1. National visa application form. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling in each of its sections. Visa applications can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters.

   Please do not forget to fill out numbers 17, 18 (your address, email and telephone number), 21 (intended date of entry) 24, 25 (NIE) and 27 (complete information related to the employer in Spain) on the application form.

2. 1 photograph: Glued or clipped onto visa application form. Photo specifications: Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance, passport-size, color photograph, printed on matte/glossy paper, taken against a white, light, clear, uniform background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the applicant’s full 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. Photographs of babies must not show any part of the adult holding them.

3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank visa pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Proof of legal residence in the United States. Non-U.S. citizens must also submit proof of legal residence in the United States: U.S. Resident Card (Green card) or valid U.S. long term Visa. Original and photocopy.

5. Proof of residence in the consular district. The applicant must be a legal resident or be enrolled in in-person studies within the Consular Section’s consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia).

   Residence must be proved by one of the following, valid documents: U.S. driver’s license, state ID. Original and photocopy.

6. Residence authorization. Authorization of Initial Residence for Highly Qualified workers (“Autorización de residencia inicial para trabajadores altamente calificados”) issued by the UGECE (“Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos”, del “Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones” de España – “Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit”, “Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration” of Spain).

   Each family member accompanying the worker must submit a Residence authorization issued in favor of the family member.

7. 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 2 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 Check.

   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. We do not accept background checks without the Hague Apostille.

   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 2 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 2 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).

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

8. Responsible declaration (original and a photocopy) of the absence of criminal records in the countries where you have resided during the previous 5 years. Please find template in “Download forms”.
9. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals 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.
10. Disclaimer form. Please find template in “Download forms”.

Required documents for family members

For each family member accompanying the worker, the following must be submitted:

• All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. Where applicable, those specified in 7, 8, 9 also. In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative
• Documents proving family relationship with the worker: birth certificate, marriage certificate issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple.
• In case of an unregistered couple with a stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple: notarized declaration stating that you are an unregistered unmarried couple with an stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple, and any other document proving the unmarried partnership with the applicant.
• In case of adult children (18 y.o. and older): documents proving financial dependence, the adult child's civil status and that they continue to form part of the family unit. It can be certificates of disability, of single status, of cohabitation at the same address, of studies, etc.
• In case of relatives in the ascending line (65 y.o. and older parents): documents proving financial dependence and that they form part of the family unit.

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

Please submit the original and a copy of all the documents proving family relationship.

Additional documents, Interview:

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

Procedure

• Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
• 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
• Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days from the day when the Consular Section forwards the documents through the visa system (not from the day the applicant submits the application at the BLS office), but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.
• Visa collection: The applicant must collect the visa and/or other documents in person at the BLS office once BLS notifies the applicant (via SMS text) that the visa or documents are ready to pick up.
• Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
• Appeals: If a 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.
• Validity period of the visa: The visa is valid for 1 year, or for the same period as the residence authorization granted (if the residence authorization is valid for less than 1 year).

The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary for the worker to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, it is advisable to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (T.I.E.) after the worker’s entry into Spain, especially if the residence authorization is valid for more than 1 year. The TIE is renewable, and it is possible to initiate the TIE renewal procedure within 60 days before the expiration of the TIE card.