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Starting in 2025, the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS Spain) will replace the current travel process for Canadian citizens traveling to Spain and other Schengen countries. While these travelers currently only need a valid biometric passport for such visits, the new system will make it mandatory for them to apply for ETIAS approval before departing on their trip to the Schengen Area.
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ETIAS Spain is a new visa waiver system that will go live and become mandatory in 2025. In 2016, the European Union first developed this plan to better ensure the safety of both residents and visitors in the Schengen Area. Once it becomes mandatory in 2025, Canadian citizens will be required to complete an ETIAS Spain application to gain pre-approval for entry into any of the 26 Schengen countries. This online application process is designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, requiring little work and taking no more than 10 minutes to complete. Wondering why the EU is replacing its current visa-free policy for Canada? The answer is simple – ETIAS Spain will provide better security for both visitors and citizens in the Schengen Area by addressed health-related risks, potential crime, and the international threats of terrorism and illegal immigration.
Canadian citizens who plan to visit Spain won’t have to go through the complicated steps involved in obtaining a visa, like visiting an embassy or consulate. Instead, they will simply have to complete the online ETIAS application process, which is a far smoother process than getting a Schengen visa. To complete an application, each traveler will only need to have their valid biometric passport. It must not expire until at least three months from your intended date of arrival. The border official who reviews your application can request additional documents if something about the information you’ve provide raises suspicion, but most applicants will only need a passport to complete an application. Please note that ETIAS Spain approval is not a guarantee that you will be granted entry into Spain or any other Schengen country. Spanish border officials will have the final say in any case, regardless of your ETIAS authorization status. If something seems off or raises suspicion, border officials have the right to request additional information and/or documents, and they can deny a traveler entry into the country if he or she seems to pose a threat.
ETIAS is meant to streamline the travel process, not complicate it, and the application process is meant to be as easy and quick as possible. Completing your application should take no more than 10 minutes, and in most cases, you should receive an email notification of your approval within 24 hours. If approved, ETIAS Spain will allow you to make multiple trips to the Schengen Area within 3 years of its date of issue, as long as your passport remains valid. Because ETIAS for Spain is linked directly to your travel document and can only ever be linked to one travel document, it cannot be moved to a new passport. If your passport expires, you will need to reapply for ETIAS approval, even if it has been less than 3 years since previously obtaining approval. In cases of ETIAS rejection, travelers may or may not have to option to appeal the decision, depending on the basis for rejection.
Canadian citizens who use the new ETIAS Spain application form to travel will appreciate the streamlined travel process. This new system is created with accessibility in mind, which is why it is as user-friendly as possible. Travelers will simply have to provide some standard personal information, like their legal name and nationality, as well as details regarding travel history, criminal history, and other security-related matters. If all the information you submit is normal and nothing raises suspicion, the European security officials will quickly process and approve your application. If something seems unusual and raises questions, they may request additional information and documents. In rare cases, they may request an in-person interview.
The main purpose of implementing ETIAS Spain is to strengthen border security. Currently, 60 countries are permitted visa-free travel to Europe, including Canada, but when ETIAS goes live, citizens of those countries will be required to get pre-approval through ETIAS Spain Form before entering any European country that belongs to the Schengen Area. Rest assured that any and all information collected and stored in the ETIAS network will be gathered and processed according to strict security measures that meet European legal standards for personal data and privacy. While ETIAS aims to protect countries, the EU will be careful to protect your private information as well.
The 26 Schengen countries will share the same uniform ETIAS process and standards. Travelers will enjoy having a predictable process that will streamline the overall travel process. Border officials will appreciate this change as well because travelers visiting multiple Schengen countries will already have been pre-screened and approved before reaching secondary locations. For example, if you plan to go to Germany after visiting Spain, you will already have gone through the security process for entering Spain by going through the same ETIAS Spain process, meaning you have met the same standards, as a tourist traveling exclusively to Germany. Basically, this means that once you have been approved to enter Spain, you will be able to enter other Schengen countries without having to reapply for ETIAS. The same ETIAS travel approval can be used to travel to other ETIAS countries in Europe.
Threats of terrorism and crime have increased over the past few decades, making Schengen countries aware of the need for increased border security that can better ensure the safety of visitors and residents in the Schengen Area. Spain has dealt with some of these threats directly and has learned the dangers posed by troubled and/or radicalized individuals from around the world. The pre-screening process required by ETIAS Spain will detect potential threats and stop them before they can even depart for their destination. Each ETIAS Visa Spain will be thoroughly assessed and check using secure databases to determine if any applicants pose too high a risk. If border officials decide that someone is a threat, they will refuse that person entry into the Schengen Area and reject their ETIAS application.
Illegal immigration is an increasing concern both in the Schengen Area and around the world, and this problem has been growing especially in the past decade. It has been linked to a number of issues, including:
ETIAS Spain will help border officials recognize and track travelers more easily to reduce cases of illegal immigration.
Submitting and ETIAS application will be necessary for travelers from Canada and from 59 other countries that are currently permitted visa free travel. They will need to complete the application process before departing for any Schengen country, including Spain. Some of the other countries that will be affected by this change are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Here’s a complete list of the 60 different countries whose citizens will need ETIAS Spain authorization:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Macao
Northern Macedonia
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
St. Vincent
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan
Timor Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uruguay
Ukraine
UAE
Vanuatu
Venezuela
United Kingdom
United StatesCanadian travelers will need to complete an ETIAS application to enter any of the 26 Schengen nations. Those planning to visit a European country outside of the Schengen Area, like Ireland or the United Kingdom, won’t need ETIAS Spain approval. However, they should learn about the guidelines each destination has in place. Canadian citizens will need ETIAS approval to enter any of the following countries:
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Spain
Switzerland
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Romania
Monaco
San Marino
Vatican
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Yes, for Canadian citizens planning to enter Spain in 2025 or later, completing an ETIAS Spain and receiving approval will be mandatory. This new process will replace the current visa-free system for short-term tourist trips to the Schengen Area. While there will be a 6-month grace period to help travelers and border officials get used to the new system, you shouldn’t use this as an excuse to delay submitting an application. It’s in your best interest to submit a form no later than 8 days before your intended departure.
Applying for ETIAS Spain is designed to be a straightforward and easy process, especially in comparison to the process for obtaining a Schengen visa. Canadian citizens will simply have to complete an application form online, which should take less than 10 minutes. Your application will ask for some basic personal information and then some answers to security questions. To submit your application, you will be asked to pay an ETIAS Visa Waiver for Spain fee, and then you should receive an email notification of your application’s status within 24 hours.
Please note that gaining ETIAS approval will not cover or replace any COVID-19 standards and procedures. It’s very important that you continue to comply with these policies and provide the required documents, regardless of ETIAS Spain authorization.
Currently, all visitors ages 12 and older are required to provide proof of a full series of vaccinations or a negative PCR (taken 72 hours before departure) or antigen test (taken 48 hours before departure). At this time children are not subject to any COVID-19 travel restrictions.
These policies are subject to change, which is why it’s important that you stay up to date on any policy changes for entering Spain, as well as for any other country you may visit or travel through during your trip.
If you have any problems while staying in Spain, a Canada Consulate can help. There are a few located in Spain. You can find them in:
Because of COVID-19, some of these locations have limited their in-person services, but you can still contact them for help via phone or email. The Government of Canada website can help provide further information on this topic.
Disclaimer: This website is owned and operated by a private agency. We provide information, application requirements, updates, and news about ETIAS Spain (the European Travel and Information Authorization System). We are not affiliated with the European Union or any other government agency.