NALCAP - North American Language and Culture Assistant Program
Visa for stays longer than 90 days to participate in the 2023-2024 North American Language and Culture Assistant program sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain, for North American and Canadian citizens.
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.
Family members will not be able to work during their stay in Spain.
Study stays of less than 90 days do NOT require a study visa.
Visa applications can be submitted from 6 months before the beginning of the pertinent study programmes, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities.
Please note that starting Sep 1st, applications will be accepted by appointments only. No postal applications reaching after the 1st of Sep will be accepted by BLS.
Any postal aplications received after September 1st will be requested to schedule an appointment.
The Revised visa fee and BLS service charge are as follows:
| Visa Fee Depending of Citizenship |
Amount in USD |
| U.S. citizens |
$160 |
| Citizens of Australia |
$476 |
| Citizens of Bangladesh |
$99 |
| Citizens of Ethiopia |
| For stays up to 180 days |
$88 |
| For stays longer than 180 days |
$510 |
| Citizens of Mauritania |
$263 |
| Citizens of the UK |
| For stays up to 180 days |
$88 |
| For stays longer than 180 days |
$440 |
| All other citizens |
$88 |
| NOTE: In order to apply for the visa, it is MANDATORY to also pay the following BLS services fees (If they are not paid, your visa will not be processed): |
| Additional Fee |
Amount in USD |
| BLS service charge |
18 |
The rate may vary without prior notification.
The fee is non-refundable.
- National visa application form (Do not forget to indicate your email in section #17).
- Photography. A recent colour photograph (US passport size), with a light, uniform background, preferably white. Photographs with a dark background or with objects or people that are seen from behind the head and that are not photographic paper will not be accepted. Do not staple or use anything other than glue to attach the photo to the form.
- Passport or travel document recognized as valid with a duration of at least the time of stay requested and must contain at least two free pages in the visa section (copy of the page where your data and photos appear). Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
- Letter of Acceptance from the Autonomous Communities ("Assigment"). This letter must provide information about the school to which the applicant has been assigned (address, telephone, contact email). It must also contain information about the scholarship, the duration of the program and the insurance policy. The Spanish Consulate will ONLY accept original signatures or electronically signed letters.
Fill in numbers 21 (date of entry) and 28 (complete information related to the school in Spain) in the application form.
- 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”.
- Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Provide a copy (not the original) of the US driver's license, duly notarized.
- Disclaimer form must be submitted with the application.
When necessary to evaluate the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also request the applicant to attend a personal interview.
The Procedures
Documents required for family members
For each family member accompanying the student, the following must be presented:
- The documents listed above
- Accredit economic means to cover the expenses of stay and return to your country. For the support of family members during their stay in Spain: the last three personal bank account statements that show at least a minimum amount of $480 for the first family member per month of stay and $320 per month for each of the remaining family members who the family unit will be integrated in Spain.
- Original Birth Certificate of the children legalized with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish. Attach a copy of both parents' IDs. If the parents are divorced, present the final decree of divorce and legalized custody of the minor with the Apostille certification. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country (original and copy)
- Original Marriage Certificate legalized with The Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and copy).
- Original Domestic Partnership Certificate legalized with The Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention, the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and copy).
- Proof of public or private health insurance (travel insurance will not be accepted) from a recognized insurer authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for nationals and must be maintained throughout the validity of the authorization. No deductibles or copays.
It must cover, at least, all preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation care activities carried out in Spain Social Security System.
Procedure:
Who can apply for a visa: Applications must be submitted by 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.
