Spain is a land rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, with diverse landscapes that range from the Pyrenees mountains in the north to the sunny beaches of the Mediterranean. So while you have access to magical landscapes and bustling cities on a Spain passport, visa-free countries are only a short airplane trip away.
Spain passport holders have plenty of options when it comes to traveling. Not only can you choose to travel to visa-free countries, but there are also countries that will permit your entry solely based on Electronic Travel Authorization and electronic visa. All Spain passport holders can travel freely within the European Union, as these are classified as visa-free countries. But there are countries outside the European Union where you can travel visa-free. While preparing for your trip, bear in mind that there might be temporary travel restrictions in some countries.
Here’s a detailed guide for all Spain passport holders listing all Spain passport visa-free countries you can visit this year.
Overview of a Spanish Passport
The Spanish passport is one of the most powerful in the world, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries. According to the April 2024 Visa Restrictions Index, this passport offers the highest level of international access in the world. Besides that, this extensive access is a testament to Spain’s strong international relations and global standing.
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.
As a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, a Spanish passport grants the right to live, work, and study in any European Union country without additional permits, which is a significant advantage for personal and professional development.
The strength of the Spanish passport is not just in the number of countries it allows access to but also in the ease and convenience it offers for global mobility.
4 Benefits of a 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 and hassle-free.
- 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 Schengen Area: Holding a Spanish passport allows unrestricted travel within the Schengen Area, which encompasses 27 European countries that have abolished passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders, facilitating easy and 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. This provides an added layer of security in case of emergencies. Strong global reputation: Spain’s passport is globally respected and ranks high in terms of travel freedom. 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.
Visa Free Countries for Spanish Passport Holders
Here’s a list of all visa-free countries for Spain passport holders.
 Albania |  Guatemala |  Peru |
 Andorra |  Guyana |  Philippines |
 Angola |  Haiti |  Poland |
 Antigua and Barbuda |  Honduras |  Portugal |
 Argentina |  Hong Kong |  Romania |
 Armenia |  Hungary |  Saint Kitts and Nevis |
 Austria |  Iceland |  Saint Lucia |
 Bahamas |  Ireland |  Samoa |
 Barbados |  Israel |  San Marino |
 Belarus |  Italy |  Sao Tome and Principe |
 Belgium |  Jamaica |  Senegal |
 Belize |  Japan |  Serbia |
 Bolivia, Plurinational State of |  Kazakhstan |  Seychelles |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Kiribati |  Singapore |
 Botswana |  Kyrgyzstan |  Slovakia |
 Brazil |  Latvia |  Slovenia |
 Brunei Darussalam |  Lesotho |  Solomon Islands |
 Bulgaria |  Liechtenstein |  South Africa |
 Cabo Verde |  Lithuania |  Korea, Republic of |
 Chile |  Luxembourg |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
 China |  Macao |  Sweden |
 Colombia |  Malaysia |  Switzerland |
 Costa Rica |  Malta |  Taiwan, Province of China |
 Croatia |  Marshall Islands |  Tajikistan |
 Cyprus |  Mauritius |  Thailand |
 Czechia |  Mexico |  Timor-Leste |
 Denmark |  Micronesia, Federated States of |  Tonga |
 Dominica |  Moldova, Republic of |  Trinidad and Tobago |
 Dominican Republic |  Monaco |  Tunisia |
 Ecuador |  Mongolia |  Tuvalu |
 El Salvador |  Montenegro |  Turkey |
 Estonia |  Morocco |  Ukraine |
 Eswatini |  Mozambique |  United Arab Emirates |
 Fiji |  Namibia |  United Kingdom |
 Finland |  Netherlands |  Uruguay |
 France |  Nicaragua |  Uzbekistan |
 Gabon |  North Macedonia |  Vanuatu |
 Gambia |  Norway |  Holy See (Vatican City State) |
 Georgia |  Palau |  Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of |
 Germany |  Palestine, State of |  Viet Nam |
 Greece |  Panama |  Zambia |
 Grenada |  Paraguay |
Visa on Arrival Countries for Spanish Passport Holders
Here’s a list of all countries for Spain passport holders which will require you to get a visa on your arrival.
 Bahrain |  Indonesia |  Nepal |
 Bangladesh |  Iraq |  Oman |
 Burkina Faso |  Jordan |  Qatar |
 Burundi |  Kuwait |  Rwanda |
 Cambodia |  Lao People's Democratic Republic |  Saudi Arabia |
 Comoros |  Lebanon |  Sierra Leone |
 Egypt |  Madagascar |  Somalia |
 Ethiopia |  Malawi |  Tanzania, United Republic of |
 Ghana |  Maldives |  Togo |
 Guinea-Bissau |  Mauritania |  Zimbabwe |
Countries that Require an eVisa for Spanish Passport Holders
The list below shows all the countries where Spanish passport holders can visit by getting electronic visas before traveling.
 Australia |  Djibouti |  Nigeria |
 Azerbaijan |  Equatorial Guinea |  Pakistan |
 Benin |  Guinea |  Papua New Guinea |
 Bhutan |  India |  Russian Federation |
 Cameroon |  Iran, Islamic Republic of |  South Sudan |
 Canada |  Kenya |  Sri Lanka |
 Congo, The Democratic Republic of the |  Myanmar |  Uganda |
 Côte d'Ivoire |  New Zealand |  United States |
Countries with Visa Requirements for Spain Passport Holders
The list below shows all the countries requiring Spanish passport holders to adhere to the respective nation’s visa regulations and apply for a valid visa before making travel arrangements.
 Afghanistan |  Eritrea |  Korea, Democratic People's Republic of |
 Algeria |  Liberia |  Sudan |
 Central African Republic |  Libya |  Suriname |
 Chad |  Mali |  Syrian Arab Republic |
 Congo |  Nauru |  Turkmenistan |
 Cuba |  Niger |  Yemen |
Take a look at our Golden Visa Spain 2024 Ultimate Guide by Experts
Spanish Passport Through Investment
The easiest way to get a Spanish passport is through a financial investment in the Spanish economy. The Spanish Golden Visa was launched in 2013 as part of the national strategy to boost the Spanish economy and increase foreign investment. Also known as the Investor Visa, Spain’s Golden Visa is a residency by investment program offering non-EU citizens legal residence in Spain in exchange for significant capital investment in the country.
Please note that the Spain Golden Visa program is not a direct route to obtain Spanish citizenship. However, after acquiring a Spain Golden Visa and living in Spain for ten years as a Spanish resident, you could be eligible for citizenship.
The Spanish Investor Visa program grants qualifying individuals a renewable, temporary residence permit in exchange for an investment in the country. Individuals can either purchase real estate, invest in Spanish companies, invest in funds or bank deposits, create employment opportunities, or make a qualifying contribution to government bonds.
Eligibility criteria and requirements
Any non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss citizen with a clean criminal record and who makes a qualifying financial investment in the Spanish economy is eligible for a residence permit under the investment immigration program, along with their immediate and dependent family members.
If you and your family decide to live in Spain, you become eligible for permanent residency after five years. However, you have to demonstrate that you spent more than 183 days per year in the country.
The general Spain Golden Visa requirements are:
- The primary applicant must be over 18 years of age.
- The primary applicant must make a significant investment as stipulated by the Spanish government and provide proof of the respective financial investment.
- Applicants must possess a clean criminal record
- Applicants must not be on the nation’s list of undesirable people
- Applicants must have valid medical insurance coverage and an official health certificate
- Applicants must not have previously been refused visas or entry into the Schengen zone
- Applicants must have sufficient funds to sustain themselves and their family members while they reside in Spain
In order to apply for Spanish citizenship by investment, Spain Golden Visa holders with a temporary residence permit must live in Spain for ten years (minimum 183 days per year).
The person can’t be absent from the country for more than six months continuously in these ten years. For nationals of former Spanish colonies, the stay requirement is that they have to live in Spain for two years and can’t be absent from the country for more than three months per year.
Most Popular Spain Visa-Free Travel Destinations
Since Spain is an EU member state and part of the Schengen Area, obtaining the Spain Golden Visa means you can travel visa-free to all 26 countries constituting the Schengen zone. The Schengen Zone 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 26 countries in the Schengen zone without a visa:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
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.
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
How many countries can I travel to with a Spanish passport visa-free?
You can travel to 125 countries with a Spanish passport visa-free. Besides that, you can travel to 30 countries by getting a visa-on-arrival with Spanish passport.
Can I travel to the USA with a Spanish passport without a visa?
Yes, Spanish citizens and passport holders can travel to the United States without a visa. What makes the process easier to navigate is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Using this, you can determine your eligibility.
All owners of Spain’s passports 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. The complete list of Spain visa-free countries can be found above.
How often does the list of visa-free countries for Spanish passport holders change?
The list of visa-free countries for Spanish passport holders changes periodically based on international agreements, diplomatic relations, and policy updates. Typically, changes occur annually or when new treaties are signed.
How strong is Spain’s passport?
On our Global Passport Index, Spanish passport ranks 21st. Spanish passport scores 4th place in the Enhanced Mobility Index, ranks 53rd on the Investment Index, and ranks 9th on the Quality of Living Index.
How long does it take to become a Spanish citizen?
In order to obtain Spanish citizenship by investment, Golden Visa holders with a temporary residence permit must live in Spain for ten years.
How many countries are visa free for Spanish passport holders?
The Spain passport will get you into 126 visa-free countries. You can stay in these countries anywhere between 30 to 180 days, depending on the regulations.
Are there any time restrictions for visa-free travel with a Spanish passport?
Yes, there are time restrictions for visa-free travel with a Spanish passport. Some visa-free countries allow you to stay 30 days and others up to 180 with Spanish passport.
