Travel Fact Sheet for Spain

Visas: If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you do not require a visa to enter Spain.  Other British Nationals should confirm the current entry requirements with their nearest Spanish Diplomatic Mission.
 
Passport validity: A valid British passport must be held for entry to and exit from Spain.  There is no minimum validity requirement but it must be valid for the proposed period of your stay.
 
Staying for longer than three months: Since 28 March 2007 all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than three months are required to register in person at the Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in their area of residence or local designated Police station.  You will no longer be issued with a residence card but be given a certificate stating your name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration.  The certificate serves as confirmation that the registration obligation has been fulfilled, but it is not recognised by local authorities as a valid form of identification and you are not obliged to keep the certificate with you. 

Flights are classified in three groups according to their origin or destination: Schengen, EU Non-Schengen and Third Countries.

Citizens from Schengen Countries on flights departing from or flying to countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement may cross internal borders freely. Domestic flights are also considered Schengen flights.

The Schengen Countries are:  Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (non-EU)

There is no free circulation for citizens of Non-Schengen EU Countries which are European Union member states that have not joined the Schengen agreement.  

The Non-Schengen EU Countries are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom

Third Countries are non-European Union member states that have not joined the Schengen agreement and their citizens cross internal borders freely.

If you are a resident in Spain (staying here for 3 months or more) and driving on a non Spanish driving licence, then just like a holder of a Spanish licence you must have a valid medical certificate to prove you are fit to drive.

In Spain a resident must take a medical from the date of the first licence application every 10 years up to age 45: every 5 years up to age 70 and then every two years. If you do not have a Spanish licence then carry the medical certificate as a receipt and ignore the fact that it is only valid for three months.

Without the medical certificate your licence is not valid which could mean your insurance is also invalid.

Parents should be aware that Spanish law defines anyone under the age of 18 to be a minor and subject to parental control or adult supervision.  Any unaccompanied minors that come to the attention of the Spanish local authorities (particularly for criminal incidents or when in hospital) are deemed to be vulnerable and face being taken into a Minors’ centre for their protection until their situation is resolved and a parent or suitable guardian can be found.

There is a requirement to carry some form of ID with you at all times which means either your passport or some other form of photographic ID.

Since 1 January 2006 legislation against smoking in public places came into effect with fines ranging from €30 to a maximum of €600.

 The City of Madrid and Balearics and Canary Islands Regional Governments have banned the consumption of alcohol in the street and failure to respect this law may result in hefty fines.

Hotels have a legal obligation to register the passport details of tourists on check-in.  Hotel staff either register your passport details or take a photocopy of it.  If you do not want to leave your passport in reception and collect it later take your own photocopy.

The Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  This is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Spanish nationals.  You will not be covered for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. 

If you intend to visit Andorra you should be aware that is not an EU member and the EHIC card is not accepted there and the main hospital  there recommends that all travellers to Andorra take out Travel Insurance which is valid for travel to NON-EU Countries. If you are planning on skiing or rafting make sure that your insurance policy covers this type of activity. 

Since 15 June 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply with any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to €10,000 or more (this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc) and will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country (as long as the original journey started outside of the EU) nor to those travelling within the EU.

 

For telephone numbers and the location of British Consulates in Spain visit www.britishembassy.gov.uk
 
Opening hours, telephone numbers and addresses of all British consular posts in Spain can be found by clicking on “consular offices”.