Entry Requirements for Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is a territory of Spain and a member of the EU and Schengen. As a result, it is covered by both the Schengen agreement and the European Union. Depending on the visitor’s country and desired stay period, Gran Canaria has different visa and entry requirements.
Entry Restrictions for Non-EU/Non-Schengen Nationals to Gran Canaria
This covers the UK as of the 31st December 2020, when the Brexit transition period ends.
Passport
A passport is required in order to go to Gran Canaria. To make sure it is valid for travel, it is crucial to check the age and expiration date. Your passport must satisfy two requirements:
- Valid for at least 3 months after the date you depart from Gran Canaria. Please verify the passports expiration date.
AND
- When visiting Gran Canaria, your passport has to be less than 10 years old. The calculation starts with the issue date.
These entry requirements were established using data from the European Union. Please double-check your airline’s requirements as several currently demand passports to be valid for at least six months at the time of travelling.
It is crucial that you examine the validity of your passport well in advance of your trip so that you have enough time to apply for a renewal if necessary.
Visa
Visiting Gran Canaria as a tourist.
According on your country of citizenship, there may be different Gran Canaria visa requirements. Currently, short-term tourist stays to Gran Canaria do not require a visa for residents of many different nationalities. These nations consist of:
The United Kingdom
The United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Israel
Japan
and many others
To view a complete list of countries whose citizens are excluded from the need for visas, visit the European Union website.
The following regulations apply if you are travelling to Gran Canaria from one of the nations listed above:
In every 180-day span, you may stay for up to 90 days.
However, if you are travelling to more EU nations, you must make sure that you don’t spend more than 90 days overall in all of the nations you visit within any particular 180-day period.
Extra requirements
You can also be required to show proof of the following if you are a tourist visiting Gran Canaria from outside the EU or the Schengen area:
- a return flight
- the location of your accommodation in Gran Canaria
- enough cash to cover your daily expenses (currently, this works out to €100)
Proposed new policies for 2025
Please be aware that these processes are not currently in place.
For citizens of non-Schengen/non-EU nations travelling to Spain (and/or other European countries), there will be adjustments in the future. They have already experienced two postponements despite being scheduled to launch in 2023. They are now scheduled to start operating in 2025.
EES stands for entry/exit system
EES (short for entry/exit system) is an information technology system that will be used at passport control for passengers from non-EU, non-Schengen countries beginning in 2024, however this is looking like 2025. The EES will automate border control procedures and eliminate the need for passport stamping. This will expedite the process and improve the accuracy of the checks being performed.
ETIAS – travel authorisation
Before visiting Gran Canaria, Non-EU/non-Schengen nationals will soon be required to apply for travel authorization.
ETIAS, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System, is the name of this new scheme. A valid ETIAS permit will allow the person to visit Spain (and/or other European countries) as a tourist for short periods of time. Once operational, an ETIAS travel authorization can be obtained for € 7 via the official website and is valid for three years.
Entry Requirements for Citizens of Schengen EU Countries to Gran Canaria
Passport / Identification Card
EU citizens travelling within the Schengen area are usually not required to show their passport or national identity card. You will, however, need to bring one of these documents with you, as foreigners on Spanish territory are required to carry valid proof of identity.
Passport Lost or Stolen
If your passport is lost or stolen while on vacation in Gran Canaria, you must contact your embassy or consulate.
Covid
Please check the covid regulation for information.