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Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Spain?
Spain is in the European Union and the Schengen area, in which European member states have jointly agreed their common visa rules towards foreign nationals. Free travel area is established by most EU member states. Therefore, the non-EU citizens whose governments have not signed visa-waiver arrangements shall apply for an entry visa to travel to Spain and/or other Schengen states.
Spain Visa Types
Different visa types for visits to Spain can be broadly categorized on the basis of short term or long term stays. They can be issued as single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visas for visits up to 90 days in periods of 180 days. Single-entry visa grants one time entrance whereas double-entry visa holders may travel twice in designated timeframe and multiple-entry visa allows for consecutive visits to Spain.
What is Schengen Visa?
Schengen visa allows its holder to move freely within the Schengen area for a short period. The Schengen area comprises of 26 European countries, namely the Schengen States, among which border controls are abolished. Therefore, passengers who wish to travel in the Schengen area either for business-related or touristic visits are obliged to obtain Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. The complete list of Schengen States include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Spain Schengen Visa (Category C visa- For Short Stay Visits)
Spain Schengen Visa Types:
- Spain Airport Transit Visa: is required if the passenger will make a stopover to change planes in Spanish airports. However, it does not entail entrance to the country and is valid only for the international zones of the airport.
- Spain Business Visa: is required for those who would like to visit Spain with the purpose of doing business or engaging in commercial activities in the country for stays up to 90 days.
- Spain Tourist Visa: is granted to third country citizens who seek to visit the Spain or other Schengen states for entertainment purposes with time restrictions that shall not exceed 90 days.
- Spain Visitor Visa: is required for the third country citizens who would like to travel to Spain with the purpose of visiting family members, relatives or friends. The visa application can be supported through an invitation letter by the host. Visitor visa is valid for up to 90 days within 6 months.
- Spain Cultural Visa: can be obtained for short term cultural visits that include attending cultural, sports or religious events. Cultural visa holders can stay in Spain for periods up to 90 days within 6 months.
- Spain Medical Treatment Visa: is given when the traveler seeks to go to Spain for medical treatment purposes. The host institution in Spain shall be contacted in advance and details of the relevant treatment plan should be submitted during the visa application. Medical treatment visa holders cannot stay in the country for periods exceeding 90 days.
Spain Category D visa- For Long Stay Visits
Spain National Visa Types:
- Spain Student Visa: is issued to third country citizens who wish to study in Spanish education institutions. Admission to a study program is among the prerequisites for applying to a long term student visa.
- Spain Employment Visa: is granted to non-EU citizens who fulfill the specific conditions and are found eligible to work in Spain. The applicant shall be in possession of an employment contract or a binding offer.
- Spain Job Seeker Visa: is given in the form of one-time residence permit for a period up to 12 months. Graduates of Spanish high education institutes can apply for a job seeking visa upon fulfilment of certain conditions. You can apply for a job seeker visa within the six months after your graduation.
As part of the application procedure, you should be able to demonstrate the financial means along with the required documents.
- Spain Family Reunion Visa: can be obtained by family members of Spanish residents who wish to travel to Spain with the purpose of visiting their relatives. The applicants must submit the necessary documents including a letter of invitation by the his/her immediate relative.
- Spain Researcher Visa: is usually given to guest scientist or visiting scholars coming from third countries for planned research activities in established research institutions over a fixed period.
- Spain Freelancer Visa: is granted to third country nationals who seek to go to Spain and work as a freelancer. Portfolio of previous works, professional authorization, evidence of a freelance plan and letters of commitments from future customers are among the prerequisites for applying to a freelancer visa.
- Spain Language Course Visa: is given to non-EU citizens who intend to enroll in a Spanish language course for designated periods. Confirmed registration to the course along with other documents is required to obtain this type of visa.
- Spain Student Internship Visa: are given to third country citizens who would like to do an internship in Spain. A letter of confirmation from the Spanish employer is among the most important documents to submit during your application.An internship visa does not entail a long term work permit.
- Spain Partnership Visa: is given to spouse or registered partner of a Spanish citizen who holds his/her own country’s passport which does not have any bilateral visa free agreements with Spain.
- Spain Work Permit Visa: shall be obtained by people who are eligible to work in Spain. On the other hand, Highly Qualified Visa grants work permit to non-EU citizens in managerial positions upon fulfillment of certain conditions.
- Spain Relative Visa: can be issued to relatives of a Spanish citizen who is not in possession of EU/Schengen passport, residence permit or the passport of a country which has visa bilateral free agreements with Spain.
General Requirements to Apply for Spain Visa
Spain’s tourist visa requirements under certain categories are explained below. In general, applicants must submit their applications comprising of the requested documents to the Diplomatic Mission or authorized visa application centers in due time. However, be aware that the full list of essential documents can change depending on the category of your visa.
Spain Visa Applications
- A passport with at minimum two blank pages and is valid for at least 90 days after the end of travel. Copy of the first page including personal data and previous Schengen visas if obtained.
- Completed and signed visa application form along with one color biometric photo that is not older than 6 months.
- Proof of travel with confirmed both-way tickets.
- Bank account details proving that the passenger can sufficiently fund his/her travel.
- Evidence of occupation in the form of certified documents through employer letter, student certificate, document of registration or demonstration of pension funds.
- Accommodation details through an invitation letter or proof of your hotel reservation throughout your stay.
- Documentation of travel health insurance that will cover up to 30.000 euros throughout the period of travel and is valid within the entire Schengen area.
There are specific documents to enclose your application depending on your employment status.
Employed:
- Employment contract (original certificate of employment indicating the position in the company and the salary)
- Bank account statement of the past 6 months
- Approval letter of leave from employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
Self-employed:
- Proof of business license (company registration)
- Company’s bank account statement of the past 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
Student:
- Documentation of University enrollment
- No-objection certificate from school management
Retired:
- Pension statement documenting the past 6 months
Unemployed:
- Proof of financial resources is nevertheless required
- If the person is not able to finance his/her own expenses, proof of a sponsor is mandatory.
What is Visa Sponsorship for Spain?
Students or unemployed/retired people who are not in a position to cover their own travel expenses will need to demonstrate support from a sponsor who will borne the full costs. Otherwise, your sponsor who must be a first grade relative will have to prove the sufficient resources through meeting certain requirements such as filling out the sponsorship form and submitting the requested documents. You can check our website for further details.
Spain Visa Rules
- Visitors are required to prove financial assets equal to 90% of the gross national minimum wage for stays up to ten days. The amount required on daily basis for stays more than ten days is 70.77€.
- Your passport must have at least two blank pages left, and it shouldn’t be older than 10 years.
Spain Visa Requirements
In addition to above mentioned application documents, general requirements may include:
Spain Visa requirements for Non-Europeans
The general requirements for non-Europeans wishing to enter the EU conform to above mentioned procedures unless there are exceptional rules applied. Where an invitation letter is applicable, the applicant shall submit contact details of the host organisation or private host such as name, address, relation to the guest, purpose and length of visit.
Spain visa for European countries
Citizens of European countries can benefit from visa-free travel opportunities within the borders of the European Union. Hence, EU citizens who wish to visit to Spain can travel with their ID cards without any visa restrictions.
Spain Visa requirement for US, UK, and Canadian citizens
- US citizens holding US passports valid for at least 3 months from intended return date from Spain are not obliged to obtain a visa for tourist or business purposes as well as airport transits for stays up to 90 days.
- UK is not included in the Schengen area. Moreover, the UK citizens won’t have the right to freedom of movement in the European Union since the UK officially leaves the EU as of 31 January 2020. The details will be formalized following a possible post-Brexit transition period. However, the UK citizens retain their rights to travel within the borders of the EU with their UK passports during this time.
- Canadian citizens are not obliged to get a visa to travel to Schengen countries for stays up to 90 days within a period of 180 days.
Spain Visa Fees
You can find below fixed visa fees for various visa categories which is determined as of March 2020. Generally, the visa fees cover the consultation, submission and processing of your application.
| Short-Stay Visa (Adults) | 80€ |
| National Visa | 75€ |
| Airport Transit Visa | 80€ |
| Children Between 6-12 Years of Age | 40€ |
| Children Younger Than 6 Years of Age | Free of Charge |
| Third country nationals who signed the Visa Fee Facilitation Agreement with the EU | 35€ |
NOTE: This article was prepared in March 2020. Please check up-to-date information published by official sources.
