ETIAS Spain visa for Canadian citizens
The Canada will be part of the countries whose citizens have to present an approved ETIAS permit before entering Spain. ETIAS permit can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your visa via e-mail once the application is approved. The ETIAS visa will allow Canadian citizens to enter Spain for work, tourism, transit, or medical reasons, provided that the duration of the trip is no more than 90 days, and it will be valid for multiple entries made by air, sea, or land. Also, minors and people over 70 years of age will be able to apply for this visa free of charge.
What is ETIAS Spain for Canadian citizens?
ETIAS visa will come into force in 2023, as part of a program of the European Commission aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people travelling to the territories of the European Schengen Area. This program was already approved in 2016, after the terrorist attacks that affected some European countries.
How does ETIAS Spain visa work for Canadians
Starting from 2023 Canadian citizens must have an ETIAS visa before travelling to Spain. If the trip is longer than 90 days or has other reasons than those required for ETIAS permit, they will require a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Spain, respecting requirements and timing for the visa they are applying for. Once issued, ETIAS will be valid for 3 years, and it will allow to travel multiple times in Spain and other countries of the Schengen Area, provided that each trip is shorter than 90 days. In order to get your approved ETIAS in time for your trip, it is recommended to apply for ETIAS at least 4 days before the departure. If ETIAS permit is denied, you can still apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Spain or present an appeal to the country that denied the permit.
ETIAS destinations for Canadians
Starting from November 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for Canadians in order to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the moment, Canadians will not have to have ETIAS permit to enter Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these are not Schengen countries yet. However, this may change in the future, so please keep updated with the visa requirements.
ETIAS requirements for Canadians and how to apply
In order to apply for the ETIAS visa, you have to be a Canadian citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the Canada of America. If you are not entitled to an Canadian passport, you will require a Schengen visa.
ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all required information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once the application form is completed, you will also be required to pay a fee of 7 euros, applicable to all citizens between 18 and 70 years old, using a credit or debit card. Normally, most ETIAS permits are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and the approved visa will be sent via e-mail as a PDF file.
Furthermore, it will not be necessary to print the visa, because all the information will already be in the European Schengen authorities’ databases, and this information will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. Anyway, in order to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for ETIAS at least 4 days prior to the departure, to make sure that the visa is approved and to have the necessary time to provide any additional documents should they be required. If an ETIAS permit is denied, you can apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Spain. To avoid mistakes that could result in delays in the permit approval, it is highly recommended to carefully read and check all the ETIAS permit requirements.
How much does the ETIAS Spain visa cost for Canadians
The ETIAS permit application for Canadian citizens has a cost of 7 euros for all citizens with an age between 18 and 70 years, which has to be paid at the end of the online application process, using a credit or debit card. Citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age can apply for ETIAS permit free of charge.