Visa Requirements

A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a foreign country. When visiting any foreign country, it is worth considering that sometimes a visa is required even for a connecting flight. Before travelling abroad, one should check whether a visa is needed or not.

A visa does not guarantee entry as this is the right of the immigration officials of the country concerned, but this is rarely enforced.

Do I Need a Visa to go to Madrid, Spain?

If you are not eligible for visa-free entry into Spain, then you need a visa to enter the country. There are many countries that enjoy visa-free entry for periods of up to 90 days.

Schengen Visa is required for travellers to go to Spain. Citizens from Schengen-member countries do not require a visa to enter Spain for stays of up to 90 days, but they must carry a national ID while entering and travelling in Spain.

The 26 Schengen countries are:

Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic
Denmark	Estonia	Finland
France	Germany	Greece
Hungary	Iceland	Italy
Latvia	Liechtenstein	Lithuania
Luxembourg	Malta	Netherlands
Norway	Poland	Portugal
Slovakia	Slovenia	Spain
Sweden	Switzerland

Transit visa:

Citizens of the countries mentioned below need a visa for transit through any airport of the Schengen States to take a connecting flight to a country outside the Schengen area:

Afghanistan	Democratic	Republic of Congo
Bangladesh	Eritrea	Ethiopia
Ghana	Iran	Iraq
Nigeria	Pakistan	Somalia
Sri Lanka

Citizens of the countries mentioned below also need a visa for transit through the international zone of any airport in Spain to take a connecting flight to a country outside the Schengen area:

Cameroon	Côte d’Ivoire	Cuba
DR of Congo	Djibouti	Gambia
Guinea	Guinea Bissau	India
Liberia	Mali	Sierra Leone
Syria	Togo	Yemen

Holders of passports issued by the Palestine Authority also need visas.

Required documents for visa:

application form.
4 passport-size photos.
valid passport with 1 full blank page.
return travel tickets or itinerary and proof of payment for tickets.
proof of purpose of visit.
confirmed accommodation.
a stamped, self-addressed, registered envelope if applying by post.
evidence of sufficient funds for stay.
letter from the employer; or accountant, solicitor, bank manager or Chamber of Commerce if self-employed. Students should submit proof of attendance.
visa fee.

Validity of visa:

Short-stay (single- and multiple-entry):
Valid for 6 months from date of issue for a stay of maximum 90 days per entry.

Transit (single- and multiple-entry):
Valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry, including the day of arrival. Visas cannot be extended, and a new application must be made each time.

Please note:

The information on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. For the latest information please access exteriores.gob.es.

For more information regarding travel to the Schengen Area please visit Europa.eu