{"id":107169,"date":"2021-03-24T11:05:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T18:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/?p=107169"},"modified":"2022-01-18T02:19:30","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T10:19:30","slug":"a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide for Traveling to Spain (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><select style=\"margin-bottom: 16px;\" name=\"forma\" onchange=\"location = this.value;\"><option selected=\"selected\" value=\"\">part 1<\/option><option value=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">part 2<\/option><option value=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/considerations-for-living-and-working-in-spain-part-3\/\">part 3<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#The_Spanish_Short-Term_Visa_System\" title=\"The Spanish Short-Term Visa System\">The Spanish Short-Term Visa System<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#Spanish_Short-Term_Visa_Overview\" title=\"Spanish Short-Term Visa Overview\">Spanish Short-Term Visa Overview<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#The_Schengen_Visa\" title=\"The Schengen Visa\">The Schengen Visa<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#The_Documents_Needed_to_Enter_Spain_as_a_Tourist\" title=\"The Documents Needed to Enter Spain as a Tourist\">The Documents Needed to Enter Spain as a Tourist<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#ETIAS_-_The_European_Travel_Information_and_Authorisation_System\" title=\"ETIAS \u2013 The European Travel Information and Authorisation System\">ETIAS \u2013 The European Travel Information and Authorisation System<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#Staying_Long-Term_Preparing_to_Live_and_Work_in_Spain\" title=\"Staying Long-Term: Preparing to Live and Work in Spain\">Staying Long-Term: Preparing to Live and Work in Spain<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#Common_Questions_About_the_Spanish_Visa_System_and_Travel_in_Spain\" title=\"Common Questions About the Spanish Visa System and Travel in Spain\">Common Questions About the Spanish Visa System and Travel in Spain<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/#The_Spain_Visa_Series\" title=\"The Spain Visa Series:\">The Spain Visa Series:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Spanish_Short-Term_Visa_System\"><\/span><strong>The Spanish Short-Term Visa System<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spain is a country with some of the most mesmerizing landscapes and buzzing metropolitan areas in Southern Europe, if not the world, and every year thousands of tourists and workers flock to Spain from all over. The European and North African artistry, architecture, food, and culture on display across Spain is simply indescribable for those who have yet to experience it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As a testament to Spain&#8217;s draw, people are constantly asking questions of us trying to find out how they too can travel there. To help answer these questions and provide you with a clear gameplan for meeting Spain&#8217;s requirement for entry, we have put together a series of guides.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This is the first part of the series, and we will cover the necessary information regarding Spain&#8217;s Visa system for tourists and other short-term travelers. After that, we will go into some of the requirements for working and living in the country long-term, and finally a piece on the culture and of living in Spain in general.<br \/>\n______________________________<\/p>\n<p><strong>In This Article:<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Spanish Short-Term Visa Overview<br \/>\n\u25e6 The Schengen Visa<br \/>\n\u25e6 The Documents Needed to Enter Spain as a Tourist<br \/>\n\u25e6 ETIAS \u2013 The European Travel Information and Authorisation System<br \/>\n\u2022 Staying Long-Term: Preparing to Live and Work in Spain<br \/>\n\u2022 Common Questions About the Spanish Visa System and General Travel in Spain<\/p>\n<p><strong>In This Series:<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 In part 2, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">we will go over the Spain visa requirements for long-term stays<\/a>.<br \/>\n\u2022 In Part 3 <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/considerations-for-living-and-working-in-spain-part-3\/\">we will go into some of the general considerations for living and working in Spain.<\/a><br \/>\n______________________________<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spanish_Short-Term_Visa_Overview\"><\/span><strong>Spanish Short-Term Visa Overview<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Traveling to and from Spain and her surrounding countries has been relatively simple since the creation of the &#8220;Schengen Area&#8221; following the Schengen Agreement. Those from the participating countries who are members of the Schengen Agreement may cross each other&#8217;s borders for up to 90 days with little difficulty. A holder of a Uniform Schengen visa can travel to all 26 member countries of the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that lets citizens of member countries travel in a nation amongst the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for both tourism and business.<br \/>\n\u2022 The Spain tourist visa no longer exists and instead has been rolled up into the Schengen agreement.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Some countries, like the United States, have other diplomatic treaties that allow them to access the Schengen zone. For example, if you are from the United States (not a member of the Schengen Zone, but a country with diplomatic treaties allowing them easy access) and your stay is less than three months, you will need only a passport, sufficient funds, and proof of a return airline ticket. Also, something that is often overlooked, your passport needs to be valid for at least three months past the period you plan to stay.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If your country is not a member of the Schengen agreement or is not a country eligible for visa-free entry into Spain, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa before traveling to Spain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 In part 2, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">we will go over the Spain visa requirements for long-term stays<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Schengen_Visa\"><\/span><strong>The Schengen Visa<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Schengen Area is a zone of European countries aiming for the free and unrestricted movement of people. The Schengen passport-free zone is the largest free travel area in the world. A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows members of the Schengen Area and those accepted to travel amongst the area to conduct stays up to 90 days. The Spain Schengen visa replaced the Spain tourist visa.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985, and has grown to encompass 26 member countries, and multiple countries are allowed to participate through other diplomatic means. Mostly, all E.U. members participate, though Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway are technically associate members, and Romania, Croatia, and Cyprus are seeking to join. The U.K. and Ireland do not belong to the Schengen area.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Documents_Needed_to_Enter_Spain_as_a_Tourist\"><\/span><strong>The Documents Needed to Enter Spain as a Tourist<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While not a Schengen member country, The United States is one of the visa-exempt countries for Europe. This means that US citizens will only need a few necessary documents (This is based on a U.S. citizen cleared for travel):<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 <strong>A Valid US Passport<\/strong><br \/>\nNot older than ten years and valid for at least three more months (beyond the date you return).<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 <strong>Reason for Entry<\/strong><br \/>\nBe able to demonstrate your purpose for entry. Any travel plans or events you are attending.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 Proof of Sufficient Money for Your Stay<\/strong><br \/>\nYou will need \u201cDocuments which prove that the US traveler has the financial means to support themselves during their whole stay in Europe.\u201d You will also need to show you have a return ticket.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These requirements are standard for most countries, though there are a number of exceptions. Always double-check the latest travel advice from the Spanish government.<br \/>\n_____________<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you plan to study, work, or live in the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa. The Spain Schengen visa only extends for those three months. Regardless of Visa, all documents will need to be translated into Spanish by a sworn or certified translator properly appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All documents issued in a language other than Spanish, such as your criminal background check and bank statements that will be submitted to Spanish Officials, must be translated into Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ETIAS_-_The_European_Travel_Information_and_Authorisation_System\"><\/span><strong>ETIAS \u2013 The European Travel Information and Authorisation System<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is an electronic system for tracking and policing visitors in the Schengen Zone. It is very similar to the ESTA. The system is expected to be launched on January 1, 2022, and obligatory for travelers by the end of 2022.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>U.S. citizens and those from other visa-waiver countries will have to apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver. You will get the ETIAS travel authorization by completing an online form and answering some security questions. Currently, there are no further requirements than what you already need for the current process.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Staying_Long-Term_Preparing_to_Live_and_Work_in_Spain\"><\/span><strong>Staying Long-Term: Preparing to Live and Work in Spain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This article was just a brief overview of the Spanish short-term visa process, and luckily that process is quite simple for citizens of most countries. Those who wish to work and live in Spain for longer than ninety days will have more requirements and considerations. In fact, these topics are big enough to warrant their own articles.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Part 2 <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">will go over the Spain visa application form,<\/a> what you will need for the various types of Spain visa application forms, what Spain visa documents are required, as well as other general Spain travel visa requirements. We will explain how to get a Spain visa, and we will try and help you get set up to apply for a Spain visa.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The application visa for Spain isn&#8217;t incredibly complicated, but it changes depending on your goals. Luckily with a bit of advice for getting a visa for Spain and how to apply for a tourist visa for Spain, it should be a snap.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 In part 2, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">we will go over the Spain visa requirements and steps to take for long-term stays in Spain.<\/a><br \/>\n\u2022 In Part 3, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/considerations-for-living-and-working-in-spain-part-3\/\">we will go into some of the general considerations for living and working in Spain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The application visa for Spain isn&#8217;t incredibly complicated, but it changes depending on your goals. Luckily, with a bit of advice for getting a visa for Spain and how to apply for a tourist visa for Spain, it should be a snap. The Spanish Group provides complete document translation, certification, and notarization services for every Visa process step.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Whether you need an apostille, authentication, translation, or certification, The Spanish Group will ensure you receive complete document services at the best possible pricing. It has never been easier or more affordable to have experienced experts on hand. If you have any further questions about documents that may be required and how to properly prepare them for submission to Spanish officials, reach out to our friendly staff today!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Questions_About_the_Spanish_Visa_System_and_Travel_in_Spain\"><\/span><strong>Common Questions About the Spanish Visa System and Travel in Spain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the questions we get most often. This is simply a quick recap of what we are covering in this Spanish Travel series.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 Do you need a Visa for Spain?<\/strong><br \/>\nSo, do you need a visa to enter Spain? As we covered, you will need to simply get a quick Schengen-visa for stays less than 90 days if you are from a participating country.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While not a Schengen member country, The United States is one of the visa-exempt countries for Europe. This means that U.S. citizens will only need a few necessary documents to be accepted into the country. You more or less simply need your passport, proof of financial security, and a valid reason for entry.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Other common forms of this question we get include:<br \/>\n\u2022 Do I need a visa to go to Spain?<br \/>\n\u2022 Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?<br \/>\n\u2022 Do you need a visa to go to Spain?\u201d<br \/>\n\u2022 Is a visa needed for Spain?<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 Do you need a visa to enter Spain if you are from the Schengen zone?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No, if you are a citizen of another Schengen zone country, you will not need to obtain a Visa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 Do you need a visa for Spain from the UK?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another common question is, &#8220;Do I need a visa for Spain when coming from the U.K.?&#8221;<br \/>\nFor U.K. citizens, like U.S. citizens, you will simply need to show your U.K. passport as well as proof of financial security and travel plans.<br \/>\nLong-term visa requirements are specific to Spain, though, for those who lived in Spain before Brexit, the conditions are a bit different.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 Can I get a Spanish Visa? How do I apply for a Spain visa?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The answers for how to get a Spain Visa and the necessities for filling out the application for a visa for Spain will be covered in part 2, as well as the answers for how to get a Spain visa of various types. You can apply for a Spain visa from the USA or any country that has access to a Spanish embassy and the proper officials.<\/p>\n<p>Other common forms of this question we get include:<br \/>\n\u2022 How to apply for a tourist visa for Spain?<br \/>\n\u2022 How do I get a visa for Spain?<br \/>\n\u2022 Do I need a visa to go to Spain?<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 How long does it take to get a visa for Spain?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe average process for a visa can take over six weeks (though these times can vary drastically depending on the Visa and whether your documents were prepared correctly), so always plan in advance. You can apply up to 90 days before your date of departure.<br \/>\n__________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>Continue reading in this series to learn how to get a long-term visa and what to expect as you travel and live in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Spain_Visa_Series\"><\/span><strong>The Spain Visa Series:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\u2022 In part 1, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/a-guide-for-traveling-to-spain\/\">we go over the Spanish visa basics, as well as the Schengen Visa.<\/a><br \/>\n\u2022 In part 2, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/get-what-you-need-for-spanish-long-term-visas-part-2\/\">we go over the Spain visa requirements and steps to take for long-term stays in Spain<\/a>.<br \/>\n\u2022 In Part 3, <a href=\"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.org\/blog\/considerations-for-living-and-working-in-spain-part-3\/\">we will go into some of the general considerations for living and working in Spain<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>part 1part 2part 3 Table of Contents The Spanish Short-Term Visa SystemSpanish Short-Term Visa OverviewThe Schengen VisaThe Documents Needed to Enter Spain as a TouristETIAS \u2013 The European Travel Information and Authorisation SystemStaying Long-Term: Preparing to Live and Work in SpainCommon Questions About the Spanish Visa System and Travel in SpainThe Spain Visa Series: The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22586,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[378,372],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107169"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22586"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107169"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146335,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107169\/revisions\/146335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespanishgroup.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}