Travel Tips

Visas: No visa is required for U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand passport holders for a stay of up to 3 months in Spain.

ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System: Visitors to the EU Schengen Zone (including Spain and Portugal) that do not require a visa will be required to request an ETIAS approval prior to their trip. This is an online application form that will be launched in 2024. The exact date has not been announced and the website is not yet operational: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/index_en

Time Zone: Spain is in the same time zone as most of Western Europe, which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard USA and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Standard USA time, and 8 hours behind Australia & New Zealand Eastern Standard time. Due to differences in daylight savings, there may be another hour difference.

Calling: To call Spain from the USA or Canada, dial the international access code (011) followed by Spain’s country code (34) and the phone number. To call Spain from Australia, dial the international access code (0011) followed by Spain’s country code (34) and the phone number. To call Spain from New Zealand, dial the international access code (00) followed by Spain’s country code (34) and the phone number.

To call home from Spain dial the international access code (00) followed by the U.S. country code (1), the Australian country code (61) or the New Zealand country code (64) and the phone number.

Electricity: 220 volts is used in Spain with two round prong plugs for the outlets. Standard North American, Australian or New Zealand plugs will not fit into Spanish outlets, make sure you have the proper adapters & transformers for your digital cameras, electrical shavers, etc.

Money: Credit and debit cards are the most efficient and convenient way to get money. ATMs are widely available throughout Spain, and most places accept major credit cards (Visa is the best; American Express can be iffy). Before you leave, talk to your bank and make sure that you have the correct PIN and inform them that you will be traveling to Spain, so your account is not frozen after 1 transaction. Traveler’s checks have all but disappeared, and although cash can be changed at banks and exchange offices, availability and hours can be problematic.

Value Added Tax (VAT): Non-European Union residents may request a reimbursement of the V.A.T. sales-tax (Value Added Tax, IVA in Spain) when taking goods out of the EU. This applies to minimum purchases of 90.15 Euros (approximately $95 USD).