A Spanish passport is a valuable travel document, granting holders visa-free access to 127 countries and visa-on-arrival access to many more. Spanish citizens are also EU citizens, which means they can live, work, and travel freely across the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland. Spain ranks 20th on the Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index, making it one of the strongest passports for international mobility.

This article explains everything you need to know about the Spanish passport. You will learn how powerful it is, how to get one, what documents you need, the application process, the costs, and other important details.

In this ultimate guide to the Spanish passport, you will learn about:

Spanish Passport Ranking

The Spanish passport ranks 20th in the Global Passport Report by Global Citizen Solutions. What sets the Global Citizen Solutions Passport Index apart is its holistic approach. Instead of focusing only on visa-free travel, it evaluates passports based on three key factors: quality of life, enhanced mobility, and investment opportunities. This makes it a more complete and insightful ranking for those looking at the true value of citizenship.

Therefore, Spain also ranks 5th on the Quality of Life Index and 5th on the Enhanced Mobility Index, making it one of the most desirable passports in the world.

Global Passport Rank

20th

Quality of Life Ranking

5th

Enhanced Mobility Ranking:

5th

Visa-Free Access

127 countries (includes limited-day stays)

e-Visa Access

37 countries

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

12 countries

Visa on Arrival

16 countries

Limited-Day Visa-Free Access

6 countries

Visa Required

41 countries

Top 10 Spanish Passport Benefits

The benefits of a Spanish passport are immense. Whether you want to open doors for your family to travel, immerse yourself in the incredible Spanish culture, or start investing in EU countries, the Spanish passport offers all this and more to those who qualify.

Since joining the EU in 1986, Spanish citizens have enjoyed numerous benefits, which include:

  1. Exceptional travel mobility: The Spanish passport ranks fourth globally on the Enhanced Mobility Index. There are over 100 Spanish passport visa-free countries, enhancing mobility across the globe.
  2. Live and work in the European Union: Spain is a member of the European Union (EU), and so the Spanish passport grants individuals free movement and the right to live, work, and study in European Union countries without the need for additional visas or permits.
  3. Access to high-quality healthcare: One of the main benefits of having a Spanish passport is that you become an EU citizen, granting you access to public healthcare throughout Europe using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The Spanish healthcare system is also fantastic, with options for private health insurance at a much lower rate than in other European countries and the US.
  4. Safe Investments: With a stable economy and political neutrality, Spanish citizens have access to a secure and reliable investment landscape.
  5. Voting rights: Spanish citizens have a right to vote in elections, and if you want to make a difference in Spain, this is the way.
  6. Educational opportunities: Looking at the benefits of Spanish citizenship, all Spanish citizens have access to a rich and comprehensive educational system, including preschool, primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
  7. Consular benefits: All Spanish citizens can reach out to Spanish consulates and embassies across the world in case of any issues during their travels.
  8. Spanish culture and language: The benefits of a Spanish passport include the opportunities to immerse yourself in the rich Spanish culture and language.
  9. Retirement in Spain: If you get the passport, you have an opportunity to retire in Spain later on with almost no hassle.
  10. Spanish Passport Ranking: The Spanish passport has one of the highest passport rankings in the world. Ranked 20th in the Global Passport Index, the passport guarantees visa-free access to 129 countries to Spanish citizens, including on-arrival visa access to 41 countries. Additionally, you can access 37 countries with electronic visas.

Global Visa Requirements for Spanish Passport Holders

Spanish passports offer their holders numerous advantages, chief among them being the ability to travel to a wide range of countries without needing a visa. Below is an in-depth look at the entry conditions to various countries.

CountrySpain
Afghanistanvisa required
Albaniavisa free (90 days)
Algeriavisa required
Andorravisa free
Angolavisa free (30 days)
Antigua and Barbudavisa free (180 days)
Argentinavisa free (90 days)
Armeniavisa free (180 days)
Australiae-visa
Austriavisa free
Azerbaijane-visa
Bahamasvisa free (90 days)
Bahrainvisa on arrival
Bangladeshvisa on arrival
Barbadosvisa free (90 days)
Belarusvisa free (30 days)
Belgiumvisa free
Belizevisa free
Benine-visa
Bhutane-visa
Bolivia, Plurinational State ofvisa free (90 days)
Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa free (90 days)
Botswanavisa free (90 days)
Brazilvisa free (90 days)
Brunei Darussalamvisa free (90 days)
Bulgariavisa free
Burkina Fasovisa on arrival
Burundivisa on arrival
Cambodiavisa on arrival
Cameroone-visa
Canadae-visa
Cabo Verdevisa free (30 days)
Central African Republicvisa required
Chadvisa required
Chilevisa free (90 days)
Chinavisa free (15 days)
Colombiavisa free (90 days)
Comorosvisa on arrival
Congovisa required
Congo, The Democratic Republic of thee-visa
Costa Ricavisa free (180 days)
Côte d'Ivoiree-visa
Croatiavisa free
Cubavisa required
Cyprusvisa free
Czechiavisa free
Denmarkvisa free
Djiboutie-visa
Dominicavisa free (180 days)
Dominican Republicvisa free
Ecuadorvisa free (90 days)
Egyptvisa on arrival
El Salvadorvisa free (90 days)
Equatorial Guineae-visa
Eritreavisa required
Estoniavisa free
Eswatinivisa free (30 days)
Ethiopiavisa on arrival
Fijivisa free (120 days)
Finlandvisa free
Francevisa free
Gabonvisa free (30 days)
Gambiavisa free (90 days)
Georgiavisa free (360 days)
Germanyvisa free
Ghanavisa on arrival
Greecevisa free
Grenadavisa free (90 days)
Guatemalavisa free (90 days)
Guineae-visa
Guinea-Bissauvisa on arrival
Guyanavisa free (90 days)
Haitivisa free (90 days)
Hondurasvisa free (90 days)
Hong Kongvisa free (90 days)
Hungaryvisa free
Icelandvisa free
Indiae-visa
Indonesiavisa on arrival
Iran, Islamic Republic ofe-visa
Iraqvisa on arrival
Irelandvisa free
Israelvisa free (90 days)
Italyvisa free
Jamaicavisa free (90 days)
Japanvisa free (90 days)
Jordanvisa on arrival
Kazakhstanvisa free (30 days)
Kenyae-visa
Kiribativisa free (90 days)
Kuwaitvisa on arrival
Kyrgyzstanvisa free (60 days)
Lao People's Democratic Republicvisa on arrival
Latviavisa free
Lebanonvisa on arrival
Lesothovisa free (14 days)
Liberiavisa required
Libyavisa required
Liechtensteinvisa free
Lithuaniavisa free
Luxembourgvisa free
Macaovisa free (90 days)
Madagascarvisa on arrival
Malawivisa on arrival
Malaysiavisa free (90 days)
Maldivesvisa on arrival
Malivisa required
Maltavisa free
Marshall Islandsvisa free (90 days)
Mauritaniavisa on arrival
Mauritiusvisa free (90 days)
Mexicovisa free (180 days)
Micronesia, Federated States ofvisa free (90 days)
Moldova, Republic ofvisa free (90 days)
Monacovisa free
Mongoliavisa free (30 days)
Montenegrovisa free (90 days)
Moroccovisa free (90 days)
Mozambiquevisa free (30 days)
Myanmare-visa
Namibiavisa free (90 days)
Nauruvisa required
Nepalvisa on arrival
Netherlandsvisa free
New Zealande-visa
Nicaraguavisa free (90 days)
Nigervisa required
Nigeriae-visa
Korea, Democratic People's Republic ofvisa required
North Macedoniavisa free (90 days)
Norwayvisa free
Omanvisa on arrival
Pakistane-visa
Palauvisa free (90 days)
Palestine, State ofvisa free
Panamavisa free (90 days)
Papua New Guineae-visa
Paraguayvisa free (90 days)
Peruvisa free (90 days)
Philippinesvisa free (30 days)
Polandvisa free
Portugalvisa free
Qatarvisa on arrival
Romaniavisa free
Russian Federatione-visa
Rwandavisa on arrival
Saint Kitts and Nevisvisa free (90 days)
Saint Luciavisa free (90 days)
Samoavisa free (90 days)
San Marinovisa free
Sao Tome and Principevisa free (15 days)
Saudi Arabiavisa on arrival
Senegalvisa free (90 days)
Serbiavisa free (90 days)
Seychellesvisa free (90 days)
Sierra Leonevisa on arrival
Singaporevisa free (90 days)
Slovakiavisa free
Sloveniavisa free
Solomon Islandsvisa free (90 days)
Somaliavisa on arrival
South Africavisa free (90 days)
Korea, Republic ofvisa free (90 days)
South Sudane-visa
Sri Lankae-visa
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesvisa free (90 days)
Sudanvisa required
Surinamevisa required
Swedenvisa free
Switzerlandvisa free
Syrian Arab Republicvisa required
Taiwan, Province of Chinavisa free (90 days)
Tajikistanvisa free (30 days)
Tanzania, United Republic ofvisa on arrival
Thailandvisa free (30 days)
Timor-Lestevisa free (90 days)
Togovisa on arrival
Tongavisa free (90 days)
Trinidad and Tobagovisa free (90 days)
Tunisiavisa free (90 days)
Turkmenistanvisa required
Tuvaluvisa free (90 days)
Turkeyvisa free (90 days)
Ugandae-visa
Ukrainevisa free (90 days)
United Arab Emiratesvisa free (90 days)
United Kingdomvisa free (180 days)
United Statese-visa
Uruguayvisa free (90 days)
Uzbekistanvisa free (30 days)
Vanuatuvisa free (90 days)
Holy See (Vatican City State)visa free
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofvisa free (90 days)
Viet Namvisa free (45 days)
Yemenvisa required
Zambiavisa free (90 days)
Zimbabwevisa on arrival

How to Qualify for a Spanish Passport

To qualify for a Spanish passport, you must first become a Spanish citizen. There are several pathways to obtaining Spanish citizenship, and each route has a different timeline.

Here are the main pathways to a Spanish passport:

Citizenship By Birth

A child is automatically granted Spanish citizenship if born in Spain to at least one Spanish parent. Children born in Spain to foreign parents may also qualify if at least one parent was also born in Spain (except children of diplomats), or the child would otherwise be stateless because the parents’ home country does not automatically grant nationality by birth. Spain follows jus sanguinis (right of blood) but also allows citizenship by birthplace in specific cases to avoid statelessness.

Citizenship by Descent

You may be eligible for Spanish nationality if you have Spanish ancestry. If one or both of your parents were Spanish at birth, you could claim Spanish citizenship by descent even if you were born abroad. In some cases, you may also qualify through a Spanish grandparent, especially if they were born in Spain.

Under the Spanish Citizenship by Democratic Memory Law, many descendants of Spaniards who fled during the Spanish Civil War can obtain citizenship. This special route allows grandchildren of exiles, particularly in Latin America, to reclaim their Spanish citizenship without needing prior residence in Spain.

Citizenship By Naturalization

To apply for Spanish citizenship by naturalization, most foreigners must live legally in Spain for 10 years. Refugees can apply after 3 years, and citizens of Latin American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and Sephardic Jews after 2 years. Time spent in Spain on visas like the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa or the Spain Digital Nomad Visa counts toward this residency requirement as long as the stay is legal and uninterrupted.

Citizenship By Marriage

If you’re married to a Spanish citizen, you can apply for citizenship after just one year of legal residence in Spain. The marriage must still be valid at the time of application.

Take a look at our Spain Non-Lucrative Ultimate Guide

CLICK HERE Arrow Icon

What are the required documents for the Spanish passport?

Documents on a table with a pot plant and pen nearby.

To apply for the passport, you will need to provide several documents, including:

  • Valid Spanish National ID card (DNI)
  • Proof of Spanish citizenship (such as a Spanish birth certificate or naturalization certificate)
  • Completed passport application form
  • Recent passport-sized photos that meet official requirements (color photos, 32mm x 26mm in size, showing a clear, front-facing view with a neutral expression and plain background)
  • Proof of payment of the passport fee

For minors, additional documents like parents’ IDs and consent forms may be required.

How to Apply for a Spanish Passport: Step-By-Step Process

  1. Obtain Spanish Citizenship: You must be a Spanish citizen before applying for a passport. This can be through birth, descent, marriage, or naturalization.
  2. Schedule an appointment: If you live abroad, you must schedule an appointment at your local police station or the nearest Spanish Consulate or Embassy. Appointments can typically be booked online or by phone. Ensure you arrive on time and bring all the required documents with you.
  3. Submit your passport application form and documents: During your appointment, a government official will review your documents and take your biometric data (digital photos and fingerprints). You will also be asked to verify your personal information before submitting your application.
  4. Pay the application fees: You must pay the passport application fee at the time of submission. The fee can be paid in cash or by credit/debit card, depending on the location. Ensure you keep the receipt as proof of payment. The cost of a passport is €30. This fee must be paid at the time of the passport application.
  5. Collect your passport: You will be notified once your application has been approved and your passport is ready for collection. Bring your receipt and any identification documents required for collection.

How much does a Spanish passport cost?

The Spanish government charges a standard fee of €30 for issuing a first passport, as well as for replacing or renewing an existing one. This fee can be paid in cash directly at the passport issuing office, or alternatively, it can be paid online using the “Telematic” service.

How to Renew a Spanish Passport

If you need to renew your Spanish passport, visit the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your local police (Garda Civil) station. It’s important to schedule an appointment online.

But if you’re abroad, in another country, you’ll need to find and visit a Spanish embassy or consulate.

  • Make sure your passport is expired or about to expire within 12 months.
  • Book an appointment online at citapreviadnie.es.
  • Bring your old passport or police report if it’s lost.
  • Bring your Spanish National ID (DNI).
  • Bring one biometric passport photo (32 x 26 mm, white background).
  • Pay the renewal fee (around €30).
  • Attend your appointment at a police station or Spanish consulate.
  • Provide fingerprints and submit documents.
  • Your new passport is ready in about 1 week in Spain or 2–4 weeks abroad

Renewing a lost, stolen, or damaged Spanish passport

If your passport’s gone missing, been nicked, is about to expire, or has seen better days, you can sort out a new one at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bring your valid national ID and the passport you need to replace. If you lack these papers, the consular office might be able to confirm your Spanish citizenship by contacting the authorities back home. Just a heads-up, though: if it goes down this route, your new passport might only be good for three weeks. This short window allows you to round up additional documents for Spanish authorities.

How long does it take to process a Spanish passport?

The processing time for a Spanish passport is usually between 1 and 4 weeks after submitting your application, depending on the location and volume of requests. In urgent cases, same-day or next-day issuance may be available at some passport offices in Spain.

Is Dual Citizenship possible with a Spanish passport?

Yes, dual citizenship is possible with a Spanish passport, but it depends on your country of origin.

  • Spain allows dual citizenship only with certain countries, mainly those with historical ties, such as Latin American, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal. Citizens of these countries can retain their original nationality when acquiring Spanish citizenship.
  • For other nationalities, Spain typically requires applicants to renounce their previous citizenship when becoming Spanish citizens. However, this renunciation is often symbolic and may not be enforced strictly, depending on your home country’s laws.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique 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. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Spanish Passport

What are the benefits of having a Spanish passport?

There are multiple Spanish passport benefits, including, visa-free access to over 100 countries, the right to live, work, and study in Spain and other EU countries, and the entire family being included, granting  permanent residency, and eventually a passport to spouses and dependents.

How long does it take to get a Spanish passport?

For Spanish citizens, the passport application takes about a month. For those obtaining Spanish citizenship, it takes ten years to become a Spanish national through residence, or two years if you’re from a Latin American country or a former Spanish colony.

How to get a Spanish passport by descent?

If you have Spanish ancestry, you can apply for a Spanish citizenship by descent and a Spanish passport by obtaining proof of your Spanish heritage. The steps include:, gathering required documents, scheduling an appointment at your local Spanish consulate or the Civil Registry in Spain if you reside there, submitting the application, waiting for approval, obtaining citizenship, and applying for your Spanish passport.

Can a US citizen get a Spanish passport?

A US citizen can get a Spanish passport only if they obtain Spanish nationality first. This can be achieved through naturalization, marriage to a Spanish citizen, or by proving Spanish descent. Once Spanish citizenship is acquired, the individual can apply for a Spanish passport.

How hard is it to get a Spanish passport?

The difficulty of obtaining a Spanish passport depends on your circumstances and eligibility. Generally, the process requires meeting specific criteria such as residency, language proficiency, and a clean criminal record. The process can be more straightforward for individuals with Spanish ancestry or those married to a Spanish citizen as you can apply for citizenship after one year of marriage and joint residency.

Can I get a Spanish passport without living in Spain?

In most cases, you need to live in Spain for a certain period to obtain Spanish citizenship and, subsequently, a Spanish passport. However, if you have Spanish ancestry, you might be eligible for citizenship by descent without living in Spain.

How do I track my Spanish passport application status?

The easiest way to track your Spanish passport application is through the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website. This can be found through their free online platform “cómo va lo mío”.

How long is a Spanish passport valid for?

In general, the passport will have a non-extendable validity of:

  • Two years when the applicant has not reached five years of age.
  • Five years if the holder is under thirty on the date of issue.
  • Ten years when the holder has reached the age of thirty.

Is the Spanish passport stronger than the USA one?

Based on the Global Passport Index, the Spanish passport ranks 21st and the US passport ranks 2nd. However, based on the enhanced mobility index the Spanish passport comes in 4th while the US comes in 17th. This means if you’re looking for more mobility and the opportunity to travel to other European countries in the Schengen area, Spain is the better option.

What are the fees associated with applying for a Spanish passport?

This depends on where you are in the Spanish citizenship application process. If you are already a Spanish citizen then a passport costs €30. If you need to apply for Spanish citizenship then the cost with vary based on the citizenship route you take.

Do I need to be in Spain to apply for a Spanish passport?

Yes, in most cases, you must be in Spain to apply for a Spanish passport, as applications are typically submitted in person at a local police station. However, if you are living abroad, you can apply through a Spanish consulate in your country of residence. In both cases, an in-person fingerprinting and photo verification appointment is required.

Is there a Spanish citizenship test?

Yes, for foreign nationals that want to obtain Spanish citizenship they must pass the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) test and the Spanish Language Test (DELE A3 or higher).

When would a Spanish citizen be denied a passport?

All Spanish citizens have the right to obtain an ordinary passport as long as none of the following circumstances apply:

  1. Criminal Sentences: If someone is serving a sentence that limits their freedom of movement, they can’t get a passport.
  2. Judicial Restrictions: A judge may specifically ban someone from leaving Spain or getting a passport.
  3. Emergency Powers: Even during national emergencies, the Ministry of Interior can generally not deny a passport unless legally justified.

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