Thursday, 07 April 2016 09:16

Tip Of The Day: Passport & Visa Requirements For Gran Canaria

It's a myth that your passport has to be valid for three months after you return from Gran Canaria It's a myth that your passport has to be valid for three months after you return from Gran Canaria www.photosgrancanaria.com

Lots of people worry about flying to Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands when their passport is due to expire.

But the myth that it has to be valid for three or six months after you get home just isn't true.

People from Schengen countries don't even need a passport. They can travel to Gran Canaria with a valid ID card from their home country.

The passport expiry myth

Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands are in the EU so they have the same passport and visa requirements as the rest of Spain. 

Provided that your passport doesn't expire during your holiday, you are fine to get on the plane. Here's a proper journalist who agrees with us. 

In fact, you can even go on holiday if your passport expires on the day you fly home (although you'd need to hope there weren't any delays).

The only thing that is different about travelling to Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands are the duty-free allowances. The Canaries have a lower rate of VAT /(called IGIC) than the rest of Spain so we aren't in the EU Customs Union. This means that you can only take 200 cigarettes and one litre of spirits back home per person over 18. 

Gran Canaria visa requirements

All EU and EEA citizens can travel to the Canary Islands without a visa. 

Here's the list of countries that don't need a visa to travel to Gran Canaria (or anywhere else in Spain and the Canary Islands) for a 90-day stay.

Albania (holders of an Albanian passport that isn't biometric need a Visa)
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia-Herzegovina (biometric passport required for visa-free travel)
Brazil
British nationals (Overseas)
British overseas territories citizens (BOTC)
British overseas citizens (BOC)
British protected persons (BPP)
British subjects (BS)
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Dominica
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Israel
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (biometric passport needed for visa-free travel)
Japan
Korean Republic
Liechtenstein
Macao Special Administrative Region
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro (biometric passport required for visa-free travel)
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Northern Mariana Islands (passports from the US)
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia (biometric passport required for visa-free travel)
Seychelles
Singapore
Taiwan (only holder of passports which contain identity card number)
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
USA
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vanuatu

For full info on the nationalities that do require a visa to travel to Spain and the Canary Islands, see this Spanish government page. We'd advise all non-EU/EEA citizens to check visa requirements with their local Spanish Consulate. If you do require a Visa, then also check how long your passport needs to be valid for.

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  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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