Must apply to a student visa those foreigners who wish to:
- Carry out or extend studies in an authorized educational center in Spain, in a
full-time program, leading to the obtaining of a degree or certificate of
studies.
- Participate in a student mobility program, follow a secondary education program
and / or baccalaureate in an officially recognized teaching or scientific
center.
- Carry out research or training activities.
- Carry out non-labor practices in a public or private organization.
- Provide volunteer service within a program that pursues objectives of general
interest.
US citizens (or any other nationality that does not require a visa to enter Spain)
who travel to study less than 90 days do not need to apply for this visa.
Visa applications must be submitted well in advance of the start of the relevant
study programmes, as the procedure involves consultations with other authorities.
Incomplete applications are not allowed.
Family members who can obtain a visa to accompany the student:
- Spouse or legally recognized domestic partner.
- Children under 18 years of age or children with disabilities.
Family members will not be able to work during their stay in Spain.
All applications for study visas (students and family members, conversation
assistants, au pairs, volunteers, etc.) must be submitted IN PERSON at BLS Visa
Application Center for Spain.
BLS - SPAIN VISA APPLICATION CENTER, CHICAGO IL
121 W Wacker Dr, St 1307, Chicago IL 60601, USA
The presentation may be made by the applicant or through a duly accredited
representative, for which the notarized model can be used. See Download Forms
section.
The visa collection, regardless of the form of presentation, always have to be picked
up IN PERSON by the student/conversation assistant/volunteer/Au pair, etc., at the
BLS Visa Service for Spain office.
An appointment will be requested on the following website:
https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/chicago/index.php
IMPORTANT NOTE: Starting November 15, BLS will be processing this
type of visa, through appointments.
The Revised visa fee and BLS service charge are as follows:
Consulate Visa Fee Based on Citizenship & Duration
| Amount
in USD |
All other nationals |
99 |
United States of America |
160 |
Australia |
476 |
United Kingdom > longer than 180 days |
440 |
United Kingdom < shorter than 180 days |
99 |
Bangladesh |
99 |
Mauritania |
263 |
Ethiopia > longer than 180 days |
510 |
Ethiopia < shorter than 180 days |
99 |
BLS Service Fee |
Amount in USD |
All Nationals |
18 |
Notifications (SMS) |
5 |
- All Fees are non-refundable
- The Visa Fee is subject to change without notice
You must submit the following documents (Documents 1 to 7 are essential to
start the process):
-
National Visa Application Form, completed and signed.
You can download it from Download forms section.
Do not forget to indicate the email in section #17.
You may submit your application up to 120 days in
advance of the start of your educational program.
- Recent color photograph (U.S. passport size 2"x2") with
light and uniform background, preferably white. Photographs with a dark
background or with objects or people that can be seen behind the head will
not be accepted. Do not paste the photo to the form, just send them loose.
Do not crop the photograph to fit the form.
- Consular fee - Please make a money order payable to the
Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles for the amount of the visa fee
according to your nationality. It is mandatory that the payment of the visa
fee be in the form of a money order payable to the consulate, BLS services
fees can be paid in the form of cash or debit only; other forms of payment
will not be accepted. Please refer to Visa fees section Credit cards are not
accepted.
- Passport or travel document recognized as valid with a
duration of at least the requested time of stay and must contain at least
two free pages in the visa section and a copy of the page where your data
and photos appear. In case you cannot present the original at the time of
application, you can send a notarized copy and send the passport as soon as
possible.
- Admission certificate: The certificate must detail: name of
the program, duration (start and end dates), address, telephone, name of the
person in charge of the program.
- Certificate of admission to a research or training center in an
authorized educational center in Spain, for the realization of a
full-time program, leading to the obtaining of a degree or
certificate of studies.
- Certificate of admission to a study center, foster care by a family
or institution and commitment of the organizer of the program to
assume the expenses.
- Admission for unpaid internships based on the signing of an
agreement and copy of the agreement signed between the study center
and the public or private company or vocational training center
where the internship will be carried out.
- Agreement with the organization in charge of a volunteer program
that includes a description of the activities and conditions to
carry them out, as well as the resources available to cover your
trip, food and accommodation during your stay.
In all cases, the proof must be signed (handwritten or electronically) by a
representative of the center or program and must be translated into Spanish.
- Driver's license and / or Student Card that proves your
legal residence in our jurisdiction. If you do not have one, you must prove
your residence by providing several of the following documents such as
rental contract, electricity bills, telephone, tax return, vehicle
insurance, etc ... (Notarized copy in the case of driver's license
or student card)
- U.S. immigration status (not applicable for U.S. citizens):
green card, valid U.S. student visa, work permit (stamp in passport),
"parole" (Notarized copy)
- Disclaimer form must be submitted with the application.
(See Download forms section)
- Justification of the financial means necessary to cover the
expenses of stay and return to their country, and, where appropriate, those
of their relatives. For your support, a minimum amount of $ 700 per month
unless you duly prove to have paid in advance for the accommodation for the
entire time that the stay will last.
You must provide one of the following documents:
- Declaration from the Spanish university or school, or from the U.S.
program, assuming full financial responsibility for room and board
expenses (often included in the acceptance letter). Stamped and
signed and translated into Spanish
- Proof of financial aid or scholarship of at least $700 per month of
stay for room and board translated into Spanish.
- Notarized letter from parents or guardians, assuming full financial
responsibility for lodging and living expenses of at least $700 per
month of stay. Suggested text: "I hereby certify that I (father,
mother, other, etc.) of (...) I will cover your stay in Spain with
700 dollars per month and that I am responsible for the expenses
caused by any emergency." Along with the last 3 bank statements of
the parents and the birth certificate of the visa applicant.
- Last three personal bank statements with at least $700 per month of
stay.
For the purpose of guaranteeing this support, the amounts used or to be
used to defray, where appropriate, the cost of the studies will not be
taken into account.
-
“Public or private health insurance certificate taken out with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain.
The health insurance must meet the following requirements:
The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain. This coverage must be maintained throughout the validity of the authorisation.
The health insurance must not have a waiting period, grace periods, co-payments, deductions or coverage limit, that is, it must cover 100% of medical, hospital and extra-hospital expenses. However, if the insurance coverage is limited to a certain amount, this limit must not be less than €30,000.
Travel insurance will not be accepted. Insurance cards will not be accepted as proof of the contracting of health insurance.”
If the duration of the stay exceeds six months, a Medical
Certificate and Criminal Record Certificate will also be required.
Medical certificate with letterhead, signature and seal and license number of the
doctor, together with a sworn translation thereof into Spanish indicating:
"This medical certificate certifies that Mr. / Mrs. (...) He does not suffer
from any of the diseases that may have serious public health implications in
accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations of
2005."
If you use the bilingual model provided by the consulate (see section "Download
forms"), translation is not necessary.
This certificate is valid for 3 months.
- Criminal record certificate issued within 6 months prior to the date of
application, stating that the applicant has no criminal record in the
countries where he has resided for the last five years. You must apply for a
background certification verified by fingerprint comparison. Criminal record
certification must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice - Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (Original and copy)
State or local police criminal certificates are not accepted.
The criminal record must be legalized with the Apostille certification of the Issued
by the U.S. Department of State and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
(The translation does not need Apostille and the Apostille does not need
translation)
FBI DEPARTMENT OF BACKGROUND CHECK INFORMATION STATE
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
HYPERLINK "https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks"
Translations: AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION: https://www.travelvisapro.com/translations?client_id=832612178
INFO DEPARTMENT OF STATE APOSTILLE
https://www.travelvisapro.com/legalization?client_id=832612178
If the applicant has stayed six months or more during the last five years in another
country, he must present the criminal record of that country, legalized with the
Apostille Certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not a party
to the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. The legalization must
always be done on the original of the document by the country / state issuing it.
Documents required for family members.
For each family member accompanying the student, the following must be presented:
- The documents listed above.
- Accredit economic means to cover the expenses of stay and
return to your country. For the maintenance of family members during their
stay in Spain: the last three personal bank account statements showing at
least a minimum amount of $ 480 for the first family member per month of
stay and $ 320 per month for each of the remaining relatives who will be
integrated into the family unit in Spain.
- Original birth certificate of the children legalized with
the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish. Attach a copy of both
parents' IDs. If the parents are divorced, present the final decree of
divorce and custody of the child legalized with the Apostille certification.
If the country is not a party to the Hague Convention, the document must be
legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish
Consulate in that country. (Original and copy)
- Original Marriage Certificate legalized with the Hague
Apostille and translated into Spanish. If the country is not a party to the
Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and
copy)
- Original Domestic Partnership Certificate legalized with
the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish. If the country is not a
party to the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that
country. (Original and copy)
- Proof of public or private medical insurance (travel
insurance will not be accepted) from an insurer recognized and authorized to
operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for
nationals and must be maintained throughout the life of the authorization.
No deductibles or copay. It must cover, at least, all preventive,
diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation care activities carried out in
health or socio-health centers, as well as urgent medical transport.
Correction of the application: The Consular Office may request
the applicant to present the missing documents, or to provide additional
documents or data that are necessary for the resolution of the application. The
applicant may also be called for a personal interview.
STUDENT VISA FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18
In the case of minors and not traveling accompanied by their parents, the
application must be submitted by their parents or duly accredited legal
guardians.
In addition to the documents detailed above (requirements 1 to 9), you will need
to submit the following:
- Original birth certificate of the minor, legalized with the
Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish. In those countries that are not
party to the Hague Convention they must be legalized by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country.
- Legalized copies of the identity documents or passports of
the parents or guardians.
- Notarial authorization of both parents or guardians for the
trip to Spain and identifying the person who will take care of the minor in
Spain, for the purpose of carrying out the activity in question, with proof
of the center, organization, entity and body responsible for the activity
and the period of stay planned. This authorization must expressly include
the data of the persons who will take care of the minor once he is in Spain,
with expression of their names, surnames, DNI or NIE numbers and address. If
the document is in another language, it must be translated into Spanish.
Notarized declaration of the person or persons taking care of the minor
in Spain, with a copy of the DNI or NIE and certificate of Sexual Nature
issued by the Registry of Sex Offenders of the Ministry of Justice
(https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es/tramites/certificado-registro-central)
or express authorization for the Administration to obtain such
certification.
(https://www.mjusticia.gob.es/es/Ciudadano/TramitesGestiones/Documents/1292428513701-Modelo_de_autorizacion.PDF)
Note: We regret we cannot accept photographs that do not meet these requirements
Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, which should not have been used
previously in the passport. The photograph should be in colour and:
- Taken against a white background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
- Clear share quality and with the face in focus.
- Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
- Full face, non-smiling [without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such
items because of their religious belief or ethnic background]
- Please stick the Photograph on the Visa Application Form.
Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your
application will be considered incomplete. A photo booth meeting these requirements is available at the centre.
The visa collection, regardless of the form of presentation, always have to be picked
up IN PERSON by the student/conversation assistant/volunteer/au pair, etc., at the
BLS Visa Service for Spain office.
The Consulate General of Spain, through BLS – Spain Visa Application Center, Los
Angeles, will notify the resolution of the application. The passport must be
collected by the applicant personally at the offices of BLS – Spain Visa Application
Center, Los Angeles, from Monday to Friday between 3:00 and 4:00 PM, within a
maximum period of two months. If the collection is not carried out within the
period, it will be understood that the interested party has renounced the visa
granted, and the procedure will be archived.
Once the visa has been collected, the applicant must enter Spanish territory during
the period of validity. Within one month of entry (for stays longer than 180 days),
the foreigner must personally apply for the Foreigner's Identity Card, at the
Police Station, Aliens and Documentation Section closest to his
home. In the case of minors, this procedure may be carried out by a representative.
If the duration of the studies does not exceed six months, the visa will be
sufficient to document the stay.
The processing time for this type of visa can take approximately 2 to 6
weeks. It is recommended that air tickets are not purchased until the
visa is granted.
The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles has full authority to evaluate
and request additional documents from those initially submitted by the
applicant.