Entering Spain under the new EES and ETIAS border systems

Key rules

• EES: Non-EU short-stay visitors give fingerprints and a facial image at the border, and passports are no longer stamped.
• Day counting: The system counts your days in the 90 days in any 180 automatically, and border guards can see them.
• ETIAS fee: ETIAS costs €20 for ages 18 to 70, is free outside that range, and lasts three years or until your passport expires.
• Exempt travellers: EU citizens, residence permit holders and long-stay visa holders are not registered in EES and do not need ETIAS.

What changes at the border

If you are a non-EU visitor on a short stay, Spanish border posts now register you electronically instead of stamping your passport. This applies at airports, ports and land crossings. It covers travellers with or without a visa.

You will not be registered if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. You will also not be registered if you hold a residence permit or a long-stay visa.

EES: biometric registration and automatic day counting

The Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating on 12 October 2025. It was rolled out in stages and was due to run at all border crossing points by 10 April 2026.

On your first entry, the officer or a kiosk takes your fingerprints and a facial image. After that, your entry and exit dates are recorded electronically. Allow a little extra time at the border for this first registration.

The system works out automatically how many days you have used in the 90 days in any 180 allowed on a short stay. Border guards can see how much authorised stay you have left. You cannot rely on a stamp or on your own count to argue about your days.

Overstaying is flagged automatically

The system flags overstayers by itself and passes them to national authorities. If you overstay, you can be refused entry, fined and banned from entering. Your record is kept for three years after your authorised stay ends, and longer if you overstayed.

ETIAS: pre-travel authorisation

ETIAS is a separate online authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. It was planned to start in the last quarter of 2026, after EES is fully operational. The start date has moved several times, so check that it is running before you travel.

• Who needs it: visa-exempt non-EU nationals aged 18 to 70.
• Fee: €20. It is free if you are under 18 or over 70.
• Validity: three years, or until your passport expires if that comes first.
• What it allows: multiple short stays of up to 90 days in any 180.

You do not need ETIAS if you are an EU citizen, hold a residence permit or hold a long-stay visa. You also do not need it if your nationality needs a visa.

What to do

Check your passport and carry the border papers listed in the checklist below. Plan for a first-time biometric registration. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, ask about the right visa or residence route before you travel, because the system will not let you stay beyond your short-stay days.

Timeline and deadlines

• EES starts registering non-EU short-stay visitors at external borders, with a progressive rollout: from 12 October 2025

• EES is due to run at all border crossing points, including Spanish airports, ports and land crossings: by 10 April 2026

• ETIAS is planned to start, after EES is fully operational: in the last quarter of 2026

• Get your ETIAS authorisation if you are a visa-exempt traveller aged 18 to 70: before you travel, once ETIAS is running

• Use your ETIAS for multiple short stays of up to 90 days in any 180: for three years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner

Documents you need

• ETIAS travel authorisation, once the system is running. It is required if you are a visa-exempt non-EU national aged 18 to 70. The fee is €20, and it is free for under 18s and over 70s. It is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

• No ETIAS authorisation if you are an EU citizen, hold a residence permit or hold a long-stay visa. You also do not need one if your nationality needs a visa, because the visa applies instead.

What to carry at the Spanish border on a long visitor stay

• Check that your passport was issued within the previous 10 years and is valid for at least three months after your planned departure.

• Check that your passport has at least two blank pages.

• Carry a visa if your nationality requires one.

• Bring proof of funds: cash, traveller's cheques, a bank statement, or a card with a certificate from your bank.

• Bring proof of where you will stay, such as a hotel booking or, for a private stay, an invitation letter (carta de invitación). It can reduce the amount of funds you need to show.

• Carry a return or onward ticket in case the officer asks.

• Pack travel medical insurance papers, which visa applicants must have.

• Prepare documents that explain the purpose of your trip, and have them ready to show.

Frequently asked questions

Do I go through EES or ETIAS if I hold a residence permit?

No, holders of residence permits or long-stay visas are not registered in EES and do not need ETIAS. The same goes for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.

Will border guards still stamp my passport?

No, EES replaces passport stamping for non-EU short-stay visitors. At the border you give your fingerprints and have a facial image taken.

Can border guards see how many days I have left?

Yes, border guards can see your remaining authorised stay because EES calculates the days you have used automatically. It also flags overstayers on its own. Keep your own count of days too, so you know your position before you reach the desk.

What happens if I overstay with EES in place?

If you overstay, you can be refused entry, fined and banned from entering again. EES flags you automatically and puts you on a list of overstayers for national authorities.