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.
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from people residing in
the consular demarcation: Maine, Massuachussets,New Hampshire,Rhode Island and
Vermnot
Visa applications must be submitted well in advance of the start of the corresponding
study programs, as the procedure involves consultations with other authorities.
Incomplete applications are not accepted.
As of June 1, applications for study visas from the NALCAP program are processed at
the offices of the BLS - Spain Visa Application Center, Boston
- In person, requesting an appointment through the following link: https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/boston/
- By postal mail, sending all the documentation by certified mail that requires a
signature to:
BLS - Spain Visa Application Centre, Boston
National Visa Department
15 Court Square Suite 520 Boston, MA. 02108
The Revised visa fee and BLS service charge are as follows:
Consulate Visa Fee Based on Citizenship & Duration
| Amount
in USD |
All other nationals |
99 |
United States of America |
160 |
Australia |
476 |
United Kingdom > longer than 180 days |
440 |
United Kingdom < shorter than 180 days |
99 |
Bangladesh |
99 |
Mauritania |
263 |
Ethiopia > longer than 180 days |
510 |
Ethiopia < shorter than 180 days |
99 |
BLS Service Fee |
Amount in USD |
All Nationals |
18 |
Notifications (SMS) |
5 |
- All Fees are non-refundable
- The Visa Fee is subject to change without notice
- 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 ("Appointment").
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.
- Criminal record certificate (if the stay is longer than 180 days) stating
that the applicant has no criminal record in the place where he has resided for
the last five years. Does not apply to students under 18 years of age.
You must request a background check verified by fingerprint comparison. The
criminal background check must be issued by the US Department of Justice -
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State and Local Police and State Police
background checks will not be accepted.
The background check must be issued within six months prior to the submission of
the visa application.
The US certificate must be issued by the FBI and legalized with the Hague
Convention Apostille by the Department of State in Washington DC and translated
into Spanish by a sworn translator. (The translation does not need an Apostille
and the Apostille does not need a translation).
If the applicant has spent six months or more during the last five years in
another country, he must present the criminal record of that country, legalized
with the Apostille of The Hague 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.
INFO FBI BACKGROUND CHECK DEPARTMENT OF STATE https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
Translations (AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION): www.atanet.org/
UPDATED LIST (2023) OF SWORN TRANSLATORS - INTERPRETERS APPOINTED BY THE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EUROPEAN UNION AND COOPERATION: click Here
US INFO DEPARTMENT OF STATE APOSTILLE
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/apostille-requirements.html
- Medical certificate: Recent medical certificate, issued in the last three
months before the application date, on the letterhead of the doctor or medical
center, duly signed, sealed and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator,
stating:
“This medical certificate certifies that Mr./Ms. (...) does not suffer from any
disease that could have serious implications for public health in accordance
with the provisions of the 2005 International Health Regulations”.
In the case of using the model from our website, the Spanish translation is not
necessary. Insert link.
- Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Provide a copy (not the
original) of the US driver's license, duly notarized.
- Payment of the visa fee
- Payment of the BLS processing fee
- 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.
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).
- “Public or private health insurance certificate taken out with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain.
The health insurance must meet the following requirements:
The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain. This coverage must be maintained throughout the validity of the authorisation.
The health insurance must not have a waiting period, grace periods, co-payments, deductions or coverage limit, that is, it must cover 100% of medical, hospital and extra-hospital expenses. However, if the insurance coverage is limited to a certain amount, this limit must not be less than €30,000.
Travel insurance will not be accepted. Insurance cards will not be accepted as proof of the contracting of health insurance.”
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 (no more than three months if the duration of the activity is greater than six months).
Upon admission and within the first thirty days, the applicant must apply for the Foreigner Identity Card or TIE (“Foreigner Identity Card”) at the Immigration and Documentation Police Station of the city where they will work as a language assistant. The TIE will be valid as long as the language assistant is part of the program in Spain. In the case of minors, this procedure may be carried out by a representative. In addition, the visa must be stamped upon entry into the Schengen States.
The initial authorization of temporary residence (TIE) will have a duration of one year and its validity will begin on the date of entry into Spain.
If the duration of the activity does not exceed six months, the visa will be sufficient to prove the stay.