The Revised visa fee and BLS service charge are as follows:

• The rate may vary without prior notification.
• The fee is non-refundable.

• Visa application form: Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application. Visa applications can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters.
• 1 photograph: Glued or clipped onto 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.
• Passport or travel document: Original and photocopy duly notarized 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 the intended period of stay.
• Proof of jurisdiction: Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Please provide a duly notarized copy of School ID or US driver license/State ID.
• Proof of acceptance for the study, training, volunteer activity or internship:
  - Letter of acceptance to an accredited school for full-time studies.
  - Letter of acceptance to a research or training center.
  - Letter of acceptance to a student exchange program, including proof of acceptance to a school, accommodations with a family or institution, and organizer’s commitment to cover expenses.
  - Letter of acceptance to a volunteer program (contract with the volunteer organization).

• Proof of Financial Means: Applicants must demonstrate that they (or a supporting parent, legal representative) possess sufficient financial resources to cover both the student's living expenses and those of any accompanying family members during their stay.

  To certify financial means, at least one of the following documents must be provided:

  • Letter from the university or school :

    • A statement or letter of acceptance from a U.S. or Spanish university or school assuming full financial responsibility (this is often included into the acceptance letter), complete with an official seal and signature. Electronic copies with an electronic signature are acceptable.
    • An official or certified translation of this statement into Spanish is required.

  • Support from Parent or Legal Guardian:

    • A notarized letter from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) assuming full financial responsibility for at least the minimum monthly required amount per month of stay. Suggested wording: “I hereby certify that I am the (father/mother/other) of [Applicant's Name], will support him/her with a monthly allowance of $[Amount] while he/she is in Spain, and that I am financially responsible for any emergency that may arise."
    • This must be accompanied by the last three months of bank statements from the supporting parent or guardian, a copy of the birth certificate to prove the relationship, and a copy of the photo page of the passport of the parent or guardian assuming financial responsibility.

  • Financial Aid, Scholarships, or Other Economic Aid:

    • Documentation evidencing the receipt of financial aid, loans, scholarships, or other economic assistance sufficient to cover the minimum monthly amount required.
    • An official or certified translation of this documentation into Spanish must be provided.

  • Self-financed Applicants:

    • Provide the three most recent monthly bank statements, including the applicant's full name and a final balance that meets or exceeds the minimum required amount for each month of stay.
    • Proof of current or past employment (justify income)

  Please ensure all provided documents are complete and clearly legible to avoid any delays in the processing of your application.

• Health insurance: Proof of health insurance, certificate/letter from a private or public company unlimited coverage with no co-payment (or deductible) is required. The provider must be authorized to operate in Spain. No travel insurances with medical assistance coverage will be accepted. No insurance will be accepted unless coverage is unlimited, no matter how voluminous the amount in US$ stipulated might be
• No background check or medical examination is required for applicants staying in Spain for 90-180 days.
• For stays of more than 180 days:
  Criminal background check: Applicants of legal age must submit an original or notarized copy of their criminal background check issued by the country/countries of residence in the past 5 years stating that the applicant has no criminal record.
  • It does not apply for students under 18 years of age.
  • Criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 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.
  • Criminal background check must be authenticated with the Hague Apostille. The apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures (e.g. we don’t accept apostilles that certifies the signature of a notary that stamps a seal in the criminal background check).
  • Criminal background check must be accompanied by an official or certified translation into Spanish of the Criminal background check. The official translation can include the translation of the Apostille as well, but it is not necessary (The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation).
  • Please include a photocopy (not notarized) of the background check, apostille and official translation(s) with your submitted documents.
  • 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 applicant has lived six months or more in another country (outside the United States) during the last five years: an original or notarized copy of a criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. These background checks must also be authenticated with the Hague Apostille and include an official or certified translation to Spanish. If the country/countries in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years is not subject to 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 said country.
• Medical certificate: Medical certificate demonstrating the applicant does not suffer from drug addiction, mental health issues or any diseases that could have serious repercussions for public health in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
  
  • This certificate must be issued within 3 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
  • 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.
  • medical certificate must be accompanied by an official or certified translation into Spanish. In the case of using the model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary. Please find a template in “Download forms”.

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.

The visa must be stamped upon entry into the Schengen States and within the first thirty days, the applicant must apply for the Foreigner Identity Card or TIE (“Foreigner Identity Card”) at the Foreing National Office at the Police station in the city you will stay.

If the duration of the activity does not exceed 180 days, the visa will be sufficient to prove the stay.

• National Visa Application Form
• Medical Certificate Template