QuickTravelTools Do I need a visa for Spain with a British passport?
No visa needed. You can stay up to 90 days.
Rule verified by QuickTravelTools on October 10, 2026.
Visa rules for all 199 passports: Spain visa hub.
What you need
- Passport: should be valid at least 6 months after your trip ends.
- How long you can stay: up to 90 days.
- Official information: Official visa information page, Spain (Spanish MFA)
ETIAS (not live yet)
Europe's ETIAS travel authorization is not live yet, so visa-free visitors from outside the EU need only a passport for now. The EU has not set a launch date and says it will announce one several months before the system goes live.
Official source: European Union.
Official sources
- US citizens and citizens from other visa-exempt countries, holders of an ordinary passport: up to 90 days in a 180-day period in the Schengen area (including Spain) without a visa; ETIAS expected operational in the last quarter of 2026, no action required yet (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain (Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC), verified October 5, 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 Annexes I and II give the complete per-nationality list of third countries whose nationals need, or are exempt from, a Schengen visa; Spain applies this EU list as a Schengen state. EUR-Lex page verified live 2026-10-06. (European Union (EUR-Lex), Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, verified October 6, 2026)
Spain at a glance
| Region | Europe |
|---|---|
| Everyday prices | 60 on our price index (US = 100) |
| Power | Type C/F sockets, 230/400 V, 50 Hz |
On cost, Spain is mid-priced for travelers: everyday prices sit at about 60 on a global index where the United States is 100. See how Spain compares to 179 countries.
Pack a plug adapter: British devices use Type G/D/M, but Spain uses Type C/F. Full plug and voltage guide for Spain.
Good to know about Spain
- Your 90-day limit is shared across the whole Schengen area. Time spent in France, Italy, or any other Schengen country counts toward the same 90 days in any 180-day period. It is not 90 days per country. (European External Action Service)
- Spanish border officers can ask you to prove you have enough money for your stay. They can also ask to see your return or onward ticket. Keep both within reach at passport control. (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Carrying EUR 10,000 or more in cash? You must declare it before crossing the Spanish border. (Sepblac (Spanish anti-money-laundering authority))
- Your passport must stay valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. Check the expiry date before you book. (European External Action Service)
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Common questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Spain?
No. British passport holders do not need a visa for tourism stays in Spain of up to 90 days.
How long can a British passport holder stay in Spain?
British passport holders can stay in Spain for up to 90 days without a visa. Stays longer than 90 days require a different visa or immigration authorization.
Is the visa information on this page official?
No. This is a summary compiled from official government sources and verified by QuickTravelTools, and it can lag rule changes. Always confirm with Spain's embassy or official immigration portal before you travel.
Is there an arrival card or travel authorisation for Spain?
Europe's ETIAS travel authorization is not live yet, so visa-free visitors from outside the EU need only a passport for now. The EU has not set a launch date and says it will announce one several months before the system goes live.
Nearby destinations for British passport holders
Sorted by distance from Spain, useful if your trip covers more than one country.