Who Can Travel to Spain Without a Visa?

If you're planning to come to Spain — and potentially apply for a residence permit that can be requested from within the country, such as the increasingly popular digital nomad visa — one of the first things you need to check is this:

Do you need a visa just to enter Spain?

The answer usually depends on your nationality. As part of the Schengen Area, Spain allows visa-free entry for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) to citizens of many countries. Others, however, must obtain a Schengen visa (Type C) even for tourism or brief visits.

That said, if you are a national of a country that normally requires a visa to enter Spain but are currently legally residing in another Schengen country with a valid residence permit, you may be able to travel to Spain without needing a separate visa — as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days and your permit remains valid. In such cases, it may be possible to apply for certain residence permits from within Spain, depending on your circumstances and the type of permit in question.

Countries That Do Not Need a Visa to Enter Spain

Spain allows short-term, visa-free stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) for citizens of the following countries:

What You Can and Can't Do as a Tourist

• You can apply for certain residence permits, as long as your application is submitted before your 90-day period ends.
• You cannot work for a Spanish company unless you obtain the appropriate work authorization.
• You cannot extend your stay beyond 90 days unless your residence application has been filed and is under review.

Final Tips

• Check your visa requirements before making any travel plans. You can consult the official government list. or speak with a qualified immigration advisor.
• You can only apply for a residence permit from within Spain if the specific residence permit allows in-country applications (for example, the digital nomad visa does, while the non-lucrative visa does not).
• If in doubt, speak with a qualified immigration advisor.