Spanish passport holders can access 123 countries visa-free, and a total of 184 countries either without a visa or with visa on arrival, an eVisa, or an ETA. There are only 12 nations which Spanish citizens requires a visa to enter. Our 2026 guide lists the updated destinations by access type, and important travel-rule changes.
Spain Passport Visa-Free Countries: 2026 Updates
Overview of the Spanish Passport
The Spanish passport is one of the most powerful in the world, allowing free access to 184 countries. According to the Passport Index by our Global Intelligence Unit, Spain has one of the most powerful passports, ranking 17th overall in 2026. Spanish passport holders have the privilege to travel visa-free for tourism and business, which can open doors to a variety of experiences and opportunities across different continents.
Spain Passport Rankings Visa Free Countries for Spanish Passport Holders
The following nations allow Spanish citizens to enter without a visa, for short stays in most cases:
United Arab EmiratesAntigua and BarbudaAlbaniaArmeniaAngolaArgentinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBarbadosBruneiBoliviaBrazilBahamasBotswanaBelarusChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCape VerdeDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorFijiFederated States of MicronesiaGrenadaGeorgiaGuatemalaGuyanaHondurasHaitiJamaicaJapanKyrgyzstanKiribatiSouth KoreaKazakhstanSaint LuciaLesothoMoroccoMoldovaMontenegroMarshall IslandsNorth MacedoniaMongoliaMauritiusMexicoMalaysiaMozambiqueNicaraguaNauruOmanPanamaPeruPhilippinesPalauParaguayQatarSerbiaSolomon IslandsSingaporeSenegalSurinameSao Tome and PrincipeEl SalvadorEswatiniThailandTajikistanEast TimorTunisiaTongaTurkeyTrinidad and TobagoTuvaluUkraineUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesVenezuelaVietnamVanuatuSamoaSouth AfricaZambiaVisa on Arrival Countries for Spanish Passport Holders
The following countries require Spanish passport holders to get a visa on arrival:
BangladeshBurundiGuinea-BissauIndonesiaComorosLebanonMaldivesCountries that Require an eVisa for Spanish Passport Holders
The following countries require Spanish passport holders to get electronic visas before traveling:
AfghanistanAzerbaijanBurkina FasoBahrainBeninBhutanDemocratic Republic of the CongoIvory CoastCameroonCubaDjiboutiEgyptEthiopiaGabonGuineaEquatorial GuineaIndiaIraqIranJordanCambodiaKuwaitLaosSri LankaLibyaMadagascarMyanmarMauritaniaMalawiNamibiaNigeriaNepalPapua New GuineaPakistanRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth SudanSyriaChadTogoTanzaniaUgandaZimbabweCountries with ETA for Spanish Passport Holders
The following nations require Spanish citizens to acquire Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel:
AustraliaCanadaUnited KingdomIsraelKenyaSaint Kitts and NevisNew ZealandSeychellesCountries with Visa Requirements for Spain Passport Holders
The list below shows all the countries requiring Spanish passport holders to apply for a visa before making travel arrangements:
Central African RepublicRepublic of the CongoAlgeriaEritreaGhanaLiberiaMaliNigerSudanTurkmenistanYemen
Take a look at our Spanish Digital Nomad Visa guide to discover your pathway to citizenship
Top 5 Benefits of the Spanish Passport
- Extensive visa-free access: Spanish passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries, including the USA, Canada, and the majority of countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This makes international travel for both leisure and business highly convenient.
- EU membership benefits: As Spain is a member of the European Union, Spanish citizens have the right to live, work, and study in any other EU country without the need for additional permits or visas, offering a wealth of opportunities for career growth, education, and cultural experiences.
- Access to the Schengen Area: Holding a Spanish passport allows unrestricted travel within the Schengen Area, which encompasses 29 European countries that have abolished passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders, facilitating efficient intra-European travel.
- Consular support and protection: Spanish citizens can rely on consular support and protection from any EU member state when traveling abroad, especially in countries where Spain may not have a significant diplomatic presence.
- Strong global reputation: Spain’s passport is internationally respected and ranks 2nd for global mobility on our Passport Index. This strong reputation can facilitate smoother travel experiences, including easier processing at border controls and wider acceptance of visa applications to countries that do require them.
Most Popular Spain Visa-Free Travel Destinations
The Schengen Area encompasses a monumental agreement among European countries, allowing free and unrestricted movement across their borders as if they were a single country for international travel purposes. Spanish passport holders can travel to all 29 countries in the Schengen Area without a visa, making it popular for tourism and business.
On top of that, Spanish citizens can travel to South Africa without a visa. It’s important to note that there are specific entry requirements and you can stay for a limited amount of time. Visa-free destinations outside of the EU will likely require additional visas for long-term stays.
Spanish passport validity for travelers
A Spanish passport must be valid for the duration required by the destination country, and some countries also require it to remain valid for at least six months after arrival. Travelers should check entry rules before departure, because airlines and border authorities may apply different document requirements depending on the route and the length of stay.
Where can Spanish citizens travel with only a DNI?
Spanish citizens can travel with only a valid DNI to all EU countries, and a set of nearby European states that accept the card for entry. It is important to note that the UK no longer accepts just a DNI as a travel document, and now requires a passport. In addition to all EU countries, the following nations allow Spanish citizens to travel with only a DNI:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Norway
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- North Macedonia
Spanish Residency Options
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
The Spain Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain while working remotely for foreign companies or clients. It is issued for one year if you apply from abroad, or up to three years if you apply from within Spain, and can be renewed for a total stay of up to five years.
After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency. Spanish citizenship generally requires ten years of legal residence, so this visa can lead to citizenship as long as you maintain legal residency for the required period.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa is for people who want to live in Spain without working there. Applicants must show they have enough financial means to support themselves independently. The visa is first issued for one year and can then be renewed in two-year increments, allowing a total of five years of temporary residence.
After five years, holders can apply for permanent residency. Like other long-term residents, those on the Non-Lucrative Visa can apply for Spanish citizenship after ten years of legal residence, provided they continue meeting Spain’s residence requirements.
How to Get a Spanish Passport
To get a Spanish passport, you must first be a Spanish citizen. There are three main ways of acquiring Spanish citizenship and they are by naturalization, by descent, and by marriage. Naturalization is the most common route and usually requires 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain. However, citizens of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jewish people, can apply after just 2 years of residence.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is an advisory migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
