Travel documents

Travel with the right information and the right documents It is very important, –and your responsibility as a passenger,– that you carry the correct documents and are fully aware of the minimum requirements for the country you intend to visit. The best way to start a safe, hassle-free trip is to know what you, as the traveller, are required to do. This includes finding out what documents are required and what vaccines and/or precautions, if any, you should take before starting your journey

Travel with the right information and the right documents

It is very important, –and your responsibility as a passenger,– that you carry the correct documents and are fully aware of the minimum requirements for the country you intend to visit. The best way to start a safe, hassle-free trip is to know what you, as the traveller, are required to do. This includes finding out what documents are required and what vaccines and/or precautions, if any, you should take before starting your journey.

Security measures to identify passengers flying from Spain

According to the National Security Committee, as part of the National Security Programme Identifying Passengers Flying from Spain, passengers must use the following documents to prove that they are the person whose name appears on the boarding pass. This must be done at the check-in counters and/or the boarding gates.

[1] Spanish citizens travelling to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland may travel with an expired passport, up to five years after the expiry date.

CLARIFICATION REGARDING VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS

For the purpose of travel document verification and security measures, the following definitions will apply:

• Travel document: Validly issued, currently in force and stating the expiry date and any limits on use thereof
• Refugee travel document: Issued in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
• Stateless persons travel document: Issued in accordance with the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
• Other valid travel documents: In addition to the three types of travel documents indicated above, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior allows individuals to travel with other travel documents, such as a seaman's card, although use of such documents is less frequent.

A valid, current visa may be required to travel to certain countries, depending on the nationality of the passenger. If the passenger does not have such a visa, the airline may refuse to allow the passenger to board the plane.

In order to travel to certain countries, unaccompanied minors under age 18 on non-domestic flights will require a passport or a national identity document (DNI). If travelling with a DNI, the minor must also present an authorisation form signed by his or her father, mother or legal guardian. Such forms may be obtained at police stations, Guardia Civil stations, courts, notary offices and city halls.

A police report claiming lost or stolen travel documents will not be sufficient to evidence a passenger's identity. A law enforcement officer may attest to the identity of the passenger; however, this affidavit will only serve to verify the identity of the passenger at the boarding gate for domestic flights, and is not sufficient to allow the passenger entry in the destination country.

Children under 14 years of age travelling on domestic flights with their parents are not required to prove their identity with a national identity document. Rather, their parents must carry proper identification for themselves as well as for their children.

A national identity document (DNI) will be required for flights in the European community (Schengen area), while a passport (and visa, if required by the destination country) is necessary for international flights y and flights to European countries not party to the Schengen Agreement.

Children older than 14 must show the same travel documents as required for adult passengers.

Children between 5 and 14 travelling alone must show the travel documents outlined above. In addition, their parents or guardians must provide written authorisation and complete the unaccompanied minor documentation required by the airline.

Given that airlines are not required to accept unaccompanied minors, we recommend that you consult the conditions for this service.

Consult the official site of the Spanish Foreign Office
Travel recommendations for Spanish citizens, as well as other matters of interest.
In Spanish.

IATA Travel Centre
The official IATA website providing information on documents and vaccines required, by nationality and destination country.
*In English.

The obligation to declare cash movements has been established to prevent money laundering and other serious forms of crime such as terrorism financing.

Obligation to declare

Everyone (Spanish or foreign) leaving or entering Spain is required to declare all cash equal to or over TEN THOUSAND EUROS (€10,000)*.

Likewise, everyone is required to declare any cash movement within Spain in an amount equal to or over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS (€100,000)**.

Entering and leaving Spain means any transit from or to any third country, including European Union Member States, via ground, maritime or air transport.

*Or the equivalent in foreign currency. The obligation to declare is also applicable to all movements of banker's cheques payable to the bearer or other non-order payment methods in an amount equal to or over €10,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency (see Order EHA/1439/2006, of 3 May).

** Or the equivalent in foreign currency. The obligation to declare is also applicable to all movements of banker's cheques payable to the bearer or other non-order payment methods in an amount equal to or over €100,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency (see Order EHA/1439/2006, of 3 May).

The declaration shall be made by submitting form S1 to Customs. This declaration is free of cost.

The declaration must be submitted on one's own initiative prior to any tax supervision activity by customs agents or police officers.

A copy of the declaration submitted must be carried along with the cash during the transfer of the funds and must be produced, when appropriate, upon request from customs agents or police officers.

Form S1 is available from Customs and at the following websites:

http://www.sepblac.es

http://www.aeat.es

http://www.tesoro.es