Before you travel
Entry Requirements for Spain
EES (the EU's biometric border system) is live — non-EU travellers register fingerprints and a photo at the border. ETIAS is not yet required; it is expected to launch in late 2026 and become mandatory around 2027. Anyone claiming to "sell" ETIAS today is a scam.
Spain is part of the EU and the Schengen Area. What you need to visit depends on your nationality — pick yours below, then read the details underneath.
Non-EU visitors on a short (tourist) stay may spend a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen Area. It is not 90 days per country — days in Spain, France, Italy and every other Schengen state count towards the same pool. Longer stays (work, study, retirement) need a national long-stay visa or residence permit.
Passport rules (non-EU): valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure, and issued within the last 10 years.
EES is the EU's automated system that registers every non-EU traveller crossing an external Schengen border, recording your passport data and biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image) and the dates of each entry and exit. It replaces manual passport stamping and became fully operational in April 2026. First-time registration at a kiosk or booth can add a little time at busy airports. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are not affected.
ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa, for visa-exempt non-EU nationals. You will apply online, it links to your passport, costs EUR 20 (free under 18 / over 70), and is valid 3 years for unlimited short trips. As of 2026 it is not yet live — expected late 2026, mandatory around 2027, with a grace period. Until then you do not need it. Apply only via the official EU site when it opens.
Proof of your trip. Non-EU visitors can be asked at the border for proof of accommodation (your villa booking), a return ticket, travel insurance and sufficient funds — Spain's 2026 guidance is roughly €120 per person per day (minimum about €1,090), shown by cash, card plus a recent statement, or similar.
Guest registration. Under Spanish law (Royal Decree 933/2021, in force since December 2024), every accommodation provider must record guests' identity details and report them to the authorities. So Cortijo Bujio will ask every guest — of any nationality — for passport or ID details at or before check-in. It is a legal requirement, quick and routine.
Please note. Entry rules change — especially the EES/ETIAS rollout — and this page reflects the situation in July 2026. It is guidance, not legal advice. Always confirm the current requirements for your nationality before you book and travel with the official sources: Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU ETIAS and EES portals.
Do I need a visa to visit Spain? It depends on your nationality. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens need only a national ID card. Many non-EU nationals (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and others) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. Nationals of many other countries must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa first.
What is the Schengen 90/180-day rule? Non-EU visitors may spend at most 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area — not per country. Overstaying can lead to fines and entry bans.
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Spain in 2026? Not yet. ETIAS is expected to launch in late 2026 and become mandatory around 2027. When live, visa-exempt travellers will need it (a EUR 20 online authorisation, valid 3 years).
Will Cortijo Bujio ask for my passport? Yes — Spanish law requires accommodation providers to record and report guests' identity details, so every guest is asked for passport or ID at check-in.
Questions about your booking or arrival? Get in touch — we're happy to help.
Sources: European Commission (EES, ETIAS, Schengen visa policy); travel-europe.europa.eu; Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs (exteriores.gob.es); Royal Decree 933/2021. Status as of July 2026 — verify before travel.