• Population: 46.7 million
• Capital: Madrid
• Demographics: Each region of Spain boasts its own unique ethnic heritage. Today, 88% of Spain's population was born in Spain, and 12% are foreign-born, especially from former Spanish colonies. Additionally, 68.5% of the population define themselves as Catholic, 26.4% as non-believers or atheists, and 2.6% as other religions.
• Type of government: Parliamentary Monarchy
• Regional Membership: Spain is part of the EU and the Schengen region
• Currency: Euro
• Common foods: seafoods, pinxos, paella, Iberic ham (jamon iberico)

Castillian Spanish is the official language of Spain, with several other regional languages spoken by locals such as Catalan, Valenciano, Galician, and Basque.

Since Spain is a popular tourist destination in Europe, it is common for locals to speak English, especially in larger cities. Restaurants and hotels tend to be the most accommodating with language access.

As a University of Illinois student, you have access to library resources (such as Rosetta Stone and Libguides). You may also want to consider free sources to learn basic phrases, or to refresh your language skills prior to departure.

It is each students responsibility to independently verify the visa information below and ensure they apply and secure the appropriate documentation to travel and stay in their host country for the duration of their program.

Students studying in Spain for more than 90 days will require a visa. Programs less than 90 days do not require a visa.

Important notes about the process of obtaining a visa:

• Students will need to travel to the Spanish Consulate in Chicago in order to apply in-person.
• Schedule your appointment right away, even if you do not have all your documents together. Your appointment must be within 90 days before your program start date, but as far out as possible.
• Visas can take up to 4-6 weeks for processing.
• Be flexible on the appointment date, and make your appointment a priority.

To read more on passport and visa terminology see the Passports & Visas page of this website.

Phones

• Check with your service provider about purchasing an international plan. However, these can be expensive, and most have found getting a local Spanish number may be useful for safety and communications purposes.
• Prepaid SIM cards might be the most useful option for longer stays and will be available for purchase once you arrive in Spain.
• Most pay-as-you-go plans will have data options for internet use at various rates.
• Reference mobile plans and providers in Spain.
• Make sure you have the Duo Mobile app set up on your phone. If you get a new SIM card, use the passcode options instead of PUSH, or go to UI Verify website to enter your new phone information.

Internet

• Internet infrastructure in Spain is widely available, and you will likely have internet access through your housing if you are staying in student dormitories, in an apartment, or with a host family.
• Students will likely have WiFi or computer access provided by their respective host institutions for academic purposes on school grounds.
• WiFi may not be available for free in as many locations as you may be accustomed to.

Electricity

• An important distinction between a converter and adapter is that a converter converts the voltage, while an adapter makes your device fit into the local outlet.
• Voltage is not the same as in the United States. For that reason, it is recommended that you do NOT bring appliances such as hair dryers or hair straighteners with you, unless you also purchase a voltage converter. Some host families have bathroom appliances for students to borrow during their homestay that have left from previous students. Cell phones and laptops will not need a voltage converter.
• Spain uses type C and F outlets, so you will need a universal plug adapter. You can purchase one prior to arrival or after you arrive on-site. Below are pictures of the outlets in Spain.

Using Money

• Cash is the most common medium for in-person and smaller payments in restaurants, bars, shops, and among street vendors.
• Credit and debit cards are acceptable for use during larger transactions, online payments, and group outings.
• Unlike in the United States, it is highly uncommon, and sometimes considered rude, for a group to split a check. Before spending money, students should have more than one means of payment available, and communicate with their group members in regards to bill splitting outside after paying.
• Major banks in Spain include, but are not limited to, Bankia, Santander, and Caixa. Ask your program directors in Spain for best bank recommendations in your city.

Banking Tips

• If you plan to utilize a US credit or debit card while in Spain, be sure to notify your bank that you will be using it abroad and find out how much of an international surcharge will be added for each card swipe.
• If the international ATM asks whether you want your currency converted into dollars, keep it in the local currency to prevent extra costs.
• It is recommended that you travel to Spain with enough Euros to last you several days. It is not recommended to convert US dollars to Euros at the airport upon arrival because of high currency exchange fees.
• Many US banks will allow you to exchange dollars for Euros in advance of your trip at little to no cost, but your local bank may need to order Euros in advance. Give yourself 2 weeks prior to departure to exchange currency.

Geography

• Spain is situated on the Iberic peninsula in the southwestern region of Europe, with land bordering Portugal, France, Morocco, Andorra, and Gibraltar.

Climate

• Spain is home to a Mediterranean climate, which cycles through hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
• Temperatures in the peak summer season can reach up to 40+ degrees Celcius (100+ degrees Farenheit).

Packing

• Some items to pack might include: sun protection items, long pants and/or dresses (adults usually do not wear shorts despite the hot weather), light or multi-layer jacket, and rain gear.
• For more packing considerations, view the Packing List (PDF).

Traveling Locally

• Bus: Travelling within Spain is fairly accessible between cities primarily via bus. Alsa.es is an excellent website to purchase bus tickets between Spanish cities at an affordable price, and this bus service offers buses every hour to few hours, almost 24/7.
• Metro & Taxi: Within a single city, it is common to travel via metro (and most affordable to get a multi-ride metro pass), as well as via city bus or taxi. Select cities utilize an app called "Quiero un Taxi" to call taxis from anywhere in the city using a smartphone, but the majority of cities in Spain will have a specific taxi hotline that you can use to order one.
• Air: You may also consider the option of flying between smaller cities via small national airports, but national flights tend to be more expensive than bus tickets (despite saving travel time) for the same trip.
• Ride Share: Another inexpensive ride sharing service similar to that of Uber and Lyft is BlaBlaCar, which can be utilized to travel between cities close to each other. This is typically not recommended for longer trips across the country or across an autonomous region.
• Bikes: Larger cities in Spain will have a bike sharing system in place similar to that of Veoride at Illinois. You can download the app associated with said bike sharing service and use it as you would here on campus.

Flights

• Large international airports: Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Barcelona Airport (BCN), Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), Malaga Airport (AGP)
• Smaller national airport locations: Alicante, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, Tenerife, Granada, Almeria, etc.
• Common domestic airlines: Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, Ryanair, Norwegian, Volotea

Each student faces different barriers and unique challenges based on their identity. For example, how you identify in the United States may not be how you choose to identify abroad because of the local social culture. We encourage all students to reflect on the different aspects of their identity and consider how they may play a role in their study abroad experience. To help with this thought process: visit the State Department website and look into the Identity & Inclusion resources available on this website.

International Safety and Security provides important wellness tips, along with using your insurance and the emergency phone number. Be sure to become familiar with this website and the resources available to you. Review the U.S. Embassy page and the Department of State website for additional safety resources.

Enroll yourself in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) with the U.S. Department of State. Registration in STEP will allow you to get alerts on the latest safety and security information. In addition, the information you provide enables the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.