ETA required
Spanish visitors need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 2 April 2025
Spanish citizens need a UK ETA from the April 2025 EU wave. EasyJet and Iberia will check it. Gibraltar is not a workaround to skip UK permission for entering Great Britain — if your trip is London, you need the correct UK authorisation on the passport you use. Settled-status Spaniards in the UK do not apply for ETA. The £20 fee is not a tourist tax collected by Madrid; it is a UK Home Office charge. Apply three working days early in case of manual review.
Spanish travel facts
| Passport | Spain |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 2 April 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes spanish visitors make
- Leaving the application until the night before a 06:00 MAD–LGW flight.
- Thinking a Spanish DNI plus boarding pass is enough at the gate.
London notes for Spanish arrivals
Gatwick and Heathrow both take Spain traffic. For a short city break, contactless capping on TfL plus walking Zones 1 is cheaper than a hire car, which triggers ULEZ for many Spanish-registered vehicles.
FAQs
- Is Gibraltar a way to enter the UK without an ETA?
- Gibraltar has its own border. Entering Great Britain still needs UK permission. Do not use it as a loophole.
- How early should I apply?
- At least three working days. Most app decisions are faster, but some are not.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.