Spain to Enforce Airport Transit Visa Rule for Russian Citizens Beginning July 12

Starting July 12, 2025, Russian citizens traveling on ordinary passports will be required to hold an airport transit visa (TAP) in order to pass through international zones of Spanish airports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain has announced.

In a formal statement, the ministry said, “Citizens of the Russian Federation holding ordinary passports must have an airport transit visa (TAP) for transit through the international zones of Spanish airports. This measure will come into force on July 12, 2025. Consequently, from this date onwards, all holders of Russian ordinary passports wishing to transit through Spanish airports must have a valid TAP visa.”

This new regulation means that, effective mid-July, Russian nationals without the required TAP visa will be prohibited from transiting through any Spanish airport, even for connecting international flights.

However, not all Russian travelers will be subject to this rule. The ministry clarified that the TAP visa requirement does not apply to Russian nationals who already possess a valid Schengen visa or another type of entry visa. Likewise, those holding residence permits issued by any EU or EEA member state are exempt, as are individuals traveling with diplomatic passports.

Spain also imposes a strict time frame for transits. As per current protocols, the total time spent in transit at a Spanish airport must not exceed 24 hours. This stipulation remains unchanged with the new requirement.

To obtain the airport transit visa, Russian citizens will be required to complete the official visa application form in full, supply a recent passport-sized photo, and present the relevant pages of their biometric passport. Additionally, they must provide documentation that proves they are continuing their journey beyond Spain, as well as evidence of their legal residence in another country.

Payment of the consular fee is also mandatory for TAP visa applicants.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the standard processing time for an airport transit visa is 15 calendar days from the date of application. In certain instances where further documentation is needed, the review process may extend to as long as 45 days.

Spain’s move is part of a broader trend across Europe. Czechia has already implemented a similar airport transit visa requirement for Russian nationals, while several other Schengen Area countries have suspended the issuance of visas to Russian citizens entirely in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

This latest decision by Spanish authorities adds a further layer of restriction to Russian travelers navigating through European airspace, and signals a continued tightening of cross-border controls for Russian passport holders. 

By fLEXI tEAM