If you should need a visa (visado) for visiting, living or working in Spain then you will need to make an appointment at your local Spanish embassy (embajada) or consulate (consulado) to make the application. Applicants (aplicante) should be aware that making an appointment and applying for the visa is no guarantee of acceptance. Visas are not issued when you visit the visa office and you may have to wait some time for a decision, depending upon the circumstances.

Spain is a signatory of the Schengen Agreement, which allows residents (residente) of member states to live and work freely in other member countries. Visas are issued for those residents and these are known as Schengen visas. For this type of visa the applicant will need to have a passport (pasaporte) which is recognised by all the member states. Member states are mainly EU countries, although the UK is not a member state and its residents have the freedom of movement rights granted by the EU.

The Spanish Immigration department website has a complete list of countries whose residents need a visa even for a short visit. African and Middle Eastern countries appear on this list, as are many South American and Caribbean countries. Residents of the USA and Canada will not require short stay visas such as transit visas though will require a visa for a longer visit.

Visa issuing times will vary according to the visa office and personal circumstances, though most visas are issued within a month. Delays are possible if the forms are not completed correctly or if there is documentation (documentación) missing. Details on how to make the application (solicitud) are available from your local visa office and will be issued when the form is sent to you, or can be downloaded from their websites. When you attend the appointment you must take the original documentation with you as well as photocopies (fotocopia).

Those who are dependants of EU nationals or Spanish nationals can apply for a visa on that basis if they do not have that status themselves. The documentation required for this application includes a valid passport – most offices will expect the passport to have at least six months left to run – that has one blank page for the visa to be added, 2 original copies of the application form which are completed, 2 passport sized colour photographs which meet the guidelines laid out in the visa application guide, photocopies of any residence permits or ID cards which have been issued in the country in which they are living. Applicants should also supply the original and a copy of the Libro de Familia if they are a dependant of a Spanish national and both the original and a photocopy of the marriage certificate if applicable.

There should also be a copy and originals of any birth certificates (partida de nacimiento) of dependent children. If official documentation such as birth and marriage certificates has been issued outside the EU then they may need to be translated into Spanish or certified as genuine before they can be submitted. It is a good idea to check with the local visa office so that you can ensure that you have all the necessary measures in place before you apply for the visa. If you are applying as a parent of an EU national then it is the birth certificate of the son or daughter that is required in order to prove the family connection. All applicants in this category will need to prove their current residence status, so bank statements (extracto de cuenta) or utility bills are an accepted form of evidence of residency in a country.

Business Visa

Another short stay visa that can be applied for is the business visa. This is specifically for those who need to spend a short time in the country for work reasons. For this category the passport with the one blank page is also a requirement as is the two original application forms which need to be presented fully completed. The applicant should have two passport sized photographs. It is a requirement that there should be a letter (carta) regarding the work in question issued by the employer (empleador) and addressed to the Spanish embassy or consulate. This should be accompanied by a letter from the company in Spain confirming the reason for the visit. The applicant should also produce three months bank statements which clearly show the home address and pay slips if needed. The applicant will also have to prove that they have private medical insurance (seguro medico) for their time in Spain, a return flight ticket and give details of accommodation bookings.

Tourist Visa

For a short stay tourist visa (visado turístico) the applicant must fulfil the standard requirements on the passport, photographs and completed application forms. There must be proof of current residency status and proof of employment in the home country. If the applicant does not work then there should be proof of registration at an educational institution. As for the business visa, bank statements and payslips are needed and the applicant should have valid medical insurance for the planned visit. Proof of return travel and details of the accommodation to be used while in the country should also be provided. In addition to this, if there are children under the age of 18 travelling then there should be a declaration of consent (permiso) signed by both parents or one parent if they have legal sole custody. Passports and birth certificates should also be provided for children.

Transit Visa

A transit (tránsito) visa may be required if the applicant has a stopover in Spain. There are different types of visas depending upon whether the applicant needs a simple flight change at the same airport or needs to travel to another airport or travel terminal in order to make a connection. For all transit visas there is a need to show that the applicant has a valid passport, completed application forms, proof of residency in their home country and proof that they will be allowed into the country of destination. Details of travel arrangements should be provided and proof of medical insurance.

If the applicant needs a transit visa to travel around the country by car then vehicle details must be supplied as well as information on employment (trabajo) and residency. Bank statements and payslips should be provided as well as information on accommodation that is to be used in the country during the short visit. Signed consents for any children travelling will also be needed.

Domestic Worker Visa

There is also a separate visa for those who are seeking work in Spain as a nanny/au-pair/general domestic help. The passport for this application needs to be valid for a minimum of six months and have two blank pages for the relevant visas to be attached. The applicant must be a resident of their country of origin and have a firm offer of employment in Spain. The employer should issue a letter giving details of the proposed start date and all the terms of the contract (contrato), including details of remuneration. Tax office-issued forms regarding previous employment are required – in the UK, this is the P-60 form – as well as bank statements which prove that the applicant is earning money and will be able to support themselves for a short time while in Spain.

National Visa

Those who need a visa for a longer stay or for working and living in the country should apply for a national (nacional) visa. The application form can be downloaded from the website of a Spanish embassy or consulate, or can be sent out by post on request. The application for a national visa must be made in person at the consulate or embassy in the country where the applicant is living. A fee (honorarios) must be paid at the time that the application is made. Fees are non-refundable even if the application is rejected. Applicants are notified about the success of their application within one month of the application date.

If the application is successful the visa must be collected in person within a month, unless the visa is for a family. Group visas can be collected within 2 months. An appeal can be made if the application is unsuccessful. It can be held at the consulate within a month or at the High Court in Madrid within a period of 2 months.

A national visa also gives the holder the right to spend a period of three months out of six in any other Schengen country providing they have a valid passport, the financial means to support themselves during their stay and firm travel arrangements in place. If the individual is considered to be a threat to the security of any nation then they could be refused entry.

Those who are holders of the national visa that is to be used for a visit of six months of more will be issued with a foreign national identity card which they must apply for in person within one month of moving to Spain. This is not a requirement if the individual has a residence permit instead of the national visa. Those with a temporary work visa are also exempt.

Useful Resources

Ministry for Employment and Immigration
http://www.mtin.es/en/index.htm (not all of website is translated into English)
Tel: + 34 91 363 00 00
Email: informacionmtin@mtin.es