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

• All Fees are non-refundable
• The Visa Fee is subject to change without notice

"Checklist"

Insurance for Long Term Visa

Travelling to Europe on a National Visa? Click Here to buy Health Insurance at competitive pricing from reputed global insurers. This Health Insurance facility is optional and provided for applicant convenience.

Disclaimer:- By clicking this link, you will be redirected to the third party website, your personal data will be handled in accordance with their privacy policy. Please note that BLS does not collect or process any information you provide on their site and does not hold any liability with respect to any dispute.

Visa for family members of foreigners who have legal resident status in Spain (from now on referred to as "the resident") and who wish to exercise the right to family reunification.

This type of visa is not issued to family members of citizens of the European Union or of the Member States of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland (see “Visas for family members of EU citizens").

Please see the Overview section for more details on eligibility and other factors.

Required documents

One Application form - National Visa Application Form Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or guardians or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.

One photo (Photo service available at BLS Center): Glued (not stapled) onto visa application form. Photo specifications: A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.

Photos with a dark background or with objects or people that can be seen behind your head will not be accepted. The photo should meet the requirements pictured here, against a white background.

Valid, unexpired passport: The passport must have a minimum validity period of 4 months and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.

Proof of legal residence in the United States: Non-U.S. citizens must also submit proof of legal residence in the United States - valid U.S. long term Visa or a notarized copy of the U.S. Resident Card (Original will be checked during appointment).

F1 student visa holders must submit a photocopy of the I-20 certificate.

B1/B2 visa holders do not qualify to apply for a visa at this Consular Office. They must apply for a visa in their country of residence or country of origin.

Proof of residence or study in the consular district: The applicant must be a legal resident or be enrolled in in-person studies in a center within our consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina). Residence must be proved by one of the following, valid documents: U.S. Driver’s license, State ID, University Student ID (Original will be checked during appointment).

Initial family reunification permit: ("Autorización de residencia por reagrupación familiar inicial"). Issued by the Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government in Spain, at the resident's request.

Resident's residency card: Photocopy of the resident's TIE (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero, Foreigner Identification Card), which must be unexpired.

Documents proving family relationship with the resident:

• Spouses: Marriage certificate issued by the competent civil registry. In the event of second or successive marriage, proof of divorce from the previous spouse.
• Unmarried couples: Certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or, if the couple have not entered their relationship on a register, documents proving the couple's relationship dates back to before the resident established their residence in Spain.
• Children: Birth certificate issued by the competent civil registry. In the case of the children of just one of the spouses or members of the couple, proof must also be provided that they hold sole parental authority over the child or that they have been awarded custody and that the child is effectively in their care.
• Parents: Birth certificate of the resident or of the spouse or partner issued by the competent civil registry and documents substantiating the reasons for which it was necessary to authorize their residence in Spain. Among other documents, proof must be provided that, over the past year, the resident has transferred funds to or covered expenses incurred by the parent representing, at least, 51% of the per capita GDP of the parent's country of residence. Moreover, proof must be submitted of the annual income and properties owned by the parent and information on other direct family members who are resident in the country.

Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official or sworn translation into Spanish.

Criminal record check certificate: Applicants of legal age (18 years old and older) must submit the original and a photocopy (not notarized) of their criminal background check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years.

The 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.

The background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.

The background check must be authenticated with The Hague Apostille. Background checks without the Hague Apostille will not be acceptable.

The Apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures. We do not accept apostilles that certify the signature of a notary that stamps a seal on the criminal background check.

The criminal background check will not be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damage caused by removing staples.

The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator. (The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation).

If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 5 years in another country (outside the USA or Spain), an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague, unless it is issued by an EU member state. The criminal background check issued by an EU authority does not need to be apostilled to be accepted. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in this country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in Spanish or does not include the text in Spanish).

Please submit the original and a photocopy of all the documents: background check, apostille and official translation.

You can find certified translators through the AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION or Buscador de traductores jurados del MAEC.

Medical certificate: Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations.

• The certificate must be issued in the 3 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
• The 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. The recommended model can be found here: Medical Certificate Template
• The certificate must be signed by a Doctor (Physician), not by a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician assistant.
• If the certificate does not include the text in Spanish, an official or certified translation into Spanish is required. In the case of using the bilingual model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary.

Proof of the representative's identity and capacity: If the applicant is a minor, a copy of the identity document or passport of the parent, guardian or representative and of the document constituting proof of kinship or guardianship or power of attorney or the document accrediting representation must be submitted. Original documents must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

Disclaimer form: Disclaimer

Payment of the visa fee: Cash or money order. Different rates apply due to reciprocity.

Fees from January 1, 2026:

• For US citizens: $140
• For citizens of Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Mauritania and the UK: The fee will be consulted with the Spain Embassy
• All other citizens: $106

Visa fees are revised quarterly according to current exchange rates and can be subject to changes.

Additional documents, Interview:

When necessary to assess the application, the Spain Embassy may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.

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
• Medical Certificate Template