Spain’s Embassy in London updated its travel-advice page on 23 October 2026 to reiterate that from 2 April 2025 all Spanish citizens visiting the United Kingdom for periods under six months must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance. The reminder follows a recent surge in last-minute airport refusals after travellers assumed that their EU passports alone were still sufficient. Applications cost £10 and are made through the UK ETA mobile app or GOV.UK. Approval is usually instantaneous but can take up to 72 hours if additional security checks are triggered. The ETA is valid for multiple entries over two years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner. Failure to hold a valid ETA constitutes a ‘no-permission’ offence under the UK’s Universal Permission to Travel scheme and carriers face fines of £10,000 per infringing passenger. Corporate mobility teams moving staff from Spanish headquarters to the UK on short-term business assignments must incorporate ETA screening into pre-trip checklists and factor the extra lead-time into project schedules. Spaniards transferring under long-term work visas remain exempt because they already hold entry clearance; however, dependants arriving later on visitor status for house-hunting or school searches must still apply. Airlines flying Spain–UK routes report that most boarding denials involve travellers who booked flights less than 24 hours before departure, underlining the need for rapid employee-education campaigns. Employers should distribute the embassy’s bilingual step-by-step guide and encourage staff to download the ETA app well before travel plans are finalised.
