Spain Visas: How to get a Spanish Visa

Life in Spain can be considered to be living in heaven. A sunny sky all year round, a charming atmosphere, great food and plenty of places to visit. That’s why it’s one of the favorite destinations for expats around the world who want to start their new life in a new place. Yet they are faced with a dilemma here as non-European Union residents. They need a spanish visa to live and work lawfully in the country. But how do you do it easily? And what are the various citizenship choices in Spain? What types of visas in Spain are there? We are going to answer all those questions in this page.

Life in Spain can be likened to living in paradise, offering a year-round sunny climate, an enchanting ambiance, delectable cuisine, and a multitude of captivating destinations to explore. It’s no wonder that Spain stands as one of the preferred havens for expats worldwide seeking to embark on a new chapter in life. However, non-European Union residents encounter a pivotal challenge – the need for a Spanish visa to reside and work legally in this vibrant country.

But how can you navigate this process seamlessly? What are the diverse citizenship pathways available in Spain? What types of visas cater to your unique circumstances? These pressing questions will find their answers on this page.

At our specialized immigration law firm, we are poised to guide you through the intricacies of securing a Spanish visa, making your transition to the Spanish way of life smooth and legally compliant with a diverse array of citizenship options.

What Kinds of Spanish Visas are there?

Short Stay Visa or Schengen Visa

The Schengen Agreement allows for a single form of short-stay visa (up to 90 days) for participating European countries, Austria, Belgium , Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France , Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia , Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands , Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Schengen Visa issued by the Embassy or Consulate of the above-mentioned countries allows the holder to travel freely in all of them. If you wish to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply to the Consulate of that country. If you are going to visit a variety of Schengen countries, you must apply to the consulate of your primary destination (where you spend the most days). If you are part of a cruise, please remember the number of days spent at each port. If you spend the same number of days in a number of countries, you must apply to the consulate of your country of first entry.

How to get a Schengen Visa to travel to Spain

• Fulfill the Spanish Visa Application form

The Schengen visa fee is as follows:

• Adults are expected to pay a fee of €80.
• Minors under the age of 12 shall pay a levy of €40.
• Kids under the age of 6 years are excluded from the visa fee.

Long Stay Spain Visas

These visas will allow you to stay in Spain for more than 90 days. Once accepted and released, you will be able to receive a resident card once in Spain to cover your stay there. All world people who need to work, study for more than 90 days or wish to travel to Spain may need a long-stay Spanish visa.  Only the following nationals are excluded from this requirement: 

• Member States of the European Union 
• Netherlands, Norway 
• Iceland Island 
• Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein. 
• Switzerland, Switzerland

Spanish Long Stay Visas Fees

spain visa types	Fee for US Citizens	Fee for Canadian Citizens	Fee for Other Nationalities
Student Visa	141€	83€	80€
Non Lucrative Visa	123€	507€	80€
Family Reunion Visa	123€	507€	80€
Work Visa	123€	507€	80€
Self Employed Visa	238€	674€	80€
Spanish Entrepreneur visa	167€	100€	80€

How to apply for a Spanish Visa

In order to apply for a visa in Spain, you need to address the Spanish Consulate under your jurisdiction. If you’re staying abroad, you can just go to the nearest consulate. The visa will be affixed to the passport and must be forwarded to the Schengen border authorities at the port of entry.

Where can you pay for YOUR SPANISH Visa?

Payment methods for a Spanish visa vary from country to country. It all depends on how Spain governs the application of visas in your country of residency. 

In certain countries, you will have to pay a fee at the Consulate or Visa Application Center. They just accept a money order or a cashier’s check. Personal checks, credit cards and debit cards shall not be accepted. 

When do you pay for the spanish visa? 

On the majority of cases, you will have to pay the visa fee on the day of your visa appointment. However, in few others countries like Morocco, you will have to pay the fee on the day you make a visa reservation, or your reservation will be cancelled.

Spanish Visa Requirements

Even though each Spanish Visa has its own requirements, there are several rules that apply for most of the visas in Spain. These are the requirements you’ll need to fulfil if you want to be elegible for a visa in Spain:

Required Documents for the SPANISH Visa Application

In order to fulfill your visa application you will need to present the following documents:

• Visa Application Form.
• Two biometric photos.
• Your passport.
• Copies of passport pages with info.
• Flight reservation.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Medical Insurance.
• Medical Certificate.
• Proof of Sufficient Financial Means.

VISA APPLIACTION FORM

Notice that there are two forms of visa application process in Spain. One is for short-stay visas, and another is for long-stay visa applicants. Please complete the one you need, print it again, and then sign it at the top.

The application form includes questions about your identity: name, surname, date & place of birth, occupation, history, etc. It also asks questions about the purpose of your trip to Spain and the planned duration of stay. Pay attention to each question and attempt to answer it correctly. If the details you present in this form does not agree with the details on the rest of the forms, your submission would most definitely be denied.

MEDICAL INSURANCE for visas in spain

In order to comply with the requirements for the visa application, you must buy travel medical benefits and send this evidence to the Spanish authorities responsible for applying for a visa in your country of residence. 

When applying for a short stay visa, medical care would cover not just the entire territory of Spain but also all the other Schengen Member States. It should cover any incident or unexpected illness with a minimum of €30,000, including repatriation for medical purposes or in the event of death. In addition, it must be scheduled for at least 7 days, even though you intend to remain less than that, i.e. two days.

FAQs about Visas in Spain