Spain
Spain
Schengen
Europe
The official name of Spain is Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España). Spain with its total area of 505,990 km2 is located in the Southwestern Europe. The country is consisting of a continental European territory situated on the Iberian Peninsula, two archipelagos: the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands near the coast of North Africa. There are several small islands in the Alboran Sea. Spain is in fact the only European country having a physical border with an African country (Morocco) thanks to its exclaves of Mellila, Ceuta and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera. Continental part of Spain has borders with France, Andorra and Portugal and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Biscay. Spain is the largest country in the Southern Europe and the secondlargest country in Western Europe. With the population of 47.3 million Spain is the fourthmost populous country of the European Union. The capital city is Madrid and has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. Other large and well-known Spanish cities are Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Málaga, Murcia, Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Bilbao. The largest part of its population are Spanish / Spaniards (84,8% of the population). The official language is Spanish (natively spoken by 74% of the general population of all Spain). The other official languages are Catalan, Galician, Basque, Occitan. The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism (61% of the population). Spain is one of the major Latin countries of Europe. Majority of the aspects of Spanish life is permeated and impacted by its Roman heritage. Spain hosts 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the world´s third-largest number. Spanish art, music, architecture, cuisine and culture have been shaped by the country´s Mediterranean geography and climate as well as foreign invaders, and are the reason to visit Spain.
About Spain
SPANISH CUISINE
Spanish cuisine is a mixture of dishes. We can see that strong and significant influence of culture, climate, geography and Mediterranean roots is reflected there. Seafoods available from the seas surrounding the country heavily influence the Spanish cuisine. Varied history and cultures have led to unbelievable, tasty and unique dishes.
We can easily identify three main streams:
Mediterranean Spain (coastal regions, from Andalusia to Catalonia) various of seafood, such as fried fish (Pescaíto frito), cold soups like gazpacho, many rice-based dishes like Paella, a traditional Valencian dish, and black rice (Arròs negre) from Catalonia.
Inner Spain (Castile) Food is traditionally conserved by salting like tasty Spanish ham (Jamón), regularly a component of tapas (typical appetizer or snack) or immersed in tasty olive oil, such as Manchego cheese. Typical soup is the hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlic-based Castilian soup.
Atlantic Spain (Northern coast) including Asturian, Basque, Cantabrian and Galician cuisine – vegetable and fish-based stews like Caldo gallego and Marmitako. Also the lightly cured Lacón ham. Lacón is a Spanish dried ham obtained from front legs or the shoulders of the pig. The most popular and well noted cuisine rely on ocean seafood as in the Basque-style cod, albacore (longfin tuna) or anchovy or the Galician octopusbased Polbo á feira (served on wooden plates with bread. Traditionally water should not be drunk whilst eating octopus. Dish is usually served accompanied by young Galician red wine) and shellfish dishes.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Spain under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Spain. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
The documents you need to present to the Spanish border officer are as follows:
Passport validity
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa
If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Spanish Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance
Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Spain and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Spain that fulfil Spanish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Spanish Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
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• Passport validity – the document must be valid for at least three months following the planned exit from the territory of the Members States, and has to be issued within the last ten years. Citizens from any State of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only need a valid national identity document or passport. Citizens from the United Kingdom and Ireland will require a passport since their countries are not members of the Schengen Area.
• All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Spain under the visa-free regime. There are different types of visas for Spain depending reason for visiting and on your nationality.
• Schengen Visa – is required by citizens of third countries included on the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders, unless in possession of a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by another Member State. Visa form here.
• Long term visa – entitle their holders to reside, to reside and work, to study, or to research in Spain. Visa of this kind are necessary for all foreigners unless they are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
• Applications for long-term visas must be submitted through a duly completed application form (original and copy) or may also be obtained for free at Spain‘s Diplomatic Missions or Consular Posts abroad.
• Schengen Travel Insurance. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Spain that fulfil Spanish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and are accepted by Spain Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
Do not forget to check the actual conditions for visiting Spain official pages of Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
About Spain
SPANISH CUISINE
Spanish cuisine is a mixture of dishes. We can see that strong and significant influence of culture, climate, geography and Mediterranean roots is reflected there. Seafoods available from the seas surrounding the country heavily influence the Spanish cuisine. Varied history and cultures have led to unbelievable, tasty and unique dishes.
We can easily identify three main streams:
Mediterranean Spain (coastal regions, from Andalusia to Catalonia) various of seafood, such as fried fish (Pescaíto frito), cold soups like gazpacho, many rice-based dishes like Paella, a traditional Valencian dish, and black rice (Arròs negre) from Catalonia.
Inner Spain (Castile) Food is traditionally conserved by salting like tasty Spanish ham (Jamón), regularly a component of tapas (typical appetizer or snack) or immersed in tasty olive oil, such as Manchego cheese. Typical soup is the hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlic-based Castilian soup.
Atlantic Spain (Northern coast) including Asturian, Basque, Cantabrian and Galician cuisine – vegetable and fish-based stews like Caldo gallego and Marmitako. Also the lightly cured Lacón ham. Lacón is a Spanish dried ham obtained from front legs or the shoulders of the pig. The most popular and well noted cuisine rely on ocean seafood as in the Basque-style cod, albacore (longfin tuna) or anchovy or the Galician octopusbased Polbo á feira (served on wooden plates with bread. Traditionally water should not be drunk whilst eating octopus. Dish is usually served accompanied by young Galician red wine) and shellfish dishes.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Spain under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Spain. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
The documents you need to present to the Spanish border officer are as follows:
Passport validity
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa
If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Spanish Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance
Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Spain and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Spain that fulfil Spanish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Spanish Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
• Passport validity – the document must be valid for at least three months following the planned exit from the territory of the Members States, and has to be issued within the last ten years. Citizens from any State of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only need a valid national identity document or passport. Citizens from the United Kingdom and Ireland will require a passport since their countries are not members of the Schengen Area.
• All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Spain under the visa-free regime. There are different types of visas for Spain depending reason for visiting and on your nationality.
• Schengen Visa – is required by citizens of third countries included on the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders, unless in possession of a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by another Member State. Visa form here.
• Long term visa – entitle their holders to reside, to reside and work, to study, or to research in Spain. Visa of this kind are necessary for all foreigners unless they are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
• Applications for long-term visas must be submitted through a duly completed application form (original and copy) or may also be obtained for free at Spain‘s Diplomatic Missions or Consular Posts abroad.
• Schengen Travel Insurance. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Spain that fulfil Spanish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and are accepted by Spain Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
Do not forget to check the actual conditions for visiting Spain official pages of Ministry for Foreign Affairs.