My daughter is traveling to Europe for spring break. She is flying into Rome and wanted to fly home from Madrid. When she changed her reservation on Travelocity they told her she would need a Visa from Spain since she was arriving and departing from 2 different countries. Is this true?
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
We were questioned briefly crossing from Alsace to Germany "US Citizen" was the magic answer
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Not true...she needs no visa. In fact there aren't any passport checks between Italy and Spain:)
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Doesn't sound right. Unless I'm mistaken Spain and Italy are both Schengen countries. U.S. Passport holders can visit the Schengen zone for up to 90 days (within any six month window) without a visa. I've never heard of issues regarding traveling freely within the Schengen zone and flying in and out of different cities/countries. It doesn't sound like she is staying over 90 days (if so, I want that Spring Break). It's possible it was misinterpreted by your daughter (maybe they asked for a passport or the Visa card the ticket was purchased with - really just wild guesses). It's also possible your daughter is considering an intermediate country that does require a visa.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23622 posts
The assumption is that she IS traveling on a US passport.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
If she is an American citizen traveling in Italy and Spain for less than 90 days, she needs no visa. It doesn't matter where she flies into and out of.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
Michael, As Frank mentioned, I assume your daughter is travelling on a U.S. Passport? If that's the case, I doubt she would need a Visa and don't understand why a supposedly reputable travel firm would say that? I often use different airports in the E.U. (Schengen zone), and have never once had any issues with that. When she enters the E.U., her Passport will be stamped, and again when she leaves the E.U. Cheers!
Posted by
Coppell, TX USA
284 posts
Michael, Is she traveling by means other than air between Rome and Madrid? If so, then it depends on whether her stay is continuous within the Schengen (sp?) countries and whether she happens to run into a border patrol somewhere in route. If she is flying from Rome to Madrid, she may well have to go through passport control (immigrations) to enter Spain to continue her journey. If her first point of entry into the Schengen (sp?) countries is France make sure they stamp her passport with an entry stamp as the French sometimes just check the passports without putting an entry stamp in them. This also depends on which country issued the passport she is traveling on. Also, she should use the same passport to enter and exit the Schengen (sp?) countries if she has a valid passport from two or more countries. Edwin