Layover in Madrid
If you are flying to South America, then most likely the cheapest flights will have a layover in Madrid. Airlines Iberia and AirEuropa offer convenient connections and inexpensive tickets for flights to Central and South America, as well as within Spain.
Do you need a visa for a layover in Madrid?
The answer to this question depends on where you are flying from and to, as well as which airline you are flying with.
Flight: Non-Schengen - Madrid - Non-Schengen
Whether a visa is needed in this case depends on the airlines and whether you bought a through ticket (single) or combined flights from two airlines yourself.
The countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
You are flying with one airline or two airlines in the same alliance
For example, Moscow - Madrid - Punta Cana (Iberia). In this case, your arrival and departure will be from the international flights terminal - T4S, which has a transit zone where you can stay for up to 24 hours. However, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, if you arrive in Madrid from London. The UK and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Agreement, but for EU citizens, these flights are still considered local, so arrival and departure to London are from the local flights terminal - T4. What should those do who fly to Madrid from London and then to a non-Schengen country? As a general rule, in this case, you need a visa. However, if the flight is operated by British Airways, the plane arrives at a special exit where transit passengers without Schengen visas are met and transported to Terminal 4S, so you do not go through passport control and do not need a visa.
You are flying with two different airlines that are not part of the same alliance
In this case, arrival and departure will most likely be from different terminals. For a layover in Madrid, you will need to collect your luggage, move from one terminal to another, and check it in again; for this, you will need a visa.
- Terminal T1: Air Europa, Delta Airlines, Egyptair, Turkish Airways, Aeroflot
- Terminal T2: Aegean, Air Europa, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa
- Terminal T4: American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, TAM Airlines and US Airways, S7, Transaero, UIA.
For example, for a transfer from T1 to T4S, a visa is required. If you do not have a Schengen visa, you will not be allowed to board the flight.
Flight: Schengen - Madrid - Any country
For example, Rome - Madrid - Moscow, you already have a visa, as you have already obtained a Schengen visa to visit Rome, and you do not need to get any additional visas for a layover in Madrid.
Flight: Any country - Madrid - Schengen
For example, Moscow - Madrid - Lisbon. To visit Lisbon, you should already have a Schengen visa, and you do not need to open another one for transit through Spain. If you have a Schengen visa, and the layover time allows, you can easily leave the airport and take a walk around the city or stay overnight in a hotel during a night layover.
In brief:
- T4S → T4S - no visa needed
- T4S → T4 - visa needed, except for British Airways/Iberia flights from London
- T1 → T1 - no visa needed
- T1 → T4S - visa needed
- T1 → T4 - visa needed
How much time is needed for a layover in Madrid?
If you need to change terminals, the transfer will take 20-30 minutes. To this, add time for passport control and pre-flight security checks, as there can be queues at both. When self-connecting two flights from different airlines, allow at least two hours for a layover with a terminal change, and if you also need to collect and re-check luggage, then three hours.
What to do if you missed your connecting flight during a layover? >>
Airlines themselves also offer shorter connections; it's possible to get from one terminal to another with all formalities in an hour. If you found a cheap flight with a long layover and have a Schengen visa, we advise you to make good use of your time and see Madrid during your layover. The best option is to book an excursion.
