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Spainish · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Madrid, Spain

Ya, what Granada Girl said!

I've only been asked once (not in Spain but on my way to it coming from Asia) about not having an onward travel ticket and I just said I planned on travelling around Europe for a while and wasn�t sure when and from where I would return (Insert emoticon of yellow smiley face waving me through customs).

Believe us, if you are "Anglo" you will have little to no problems getting in and out of Spain. There is much talk about the laws getting stricter and all, but I still seriously doubt that they will apply them with any major rigor against North Americans and the like. You don't see Spaniards cursing our "kind" in the street demanding we "go back where we came from!" (Unless of course we start any more wars Sad

)!

Spainish

JoshuaJ · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:37 am Post subject: Re: One-Way Ticket to Spain?

MAP Magazine · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Madrid, Spain

I've come to Spain lots of times with a one way ticket from www.air-hitch.org. Sure, I've been asked about it...but like others said on this forum, I just said I was travelling around Europe and didn't know when I was going back�they let me go.

HOWEVER, I do know people who have been "forced" to buy a return ticket on the American side just before leaving to go to Spain. This seems to happen to timid people who won't argue with the airline people. I've argued my way out of that one too.

Good luck,

Phil

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

JoshuaJ · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: One-Way Ticket to Spain?

txtraveler · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 16

This seems to be the best thread to post this question here and as some of the responses are a year or two old, I figure it's maybe time for an update. My question is if anyone (more specifically US citizens) had any trouble after overstaying their 90 day tourist visa, going home for a visit, and then trying to re-enter Spain.

I know that you CAN get caught and get in trouble, but I'm wondering if it actually happens to anyone. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

CMB · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Barcelona

I've been living in Barcelona for about 8 years and I've heard of exactly ONE American who had problems with this, and while this person was living in Spain the problem was in London. This person had been travelling and was returning to Spain (place of living), via London, when questioned by an official because from the passport stamps ths person had clearly been in Europe for more than 3 months. Some nastiness ensued, and this person was forced to buy a return ticket to the U.S. on the spot (which is VERY pricey). This particular person is somewhat argumentative by nature and may have rubbed the passport control people the wrong way, and I wasn't there to see what was said, but based on hundreds of other people's experiences, I would say that the chances of this happening to anyone in Spain are almost nil, and not much more likely in other European countries either.

txtraveler · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 16

Thanks for that information. My experience in traveling to Europe has been that they don't usually look at a US passport too closely and that I usually have to ask the passport officer to stamp it on departure. My passport is already about 1/2 full with stamps and visas including several Schengen countries anyway. Good to know that others have been able to come and go without too much hassle. Sounds like to be on the safe side though, it might be best to fly in and out of Spain directly and do any connecting w/in the US. Thanks for sharing your experience!