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

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

"Checklist"

• Visa application form: Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application.
• 1 photograph: Glued or clipped onto visa application form.
  Photo specifications: 2x2 inches (51x51mm) in size, printed on matte/glossy paper, taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance in front of a white/off white background, non-smiling.
• Passport or travel document: Original and 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 the intended period of stay.
• Acceptance letter for the study of Spanish:
  Must be issued in Spain and addressed to the corresponding Consulate.
  - Must be written in Spanish.
  - Must verify enrollment to an accredited school.
  - The course should lead to the issuing of a certificate or degree.
  - The letter of acceptance must mention name and duration of the program. The duration of the program and the Au Pair activity must be around the same time.
  - The student must be registered full-time and succesfully complete the program.
• Proof of financial means: Applicants’ must certify that he/she (or parent, legal representative, relative or third party that supports him/her) has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of student’s stay, The minimum monthly required amount varies each year and is calculated according to Spain’s Public Income Indicator of Multiple Effects (IPREM). For the year 2023, the minimum monthly required amount is 100% of monthly IPREM = 600€ per month of stay.
  If documentation is provided demonstrating that accommodations for the entire length of the student’s stay has been paid for in advance, this amount will be deducted from the minimum requirement. The same will apply if documentation is provided demonstrating that the student will receive a stipend during their stay.
  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 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, relative or third party is bearing full financial responsibility:
    
    • Notarized letter in which parent, legal guardian, relative or third party 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, relative or third party’s ID or passport.
  • Parent, legal guardian, relative or third party’s 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.

  • 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.
  • Should not have grace periods for certain benefits, co-payments or deductibles.
  • Must be valid during the entire intended period of stay.
  • 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 health insurance, they 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 in the Consulate’s jurisdiction.
  Residence must be demonstrated by submitting a copy of: U.S. Drivers’ License or State ID.
• Au Pair contract: Original and notarized copy of contract signed by the family and the Au Pair, or notarized statement from the host family stating the following conditions:
  • Duration of the placement agreement, with a maximum of 1 year.
  • Participation in services or chores, which should not exceed 5 hours/day.
  • Provision of one full day off per week: At least one of the days off each month will be a Sunday and the Au Pair must be given the ease to participate in religious activities.
  • Address which the Au Pair will share with the host family, as well as a commitment to enjoy a certain degree of independence.
  • Commitment of the host family to allow the Au Pair sufficient time to attend language courses and to improve their cultural and professional knowledge.
  • “Pocket money” concept amount that the Au Pair will receive monthly.
  • The agreement must allow both parties to terminate the contract by giving a two weeks’ notice.
• 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 circunstances 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.
  • The 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 template in “Download forms”.

Procedure

Who can apply for a visa: Applications must be submitted in-person.

Place of submission: Applicants must make an appointment in the National Visa Appointment option and submit in person all the documentation in:
BLS - SPAIN VISA APPLICATION CENTER, WASHINGTON DC
1660 L St NW, Second Floor, Suite: 216, Washington, DC 20036

Visa application period: Visa applications can be submitted from 6 months before the beginning of the pertinent study programmes, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities.

Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is of 1 month from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.

Visa collection: Passports with issued visa and other original documents submitted will be available for in-person pick-up by the applicant or a duly accredited legal representative at the corresponding BLS International Services Ltd. office.

Passports can be picked up in person

Visa refusal: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.

Appeals: If a study stay permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.

Visa validity period: If the study stay does not exceed 180 days, the visa will be valid for the entire stay and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card.

If the study stay is for longer than 180 days, the visa will be valid for a 90-day stay. In this case the student must apply for a Foreign Identity Card (T.I.E), within a period of 1 month from their entry into Spain, at a Foreign Nationals' Office or Police Station. This Foreign Identity Card (T.I.E), will alow to stay for entire period of the program.

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.

Decision period: 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 notified in writing, stating the reasons on which the decision was based.

Appeals: In the event of a denial of a stay authorization for studies or a visa, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration in Spanish before the Office that denied the request within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. 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. Once in Spain and within the first thirty days, the applicant must apply for the Foreigner Identity Card or TIE (“Foreigner Identity Card”) at the Foreign 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 and you don’t need to apply for a TIE.

• National Visa Application Form
• Disclaimer Form
• Medical Certificate Template