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Travel To Spain From The USA: Travel Restrictions and Entry Requirements
Written By: Richard Nathan
Fact Checked By: Lamia Darwish
Apr 25, 2023
4 min read
US nationals DO NOT need a visa to travel to Spain. American nationals can travel to Spain for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. You can travel to Spain without a visa for the following purposes:
- Tourism
- Business
- Family visits
- Medical treatment
- Study
- Non-work internships
- Volunteer work and activities
In this post, I'll discuss the entry requirements for US nationals traveling to Spain.
Basic Entry Requirements of Spain
- You must enter Spain through an authorized border-crossing point. This could be an international airport, land border, etc.
- You must be able to provide proof of your identity and a valid travel document such as your passport.
- You must present a valid visa for entry (Not applicable for US nationals).
- You are able to provide proof of the purpose of your trip and the financial means to support yourself during your stay (90 euros per day).
- You are not subject to a ban from entering Spain.
Do US Citizens Need A Visa For Spain?
No, fortunately, US citizens do not need a Spain Visa to travel to Spain from the USA, nor do they need a visa to visit any Schengen country. But there are certain Spain entry requirements and documents you will need to present as a US citizen.
Some nationals with a US Green Card may need to apply for a visa to Spain. Be sure to check if you need a visa before traveling.
What Are The Requirements For US Citizens To Travel To Spain?
Due to travel agreements between the European Union and the US, US citizens can enjoy international travel to any Schengen country without applying for a visa, and this includes Spain.
As a US citizen, you can enjoy visa-free travel to Spain for up to 90 days. Before traveling, be sure you understand what documents are required to enter Spain.
What Are The Requirements For Visa-Free Travel To Spain?
When traveling to Spain on a US passport, border authorities have the right to request the following documents when entering Spain from the US:
1. A Valid Passport
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure. Also, it should not be older than 10 years, be in good condition, and have 2 blank visa pages available.
2. A Return Flight Ticket
Authorities may ask you to present a flight ticket that indicates when you will be leaving Spain. Your flight ticket should show that you will be leaving Spain before the initial 90 days are over.
3. Valid Health/Medical Insurance
It is advised that all visitors traveling to Spain must have valid health insurance. When considering health insurance, it must cover any medical expenses and provide a minimum of €30,000.
Your health insurance must cover medical costs across the entire European Union.
4. Proof Of Sufficient Financials Means
During your stay in Spain, you'll need to be able to fully support yourself financially. Spanish officials may ask you to present proof that you can do so. To prove you have sufficient financial means, you may present the following documents:
- bank statements,
- pay slips,
- credit card statements,
- a letter from your sponsor.
As for the financial requirements, you're expected to have the following amount:
- €90 per day while in Spain.
- At least €810, regardless of the length of your stay.
When arriving in Spain, you might find that border authorities don't even ask for any one of these documents. However, these are still required when traveling to Spain or the Schengen Area. Therefore, it's best that you have these documents on hand even if border authorities don't ask you to present them.
There are also a few additional health requirements you need to meet before traveling to Spain from the US. These form part of the Spain travel restrictions from the US. As. Next, I'll discuss the travel requirements for when you travel to Spain from the USA:
5. COVID-19 Requirements
When you travel to Spain from the USA, one of the requirements is that you are vaccinated against COVID-19, have a recovery certificate, or present negative test results.
Note that if you need to take a COVID test, it must be done at least 72 hours prior to arriving in Spain.
6. A Completed Health Control Form (FCS)
Along with your proof of vaccination, Spain previously implemented a new health declaration form that needs to be completed by all visitors traveling to Spain from the US. But this form is not needed anymore. However, it is always a good idea to keep up to date with the latest news from the Spain Government in terms of travel.
How Can I Travel To Travel To Spain?
The process of traveling to Spain without a visa is relatively straightforward.
- Buy a flight ticket
- Collect all your required documents
- Arrive at the airport
- Travel to Spain from the US
- Arrive in Spain
- Present your documents to Spanish Authorities
- Enjoy your trip to Spain
That's A Wrap!
Congrats! You know all there is to know about traveling to Spain from the US, including the Spain entry requirements and what you will need for your trip, and the best part is you don't need a Spain Visa!
Be sure to check out the FAQ section for any more questions you may have.
Written By: Richard Nathan
Fact Checked By: Lamia Darwish
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe To Travel To Spain Right Now?
According to the US Bureau of Consular affairs, Spain is classified as a Level 2 district. Meaning, you should exercise increased caution. For full transparency, Spain is classified as level 2 due to terrorism and civil unrest. However, as of yet, only increased caution is advised.
As for COVID-19:
It's best to follow common health practices such as sanitizing, social distancing, wearing masks, and other regulations implemented by the government. Even so, covid cases around the globe are starting to decline and tourism is slowly returning back to normal. International governments have implemented standard covid protocol for all inbound travelers to ensure the safety of tourist and locals. As such, traveling abroad has become more safe overall.
Can US Green Card Holders Travel To Spain Without A Specific Visa?
Sadly, US Green Card holders do not enjoy the same visa-free travel benefits as US citizens. US Green Card holders will need to apply for a Spain Visa (if their home country doesn't enjoy visa-free travel). Applying for a Spain Visa is a simple and easy process. If you want to know more about the Spanish Tourist Visa, you can check our easy-to-follow guide on how to apply for your tourist visa.
Do Citizens From Canada Enjoy Visa-Free Travel?
Yes. Like American citizens, Canadian citizens also enjoy the benefit of visa-free travel to Spain; they also need to meet the Spain entry requirements too.
Do You Need A Visa To Go To Spain?
No. US citizens enjoy visa-free travel to Spain. As such, US citizens do not need a visa to go to Spain. Currently there is no Spain Visa for US citizens, unless you're a US Green Card Holder. Keep in mind that US Green Card Holders might have to apply for a visa if their country of origin does not enjoy visa-free travel to Spain.
What Are Spain 's Health And Travel Restrictions?
Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, Spain has implemented strict health restrictions to ensure the safety of travelers and residents. All residents and travelers should comply with these health restrictions and rules. To learn more about Spain's health restrictions, check our dedicated page. Here you will find specific information about entry requirements, health regulations, and more.
Do I Need A COVID-19 Test When Returning To The US?
Yes. You'll need to present a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken 3 days before flying back to the US.
Do I Need To Be Vaccinated Before Traveling To Spain?
Yes. If you are traveling to Spain from the US for non-essential purposes (such as tourism or short business trips) you'll need to be vaccinated.
There are certain types of travelers who exempt from having the vaccine when traveling to Spain. To learn more about who is exempt from having the vaccine you can check the official Spain Ministry of Health website. Those who are exempt from having the vaccine should do a PCR test and present the negative results.
What Are The COVID-19 Testing Requirements?
Unvaccinated travelers from the US must present a negative COVID-19 test. The acceptable tests are the RT-PCR (NAAT) or Antigen test. The RT-PCR test should be taken 72 hours before your flight and the Anitgen test should be taken 48 hours before your flight.
Vaccinated travelers only need to present an approved vaccination certificate.
Children who are under the age of 6 do not require to present a negative PCR test.
Do I Need To Quarantine Once I Arrive In Spain?
No. There is no mandatory quarantine requirements for visitors arriving in Spain.
What Do COVID-19 Tests Cost In Spain?
For an antigen test, you can expect to pay around €30.
For a PCR test from a private medical facility, you can expect to pay around €120.
When Will A COVID-19 Testing Waiver Be Given?
The CDC will grant waivers to the testing requirements on a limited basis. Only in cases where extreme emergency travel is required (like an emergency medical evacuation) and testing can't be completed before travel will the CDC waiver testing requirements. Individuals who believe they meet the criteria for a waiver should e-email the U.S. Embassy in Madrid at spaincdcwaivers@state.gov.
What Vaccination Certificates Are Recognized By Spain?
Spanish authorities have announced that all vaccines that have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted when traveling to Spain. These include the following:
- Comirnaty – Pfizer/BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH.
- Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca
- AstraZeneca/SK Bio, SK Bioscience Co. Ltd.
- Vaccine AstraZeneca (Covishield™), Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.
- Janssen-Cilag International NV.
- Spikevax; mRNA-1273), Moderna Biotech
- Vero Cell – Sinopharm/Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd.
- Sinovac-CoronaVac (Vero Cell), Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd.
Can I Travel To Other Countries In Europe When Visiting Spain?
Yes. It is possible for vaccinated Americans to visit any one of the Schengen Territories when in Europe. Note that you will need to add your travel plans into your itinerary. You should be able to easily prove the purpose of your trip to other European countries.
Other Schengen member states you can visit include: 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, and Switzerland
Note that the CDC has indicated that Spain and Andorra are high risk areas. Visitors should implement relevant safety precautions when traveling.