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.

A) STUDENT VISA. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED.

A.1) STAYS UNDER 180 DAYS:

• Visa application form: each applicant must complete and sign a visa application. It can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters.
• 1 photograph: glued on the visa application form. Photo specifications: in color, printed on matte/glossy paper, taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance, in front of a white/off white background, without dark or reflective glasses, and clearly showing the full oval of the face.

• Valid and unexpired original passport and a photocopy of the page(s) of the passport that contain biometric data.

  • Issued in the last 10 years.
  • With at least 2 empty pages.
  • Valid for at least one year.

• Proof of acceptance for the study, training, volunteer activity or internship:

  • Letter of acceptance in an accredited school for full-time studies.
  • Letter of acceptance in a research or training center. Proof of enrollment in research studies that will end up on getting a PhD.
  • Letter of acceptance in a student exchange program, including proof of acceptance to a school, accommodation with a family or institution, and organizer’s commitment to cover expenses (students under 18 years old).
  • Letter of acceptance for an unpaid internship (signed contract).
  • Letter of acceptance to a volunteer program (contract with the volunteer organization).

• Proof of financial means: the student must certify that he has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of the stay (or his parent, legal guardian, relative or third party that supports him) as well as that of the eventual family members accompanying.

  The minimum monthly required for the year 2023, is as follows: if the applicant is traveling to Spain alone: $700 per month of stay; for the first accompanying family member: $480 per month of stay must be added and for each additional family member: $320 per month of stay must be added.

  If documentation is provided demonstrating that accommodation for the entire length of the student’s stay has been paid for in advance, this amount will be deducted from the minimum monthly required.

  At least one of the following documents must be submitted:

• If the applicant bears full financial responsibility: three most recent monthly bank statements, which must include the applicant’s full name and a final balance that exceeds the minimum monthly required amount per month of stay
• If a U.S. or a Spanish university or school bears full financial responsibility (normally included in the letter of acceptance): statement or letter, including an official seal and a signature from the issuing institution. Electronic copies may be submitted without an original if they include an electronic signature. An official/certified translation of this statement to Spanish must also be included.

• If the applicant is receiving financial aid, loans, scholarships or other economic aid that covers the minimum monthly required amount:

  documentation proving the issuing of financial aid, loans, scholarships or other economic aid. An official/certified translation of this documentation to Spanish must also be included.

• If parent, legal guardian is bearing full financial responsibility: notarized letter in which parent, legal guardian assumes full financial responsibility equal to at least the minimum monthly required amount per month of stay. Suggested wording: “I hereby certify that I, [full name of parent, legal guardian, relative or third party assuming full financial responsibility], assume full financial responsibility for [full name of applicant]’s round-trip ticket to the United States, as well as monthly room and board expenses while in Spain, and any additional expenses, emergency or otherwise, that may arise during their stay”. Notarized copy of parent, legal guardian ID or passport. Parent, legal guardian, three most recent monthly bank statements, which must include full name of party assuming financial responsibility and a final balance that exceeds the minimum monthly required amount per month of stay.

• Health insurance: certificate accrediting public or private health insurance subscribed with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain’s Public Health System (100% of medical, hospital, and out-of-hospital expenses). It must cover all the preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance activities that are carried out in health centers or socio-health centers, as well as urgent health transport. It should not have grace periods for certain benefits, co-payments or deductibles. It must be valid during the entire intended period of stay.

  Exceptionally, health insurance from international companies offering limited coverage may be accepted, provided it covers medical expenses up to $500.000 and meets the other requirements (see above).

  If the insurance company is U.S.-based, the supporting documentation must expressly say that the company offers coverage in the rest of the world, or at least in Spain.

  Travel insurance and insurance cards are not accepted.

  If the applicant is participating in a volunteer program, in addition to the health insurance, he must provide an original or notarized copy of the civil liability insurance policy subscribed by the organization.

• Proof of residence in the consular district: applicant must be a legal resident or enrolled in in-person studies within the Consulate’s jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkanasas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas. Residence must be demonstrated by submitting a copy of: U.S. drivers’ license, state ID, or university student ID.

  Non-U.S. citizens must submit a copy of their U.S. green card or long-term stay visa.

  Note: B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot apply for any Spanish visa in the United States. They must apply for it in their country of residence.

• Visa Fee: Check the fees section.
• For applicants who apply by postal mail, postal delivery authorization form duly filled out and signed. Please find the link for “postal authorization form” ( check the forms section)

A.2) STAYS OF MORE THAN 180 DAYS.

• Criminal background check: applicants of legal age must submit the original and a copy of the criminal background check issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) legalized with the Apostille of the Hague from Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of State. If the applicant has lived six months or more in another country, outside the United States, he will provide in addition criminal records check certificate(s) issued by the country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. Background checks and apostilles must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. It does not apply for students under 18 years of age.

  We do not accept State or Local Police background checks.

  Criminal background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application. Under no circumstances will a criminal background check be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damage caused by removing staples.

  If the country/countries in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years is not part of the Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in the said country.

• Medical certificate: a doctor’s recent statement (not older than 3 months). It must be signed by an MD or DO, with doctor´s ink signature and indicate the following: “ the interested does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 International Health Regulations”. This certificate must include a stamp from the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s name and signature, doctor’s License Number and date of expedition. The certificate must be written on letterhead paper from hospital/doctor’s office or directly on the provided template. Please include a photocopy (not notarized) of the medical certificate with your submitted documents. Please find a template in “Download forms”

A.3) RELATIVES OF A GENERAL STUDENT VISA HOLDER.

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

  Relatives will not be entitled to work during their stay in Spain. The visa may be requested simultaneously with the application for the general student visa or at any subsequent time during the period of validity of the authorized general student visa.

  DOCUMENTS REQUIRED (same conditions apply see above A.1 and A.2):

• Visa application form.
• 1 photograph.
• Valid and unexpired original passport.
• Health insurance.
• Proof of residence in the consular district.
• Visa fee ( check the fees section )

Documentation proving kinship to the student:

• Marriage: recent marriage or Informal Marriage Certificate (no older than 3 months) legalized with the Apostille of the Hague. Certificate and Apostilles must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
• Civil union: original or notarized copy of certificate confirming that the relationship is accounted for in a civil registry or documentation proving that couple qualifies for a civil partnership, even if not legally registered as such and legalized with the Apostille of the Hague and including an official/certified translation into Spanish.

• Children: birth certificate (not older than 3 months) legalized with the Apostille of The Hague. Certificate and Apostilles must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

  For children with divorced parents: original or notarized copy of final divorce and custody filings for the minor, authenticated with the Hague Apostille, official/certified translation to Spanish

  Documentation issued by government authorities of countries that are not part of the Hague Convention of 1961 must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in the said country.

• For stays of more than 180 days:

  • Criminal background check, legalized with the Apostille of the Hague and including an official/certified translation into Spanish.
  • Medical certificate (see requirements A.2) 10)

A.4) STUDY VISA FOR MINORS (UNDER 18 YEARS OLD)

Documents required for applicants (same conditions apply see above A.1 and A.2):

• Visa application form: A parent or legal guardian must sign the application once completed.
• 1 photograph.
• Valid and unexpired original Passport and photocopy.
• Proof of acceptance from a Spanish private high school/institution (officially recognized in Spain) as a full-time student. This letter must indicate: name, address, contact person details, telephone and email, full payment of tuition, dates of the program, subjects of study, hours of study per week (minimum of 20 hours).
• Proof of financial means.
• Health insurance.
• Proof of residence in the consular district.
• Visa fee. (check the fees section)
• Authorization to travel: notarized written authorization from both parents or legal guardians to travel abroad, expressly stating: period of time the minor is authorized to travel abroad. Contact details of people in charge of the minor in Spain: name and last name, DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) or NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) , telephone number, address. This authorization must be legalized with the Apostille of the Hague and include an official/certified translation to Spanish.
• Notarized copy of parents´or legal guardians’ passports.
• Original or notarized copy of minor’s Birth Certificate issued in the last 6 months, legalized with the Apostille of the Hague and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
• Letter of responsibility: letter from the host school with contact information for the person in charge of the minor while in Spain (“tutor”). Tutor must accompany this letter with:
• Notarized copy of tutor’s DNI or NIE.

• Tutor’s sexual misconduct record cert ificate from the Spanish Ministry of Justice.

  For stays of more than 180 days:

• Medical certificate ( see above A.2 10)

Application process:

All applications for study visas (students and family members, conversation assistants, au pairs, volunteers, etc.) must be submitted in person or by postal mail at BLS Visa Aplication Center for Spain in houston located at 2500 West Loop South, 3rd Floor, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77027.

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.

Applicants can collect their passports directly at our office or we can mail back their documents using our courier service which has an additional fee paid at the moment of the application. (please see the fees section)