United States
Spain
Spain visa for US citizens
Entry requirement
US citizens can visit Spain without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at exteriores.gob.es
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Spain: visa decisions in the United States
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22,556 | 21,390 | 660 | 3.0% | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 24,097 | 22,505 | 937 | 4.0% | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 25,211 | 22,916 | 1,517 | 6.2% | 11.6% |
In 2025, Spain’s embassy and consulates in the United States (New York, Miami, Houston, Washington D.C. and Chicago) received 25,211 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 22,916. 6.2% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 4.0%: the rate rose by 2.2 points. Applications rose by 5% compared with 2024 (24,097).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.9% of the applications lodged in the United States that year, from 0.4% at the consulates of Greece to 20.5% at those of Sweden. Spain’s consulates worldwide refused 14.6%. Spain was the 2nd most applied-for Schengen state in the United States.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United States, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Spanish citizens travelling to the United States
SpainUnited States Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United States visa for citizens of Spain
Travel advice for Spain
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from the United States to Spain, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Spain at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 31 July 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Spain (updated 28 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Spain (updated 2 November 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long US citizens can stay in Spain
US citizens may stay in Spain for up to 90 days. Days in Spain count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Spain and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of US citizens in Spain count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Spain’s neighbours for US citizens
Andorra, Portugal, France and Morocco admit US citizens visa-free.
Spanish citizens travelling to the United States
Before flying to the United States, Spanish citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Spain?
US citizens can visit Spain without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can US citizens stay in Spain?
US citizens can stay in Spain for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Spanish citizens need a visa for the United States?
Before flying to the United States, Spanish citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Can US citizens enter Spain visa-free?
Yes, US citizens can enter Spain without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.