NALCAP - North American Language and Culture Assistant Program
Visa for stays longer than 90 days to participate in the 2023-2024 North American Language and Culture Assistant program sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain, for North American and Canadian citizens.
Family members who can obtain a visa to accompany the student:
- Spouse or legally recognized common-law partner.
- Children under 18 years of age or children with disabilities.
Family members will not be able to work during their stay in Spain.
Study stays of less than 90 days do NOT require a study visa.
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from people residing in the consular demarcation: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesotta, Missouri, Wisconsin.
Visa applications must be submitted well in advance of the start of the corresponding study programs, as the procedure involves consultations with other authorities. Incomplete applications are not accepted.
As of June 1, applications for study visas from the NALCAP program are processed at the offices of the BLS - Spain Visa Application Center, Chicago.
- In person, requesting an appointment through the following link: https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/chicago/
- By postal mail, sending all the documentation by certified mail that requires a signature to:
BLS - Spain Visa Application Centre, Chicago
National Visa Department
121 W Wacker Dr, St 1307, Chicago IL 60601, USA
The Revised visa fee and BLS service charge are as follows:
| Duration |
Amount in USD |
| US Nationals |
160.00 |
| BLS service charge |
18 |
The rate may vary without prior notification.
The fee is non-refundable.
- National visa application form (Do not forget to indicate your email in section #17).
- Photography. A recent colour photograph (US passport size), with a light, uniform background, preferably white. Photographs with a dark background or with objects or people that are seen from behind the head and that are not photographic paper will not be accepted. Do not staple or use anything other than glue to attach the photo to the form.
- Passport or travel document recognized as valid with a duration of at least the time of stay requested and must contain at least two free pages in the visa section (copy of the page where your data and photos appear). Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
- Letter of Acceptance from the Autonomous Communities ("Appointment"). This letter must provide information about the school to which the applicant has been assigned (address, telephone, contact email). It must also contain information about the scholarship, the duration of the program and the insurance policy. The Spanish Consulate will ONLY accept original signatures or electronically signed letters.
Fill in numbers 21 (date of entry) and 28 (complete information related to the school in Spain) in the application form.
- Criminal record certificate (if the stay is longer than 180 days) stating that the applicant has no criminal record in the place where he has resided for the last five years. Does not apply to students under 18 years of age.
You must request a background check verified by fingerprint comparison. The criminal background check must be issued by the US Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State and Local Police and State Police background checks will not be accepted.
The background check must be issued within six months prior to the submission of the visa application.
The US certificate must be issued by the FBI and legalized with the Hague Convention Apostille by the Department of State in Washington DC and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. (The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation).
If the applicant has spent 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 of The Hague and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country.
INFO FBI BACKGROUND CHECK DEPARTMENT OF STATE https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
Translations (AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION): www.atanet.org/
UPDATED LIST (2023) OF SWORN TRANSLATORS - INTERPRETERS APPOINTED BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EUROPEAN UNION AND COOPERATION: click Here
US INFO DEPARTMENT OF STATE APOSTILLE
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/apostille-requirements.html
- Medical certificate: Recent medical certificate, issued in the last three months before the application date, on the letterhead of the doctor or medical center, duly signed, sealed and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator, stating:
“This medical certificate certifies that Mr./Ms. (...) does not suffer from any disease that could have serious implications for public health in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 International Health Regulations”.
In the case of using the model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary. Insert link.
- Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Provide a copy (not the original) of the US driver's license, duly notarized.
- Payment of the visa fee
- Payment of the BLS processing fee
- Disclaimer form must be submitted with the application.
When necessary to evaluate the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also request the applicant to attend a personal interview.
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 support of family members during their stay in Spain: the last three personal bank account statements that show 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 family members who the family unit will be integrated in Spain.
- Original Birth Certificate of the children legalized with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish. Attach a copy of both parents' IDs. If the parents are divorced, present the final decree of divorce and legalized custody of the minor with the Apostille certification. If the country is not part of 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 part of 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 part of 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 health insurance (travel insurance will not be accepted) from a recognized insurer authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for nationals and must be maintained throughout the validity of the authorization. No deductibles or copays.
It must cover, at least, all preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation care activities carried out in health or social health centers, as well as urgent health transport.
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..
Resolution term: Once the application is accepted as complete, the legal term to reach a resolution is 1 month from the day after the application was registered in the visa system (not from the date of receipt of application at the BLS office), but this time frame may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
Refusal of visa or stay permit for studies. The refusal of the visa or the authorization to stay for studies will always be communicated by mail, stating the reasons on which the decision was based.
Resources. In the event of a denial of a stay authorization for studies or a visa, the applicant may submit an appeal in Spanish (by mail with a tracking number) to this Consular Office within a period of 1 month from the day following the date of receipt of the denial notice. A contentious-administrative appeal may also be filed before the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid within a period of 2 months from the day following the date on which the applicant receives the notification of the refusal of a visa or the dismissal of the appeal for reconsideration.
Once the visa has been collected, the applicant must enter Spanish territory during the validity period of the visa (no more than three months if the duration of the activity is greater than six months).
Upon admission and within the first thirty days, the applicant must apply for the Foreigner Identity Card or TIE (“Foreigner Identity Card”) at the Immigration and Documentation Police Station of the city where they will work as a language assistant. The TIE will be valid as long as the language assistant is part of the program in Spain. In the case of minors, this procedure may be carried out by a representative. In addition, the visa must be stamped upon entry into the Schengen States.
The initial authorization of temporary residence (TIE) will have a duration of one year and its validity will begin on the date of entry into Spain.
If the duration of the activity does not exceed six months, the visa will be sufficient to prove the stay.
