Expired passports

A Spanish citizen may enter Spain with an expired passport or ID card once the border control authorities have checked the authenticity of the document and that the identity and nationality of the person match the data appearing on the document they are carrying.

If travelling within the Schengen Area, border checks are not carried out at internal borders between States, other than in exceptional circumstances (see Articles 25 to 29 of the Schengen Borders Code) .

Before leaving Spain you should check the documents and requirements for entering the destination country. However, as a general rule, to cross an external border you must carry a valid passport or another valid travel document.

Under the Spanish legal system, entering Spain with an expired passport or ID card is not an offence.

With regard to leaving, you must cross an external border (to a third country) at an authorised border post with a valid passport or travel document. However, if travelling within the Schengen area, border checks are not carried out at internal borders between Schengen countries, other than in exceptional circumstances.

To enter: In accordance with current legislation (Article 4 of Royal Decree 240/2007, of 16 February, on the entry, free movement and residence in Spain of citizens of the EEMM of the EU and of other States parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area), to enter Spanish territory, a valid passport or ID card is required.

In all cases, in the event of not having the necessary travel documents to enter Spanish territory, before a beneficiary of the community system is refused to enter Spain, the border control authorities will make every effort to allow such persons to obtain or receive the necessary documents within a reasonable period of time, or for it to be confirmed or proven by other means that they are beneficiaries of said system, provided the lack of the travel document is the only reason that prevents them from entering Spain.

To leave: The rules are similar in all Member States, as the national laws regulating this matter have their origin in Directive 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.

For trips in the Schengen area, no internal border checks are carried out and so no documents are necessary.

In the event of wishing to enter Spain through an external border, the following exceptions exist in the event of having an expired passport/ID card (subject to changes by virtue of agreements):

• List of countries for which a passport that expired up to 5 years ago is admissible: Belgium, France, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Netherlands and Portugal.
• List of countries for which a passport that expired up to 1 year ago is admissible: Germany and Hungary.
• List of countries for which an ID card that expired up to 1 year ago is admissible: Germany and Hungary.
• In the case of the validity of expired documents presented to a forwarding agent for boarding purposes, competence lies with the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.