ETIAS Spain from Canada: travel to Spain visa requirements

The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) for Spain will be introduced in 2026. After it comes into effect, Canadian travellers will need to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver before going to Spain or any other country in the Schengen Area.

This visa waiver for Spain and Europe is being introduced to strengthen the border security of the region and streamline the immigration process for foreign travellers.

ETIAS will identify and prevent people who pose a security risk from entering the Schengen Area and Spain from Canada. In short, ETIAS will make travelling to Europe safer for visitors and European citizens alike.

To apply for the ETIAS to Spain, Canadians will need to complete the online application form, which only takes a few minutes.

Do Canadians need a visa for Spain?

No, Canadians can visit Spain and the Schengen Area visa-free for short-term stays, and that is not going to change in the foreseeable future.

ETIAS will not affect the visa status of Canadians. It will simply confirm the eligibility of travellers to enter the Schengen Area without a visa.

Please note that Canadians are allowed into Spain visa-free only for business, leisure, or transit and for relatively short periods of time.

Should visitors from Canada wish to remain in Spain for longer and for other reasons like study or employment, they will need a relevant Spanish visa from an embassy or consulate. The same will be true after ETIAS is implemented.

Canadian travellers who need to get a visa for their trip should consult Spain’s visa policy to help decide which type of travel permit they need. For example, those intending to carry out paid work will likely need a work permit, while students will need a study visa.

Can Canadian citizens travel to Spain?

Yes, Canadian citizens can go to Spain with the relevant travel documents. Canadians will be able to go on vacation or travel for business or transit with a valid ETIAS for Spain permit.

During the permitted 90 days, Canadian citizens can remain in Spain or visit any of the other ETIAS countries.

Canadians will need to obtain the ETIAS before departure. Although ETIAS is not a visa for Spain, it will become mandatory for entry to Spain from Canada.

How can Canadians apply for ETIAS to visit Spain?

To complete the ETIAS application for Spain, Canadians will need to:

Supply personal information such as name, address, date of birth
Answer some security-related questions
Fill out passport details
Make a payment using a credit or debit card

All the information provided by Canadian applicants for Spain ETIAS will be cross-checked against various security databases such as Europol and Interpol. The vast majority of applications will be quickly approved.

Etias-Spain-for-canadians

Passport and document requirements for an Spain ETIAS from Canada

To successfully apply for ETIAS, it will be necessary to have a Canadian passport valid for at least 3 months past the intended departure date from Spain. There will be a section of the form where applicants will enter their Canadian passport number, expiry date, and nationality, etc.

If a Canadian ETIAS-holder’s passport expires, the visa waiver does too (regardless of how long the visa waiver has before expiry)
Travellers from Canada cannot transfer the visa waiver between passports so it will be necessary to reapply for a new Spain ETIAS in these cases
Canadian applicants with more than one passport need to use the same one for the application and for entering Spain

Travelling to Spain from Canada with an ETIAS

After an application has been submitted and approved, the ETIAS Spain tourist visa waiver will be sent to applicants by email. Canadians will be able to travel to Spain by presenting their ETIAS visa waiver to the border authorities (along with a corresponding passport).

There are no hard borders between the Schengen countries. This means visitors can move freely within the region without going through any passport controls. An ETIAS visa waiver is valid for 3-year durations and allows Canadians to spend up to 90 days in the Schengen Area (within any 180-day period).

Facts and Figures about Canadians Traveling to Spain

Canadian travel to Spain was affected during the coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying entry restrictions. However, as you can see below, the number of Canadian tourists visiting the country was firmly on the rise before COVID-19, and is expected to recover quickly.

Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) – Travel Facts

139, 449 residents of Canada crossed Spanish borders in 2021
Canadian tourists spent an average of €2,096 per person per day in Spain in 2021
Of the roughly 8 million tourists who travelled to Spain in 2022, 7 million of them visited for leisure and vacations

Overnight stays by Canadians in Spain (INE data)

2021: 149,000
2020: 264,000
2019: 1,020,000
2018: 842,000

Additionally, according to UNWTO, the number of tourist arrivals in Spain in 2021 jumped up 7% from 2020. So it seems that the tourism industry in Spain is fully on its way to a healthy recovery.

Health information for Canadian travellers to Spain

The standard of healthcare in Spain is very high. Spain actually has the highest life expectancy in Europe. Medical insurance is recommended as it eliminates the risks of high medical costs in the event of an emergency.

The phone number for emergencies is 112
Visitors should be mindful of the sun by wearing sunscreen and drinking plenty of water
The tap water is safe to drink though most people prefer bottled water
Not everyone speaks English so take a phrasebook with you if you see a doctor or go to a pharmacy

Canadian embassies and consulates in Spain

Embassy of Canada in Madrid

Address: Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259D. 28046 Madrid
Telephone: (34) 91 382 8400

Consulate of Canada in Barcelona

Address: Plaça de Catalunya, 9, 1º, 2ª. 08002 Barcelona
Telephone: (34) 93 270 3614

Consulate of Canada in Málaga

Address: Horizonte Building, Plaza de la Malagueta 2, 1st Floor. 29016 Málaga
Telephone: (34) 95 222 3346