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training
- if you are travelling to Spain and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days
- to stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements. You should check with the Spanish consulate in the UK prior to travel regarding what type of visa and/or work permit you may need. If you are unable to return to the UK before the expiry of your visa/permit or visa-free limit due to C-19 restrictions, you should contact your local immigration office (Extranjería) for advice. You can also call 060 from a Spanish phone line. If you are visiting Spain and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to the immigration authorities (Extranjería) to do so.
- if you stay in Spain with a visa or permit, this does not count towards the 90-day visa-free limit
Any time you spent in Spain or other Schengen countries before 1 January 2021 does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
At Spanish border control, you may need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. You may also need to:
- show a return or onward ticket
- show you have enough money for your stay
There are separate requirements for those who are resident in Spain. If you are resident in Spain, you should carry proof of residence as well as your valid passport when you travel. For further information on these requirements, see our Living in Spain guide.
Passport validity
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip, and renew your passport if you do not have enough time left on it.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This applies to the whole of Spain, including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
UK ETDs are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Spain.
Travel between Spain and Gibraltar
Spanish border checks can cause delays when crossing between Spain and Gibraltar. If you are travelling to Spain via Gibraltar, check the latest entry requirements and FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar. Entry requirements and testing requirements are currently in force for travel into Spain, see Permitted reasons to enter Spain and Testing requirements.
There is no charge to enter or leave Gibraltar. Don’t hand over money if you’re approached by anyone claiming that there is a charge.