This guide covers the UK visa from Spain in 2026: the ETA now required of Spanish citizens, current fees in euros, the travel requirements for entering the UK, and the visa routes for non-EU residents. Since Brexit, Spanish nationals are visa-free for short visits but need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel. Whether you need a quick ETA for a London trip or a Standard Visitor visa as a non-EU resident, this guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
Spanish citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is now fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 1.71 million ETAs to Spanish nationals at a 99.7% approval rate, one of the largest ETA markets. The ETA costs €19 and lasts two years; only non-EU residents of Spain need an actual visa.
UK Visa from Spain: Requirements and Fees 2026
Spain and Britain share one of Europe's busiest travel corridors — around 18 million British visits to Spain a year, and the largest British expatriate community in the world, with over 400,000 UK nationals living along the Costa del Sol, Alicante, and beyond. Travel runs heavily in both directions. Since Brexit, though, Spanish travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals, and it must be approved before boarding.
Spanish citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (€19, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Spain need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead. For work, study, or family stays, Spanish nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements from Spain
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. Spanish nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors. The core requirement is a valid passport plus an approved ETA before travel — the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be in hand before you leave Spain.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (€19, valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Spanish visitors. Keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our France ETA guidance.
Do Spanish Citizens Need a Visa to Enter the UK?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. Spanish citizens need only an ETA (€19) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Spain — Moroccan, Latin American, or other passport holders, for example — need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) regardless of their Spanish residence status. For work or study beyond six months, every nationality needs the appropriate visa.
Free movement between the EU and UK ended on 31 December 2020, so Spanish citizens are now visa-exempt nationals for short visits — they can visit without a visa but cannot work, study courses over six months, or access public funds. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Spanish citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, with a 99.7% issue rate in the latest Home Office figures — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
ETA vs Visa: Which Applies to You?
| Feature | UK ETA | UK Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Spanish and other visa-exempt nationals | Non-EU residents (Moroccan, Latin American) |
| Cost | €19 | From €152 (6-month visitor) |
| Process | App, minutes | Online + biometrics |
| Decision | Often minutes, up to 3 working days | About 3 weeks (standard visitor) |
| Validity | 2 years, multiple entries | 6 months to 10 years |
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. The same ETA route applies to German citizens travelling to the UK.
UK Tourist Visa from Spain
Spanish citizens need no tourist visa — only the €19 ETA for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Spain need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. Spanish nationals apply via the ETA app; non-EU residents apply through the visa centre in Madrid.
"UK tourist visa from Spain" means different things by nationality. A Spanish passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-EU national living in Spain must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of how long they have lived there.
What You Can Do as a Visitor
- Tourism: sightseeing, attractions, events, and festivals
- Family visits: seeing friends and relatives in the UK
- Business activities: meetings, conferences, and negotiations — no paid work
- Short courses: study up to 30 days where it is not the main purpose
- Private medical treatment at UK private facilities
- Transit through the UK to another destination
For repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
UK Visa Fees from Spain 2026
Spanish citizens pay only €19 for an ETA. Non-EU residents of Spain pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. All fees are paid in euros and are non-refundable. These figures reflect the fee schedule current in 2026.
Home Office fees are set in pounds and shown in euros for applicants in Spain and the eurozone. The figures below are pulled from the official fee calculator and apply identically across euro-currency countries.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Spanish citizens) | €19 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €263 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
For travellers planning repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa spreads the cost over several years while still capping each stay at six months.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to euros. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Visa from Spain for Non-EU Residents
Non-EU residents of Spain pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, whatever their nationality — Moroccan, Colombian, Venezuelan, Filipino, or other. A Spanish residence permit (tarjeta de residencia) does not grant visa-free UK access, but it strengthens the application by showing ties to Spain. Applications go through the visa centre in Madrid, with processing of about three weeks.
Spain has large Latin American and Moroccan communities who travel frequently to the UK. Unlike Spanish citizens, they must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length — the tarjeta de residencia does not grant visa-free access. The upside is that settled life in Spain helps demonstrate a clear reason to return.
Legal residence in Spain — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or children in school alongside the standard documents.
Build the file using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
Can Spanish Citizens Work in the UK After Brexit?
Spanish citizens need a work visa since Brexit ended free movement on 31 December 2020. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Spanish nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. The Youth Mobility Scheme (ages 18–35, €383) and the Student visa (€671) are the other common routes.
Free movement ended on 31 December 2020, so Spanish nationals now need permission to work or study long-term. The upside is convenience: as an EU national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for Spanish applicants are high across all routes in the latest Home Office figures.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Spanish nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility and Student Routes
Spanish citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; places are limited and the fee is €383. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work. After a degree, the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Shorter courses up to six months need only an ETA.
Partner and Family Routes
Spanish nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa, currently €2,481, with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. Those already living in the UK before Brexit may hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme, in which case the free EUSS family route may apply instead.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Spain
Spanish citizens have an advantage: as EU nationals they can use the ID Check App to apply without visiting a visa centre. Non-EU residents of Spain use the Madrid centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee in euros at gov.uk
- Spanish citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Madrid visa centre
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- Spanish citizens need an ETA (€19), applied for via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.7%
- For visas, Spanish nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) applies to visas over six months
- Standard processing is about three weeks; priority five working days
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover Italian citizens and the UK, travellers from Portugal, Greek citizens and the UK, the Malta ETA guide, and Cypriot citizens and the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK Visa from Spain
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Spanish citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs €19, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Spanish travellers board transport to the UK. For work or study, the appropriate visa is required.
Spanish citizens pay only €19 for an ETA. Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, €569 for two years, €1,015 for five years, or €1,268 for ten years. Work visas range from €365 (Health and Care) to €1,825 (Skilled Worker over three years), and a partner visa is €2,481. Priority processing adds €597, super priority €1,194.
Spanish citizens need a valid passport and an approved ETA (€19) before boarding, plus evidence of return travel, accommodation, and funds. The ETA is checked at check-in, so apply via the UK ETA App before leaving Spain. Non-EU residents of Spain need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead, regardless of their Spanish residence status.
A Spanish citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
No, not without a work visa. Since Brexit, the main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Spanish nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme. Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
Yes. Spanish and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Spanish citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.