Schengen Visa
by Chris Chaplow
If Spain is the ONLY Schengen country you are visiting - you should apply for a schengen Visa from the Spanish consulate or embassy.
If visiting more than one Schengen country – you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate representing the country of your main destination (the country of longest stay).
If visiting more than one Schengen country with equal stay duration – you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate representing the Schengen country, you will enter first.
If your visa is from Spain or another Schengen area country, it automatically allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries as well.
If you have a valid residence permit from one of those Schengen countries, it is equivalent to a visa.
Below we list the countries whose nationals do not need a visa to visit for tourism or business (not to work or live) the EU for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Source Citizens of the countries that don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen zone are not allowed to reside or work in a country without any other legal permission.
A future electronic system similar to the U.S Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for the EU is the ETIAS which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System is due to be launched on 01-01-2022
In general, third-country nationals staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area require either a long-stay visa for less than a year or a residence permit for longer periods.
Although long-stay visas issued by these countries have a uniform design, the procedures, and conditions for issuing them are usually determined by each individual country. For example, some Schengen countries require applications for long-stay visas to be made in the applicant's home country, while other Schengen countries permit them after arrival. Some procedures may vary depending on the applicant's country as well.
If you are in a Schengen country and need to remain longer than 90 days in the Schengen area you must apply for a residency permit. In Spain this is at the Ministry of the Interior or the foreigner department of the National Police.
Countries and Territories whose nationals do NOT need a Schengen visa. Nationals of these countries should ensure they have the correct travel documents for Non-EU Nationals:
Andorra
United Arab Emirates
Antigua and Barbuda
Albania
Argentina
Australia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Barbados
Brunei
Brazil
Bahamas
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
Micronesia
Grenada
Georgia
Guatemala
Honduras
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Saint Kitts and Nevis
South Korea
Saint Lucia
Monaco
Moldova
Montenegro
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Malaysia
Nicaragua
Nauru
New Zealand
Panama
Peru
Palau
Paraguay
Serbia
Solomon Islands
Seychelles
Singapore
San Marino
El Salvador
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United States of America USA
Uruguay
Holy See
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Venezuela
Vanuatu
Samoa
Hong Kong SAR
Macao SAR
British Citizens of UK
British nationals (Overseas)
British overseas territories citizens (BOTC)
British overseas citizens (BOC)
British protected persons (BPP)
British subjects (BS)
Taiwan
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia