If your trip to Spain is planned for 2023, you will only need to have your biometric passport as usual. However, if your trip is planned for 2025 or later, you can anticipate some changes to the travel process because 2025 is the year when the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will go live. After a short grace period, ETIAS Spain will also become mandatory in 2025 for all Canadian travelers going to Spain or any other part of the Schengen Area. It’s important to note that ETIAS will not function as or replace a traditional visa. It is designed to be a far simpler process specifically for short-term tourist trips. If you plan to work, study, or stay long-term (more than 90 days in a 180-day period) in Spain, you will still be required to apply for the appropriate visa like always.
Yes, citizens of Canada are going to need ETIAS approval when it becomes mandatory in 2025. This new ETIAS visa waiver will replace the current travel process for citizens of 60 different visa-exempt countries planning to travel to then Schengen Area in the year 2025 or later. While there will be a 6-month grace period to allow both travelers and border officials to adjust to the new system, you shouldn’t use this as an excuse to delay completing an ETIAS application once the system goes live. Ideally, you should submit your application no later than 8 days before your intended date of departure. Because your ETIAS authorization will remain valid for up to 3 years from its date of issue, you don’t have to worry about it expiring before your trip.
Please remember that gaining ETIAS for Spain pre-approval doesn’t automatically guarantee you entry into Spain or any other Schengen country. Spanish border officials will always make the final decision, and they have the right to request additional information and deny you entry into the country. Along with your ETIAS approval, they may ask you to provide proof of tickets for your return flight, hotel reservations, sufficient funds, and medical insurance coverage. Such requests help prevent terrorism and illegal immigration by ensuring that travelers are being honest about their intentions when entering Spain.
No, there are currently no plans to remove Canada from the European Union’s list of 60 visa-exempt nations. However, ETIAS Spain Application will become mandatory in 2025, and Canadian citizens planning to visit Spain, or any other Schengen country, will need to complete the ETIAS application online and gain pre-approval. While you won’t need to go through the traditional visa process, Canadian citizens will be required to apply for ETIAS approval to travel to Spain and any other Schengen nation. As a visa-exempt country, Canada will be one of 60 countries affected by these new ETIAS policies and changes to the travel process for visiting the Schengen Area.
In 2025, the new ETIAS visa waiver will go live, and after a 6-month grace period, it will become mandatory as well. This grace period will allow travelers and border officials to adjust to the new policies and procedures, but it is still recommended that you go ahead and complete an application once the system goes live, even if your trip to Spain is set to take place during the grace period. The application process is designed to be simple and accessible, which is why travelers will only need access to the internet, a valid email address, a valid biometric passport (that will expire no sooner than 3 months from your date of arrival), and sufficient funds to pay the ETIAS application fee. Filling out the form should take less than 10 minutes. Once you receive ETIAS approval, it will be valid for up to 3 years from its date of issue (unless you get a new passport), regardless of the number of trips you take or destinations you visit. Because the process is simple and your ETIAS won’t expire before your trip, you have no reason to put off completing an application. It is in your best interest to submit your application no later than 8 days before your intended date of departure.
No, citizens of ETIAS countries (a complete list can be found on our homepage) will not be required to apply for ETIAS, as they are entering their own country, or another Schengen country. For example, if you are a German citizen traveling to Spain (from one ETIAS country to another), this trip will not require ETIAS approval. However, if you have a Canadian, American, or British citizen in your party, or a citizen of another ETIAS-eligible country (check our homepage for a complete list), that person will need to complete an ETIAS Spain Form and receive authorization before departing on your trip.
This will depend on your nationality. If you are a dual citizen of both an ETIAS Visa Spain country and a non-ETIAS country, then you will not need ETIAS approval. You should enter Europe using the passport of the ETIAS country. For example, if you are a dual citizen of Canada and France, then you should use your French passport. If you are a citizen of two non-ETIAS countries, but one is eligible for ETIAS (see the complete list of ETIAS-eligible countries on our homepage), then you should complete an ETIAS application using the passport of the ETIAS-eligible country. For example, if you are a dual citizen of Canada and Thailand, it’s recommended that you use your Canadian passport to apply for ETIAS approval because using your Thai passport would require you to complete the much more complicated process of attaining a Schengen visa. If you have any further questions, our customer service department will be happy to help answer them.
ETIAS will be mandatory for everyone, including children of any age. All travelers from ETIAS Visa Waiver for Spain eligible countries (check our homepage for a complete list), including minors, will need to have a valid ETIAS to enter the Schengen Area, starting in 2025. However, only legal adults should fill out ETIAS forms, meaning a minor’s form should only completed by his or her parent or legal guardian.
No, ETIAS approval will not function as or replace the traditional visa process. It will only be available for short-term tourist purposes. This means that can be used only for trips lasting no more than 90 days within a 180-day period and does not permit you to work or study in the Schengen Area. If you want to work, study, or stay long-term (more than 90 days within a 180-day period) in Spain, then you will still be required to apply for the appropriate visa. If you attempt to work, study, or overstay in Spain while using your ETIAS, then your ETIAS can be cancelled, and you will face legal consequences.
Yes, once the ETIAS electronic visa waiver system is implemented in 2025 and becomes mandatory, citizens of ETIAS-eligible countries, including Canada, will be required to use a valid biometric passport to complete their application. If your application is approved, it will be linked to the passport used to complete the application. The passport must be valid for at least 2 years and should expire no sooner than 3 months from your intended date of arrival. It must also have:
If the travel document you use for your application doesn’t meet the criteria, border officials may request that you submit additional documents before processing your application and deciding to approve it.
Compared to other travel forms and procedures, the ETIAS application is simple, straightforward process, taking no more than 10 minutes to complete. Canadian citizens will simply have to submit an online application, and the only document necessary throughout the process is a valid biometric passport, which you ETIAS will be linked to. The application will cover standard personal information, including:
There will also be a series of security questions, regarding things like:
Any history of criminal or terrorist activity.
This will help increase both the security and safety of visitors and residents in the Schengen Area by detecting and stopping potential threats before they even depart for their trip. If the information you provide seems suspicious or raises questions, the reviewing border agent may request additional information and/or documents. In rare cases, they may request an in-person interview. However, in most cases, the application process will be quick and easy, and you should receive an email notifying you of your approval within 24 hours. Please note that gaining ETIAS authorization will not automatically guarantee you entry into Spain or any other part of the Schengen Area. Spanish border officials will always have the final say, and if something seems off or suspicious, they may ask you for additional information and/or documents. They have the right to deny you entry into the country if they believe that you pose a threat to residents or visitors in the Schengen Area. It’s also important to recognize that your ETIAS authorization will not replace any required COVID-19 documents or cover COVID-19 protocols. It’s important that you stay up to date on the current COVID-19 policies in Spain and any other country you plan to visit or travel through.
Because ETIAS is not available to the public yet, it’s not currently clear what the process will look for prospective travelers with criminal records. For now, here is the information we can provide: Travelers from all eligible countries should submit an ETIAS application online before attempting to enter any Schengen country. The process for travelers with criminal records, even those who have only been charged with minor criminal offenses (such as disorderly conduct, shoplifting, loitering, DUIs, etc.) may be different than the standard process for applicants without a criminal record. It’s not yet clear if the ETIAS application process will be available for travelers with criminal records or what specific restrictions may be in place for these prospective tourists. For more information, you can contact our customer service department.
Each country has specific policies and guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, make sure you keep an eye on the current regulations for Spain and any other country you plan to visit. Your ETIAS application won’t cover COVID-19 related standards or replace required COVID-19 documents. It’s important that you check the policies for your destination and keep an eye on any changes to those policies. Currently, all visitors ages 12 and up must provide proof of a full series of approved vaccinations or a negative PCR (taken 72 hours before departure) or antigen test (taken 48 before departure). Children under the age of 12 are not currently subject to any COVID-19 travel restrictions. These requirements change frequently, so we recommend that you check the Health Department website for each country you plan to visit during your trip to Europe. It’s important that you stay up to date on Spain’s policies, as well as those of any other country you plan to visit or go through on your trip.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team! You can do so by clicking the “Contact” button at the bottom of this page. If you don’t have any questions but want to keep up with any ETIAS-related news and updates, you can sign up for notifications.
