Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Spain for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.

For the year 2023, U.S. citizens and citizens of other visa-exempt countries (like Canada, the UK, and Australia) did not need a visa for short-term stays in Spain of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This remained true throughout the year as the "ETIAS" (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) was repeatedly delayed. Travelers only needed a valid passport with at least three months of validity remaining beyond their planned departure date. However, as of late 2026, the ETIAS is expected to finally become operational, requiring travelers from these countries to apply for a digital authorization online before their trip. In 2023, the only people who required a visa for Spain were those from "non-Schengen" countries not on the visa-waiver list, or those planning to stay for longer than 90 days for work or study, who had to apply for a National (Type D) visa at a Spanish consulate.