From November 2023, British travellers aged 18 to 70 will be required to apply for the European Travel Information Authorization System (ETIAS) to be able to visit any of the 27 EU member states.

This permit is seen as a side effect of Brexit, as UK citizens will no longer be able to travel freely within the Schengen zone.

The ETIAS is relatively inexpensive and simple to obtain, with an expected fee of 7 euros. It will remain valid for three years and can be applied for on the ETIAS website. For more information on the ETIAS visit the website https://etias.com/

When arriving in Spain or any other EU country, travellers must have a valid passport with at least six months remaining, and the law states that visitors can be asked to show proof of a a return ticket, proof of funds, and evidence of where they plan to stay. They must also scan their passport and ETIAS permit at the self–service machines at the border.

The Spanish government has specified that the ETIAS should not be viewed as a visa, due to its low cost and fast application process. EU residents and those with long–term visas are exempt from this requirement. Industry insiders believe the ETIAS will actually speed up non–EU security queues, as all their information will be available in their ETIAS and some checks can be skipped.