Types Of Visas In Spain: Explained
Are you dreaming of the sunny shores and vibrant culture of Spain? Worry not! We’ve got you covered.
Before you pack your bags, it’s essential to understand the various types of visas that can make your Spanish adventure a reality. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the complexities of Spain’s visa system, ensuring your journey to the Iberian Peninsula is a smooth and exciting one.
Let’s dive in!
Do I need A Spanish visa?
There are some countries that do not need to have a visa to enter Spain. However, whether or not you need a visa will also depend on the purpose for which you are visiting, and your intended duration of stay.
Spanish visa not required
If you are a citizen of a country in the European Union (EU) or the States of the European Economic Area (EEA), you will not need to apply for a short term visa to visit, or for studies or work in Spain. You will, however, need to get yourself entered on the Register for the Citizens of the Union.
Visa-exempt countries
There are some countries with which Spain has reciprocal agreements, whose citizens will not need to apply for a visa for Spain. They will simply be able to enter the country and stay here for up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
New from 2022: ETIAS
The European Travel Information and Authorization System is an electronic system that will help keep track of individuals who do not need visas to travel to the Schengen Area. This is primarily for security reasons and to identify and irregular migration.
The system is expected to be operational by 2025, however, officials have cited some delays in the process.
Spanish visa necessary
There are some countries whose citizens necessarily need a visa to visit Spain. The exception to this is anyone coming in from the EU or the EEA. If you are coming in from a third country that also does not have a visa-free regime, you will need to apply for a Spanish visa.
Requirements To Enter Spain
You will need to meet certain eligibility criteria if you wish to come to Spain:
- Must be able to prove the purpose of your trip.
- Have a clean criminal record (proven by police records).
- Have a passport with a validity of six months past your intended date of exit from Spain.
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to support your stay.
- Have some form of travel health insurance from an approved company.
Spanish Visa Types
There are three main types of Spanish visas that you can apply for:
Schengen visa (for short stay visits)
The Schengen visa is a short term one, and allows you to enter and remain in Spain for a total of 90 days in a 180 day period.
Which countries are in the Schengen area?
The Schengen region comprises countries within the European Union and European Economic Area. These 27 countries have a common visa policy and have abolished passport or other kinds of border control at their shared borders.
This means that once you have the Schengen visa, you will be able to move freely between the countries that are part of this region. However, entry is not guaranteed. If you are unable to provide sufficient proof for the purpose and specifics of your trip, border authorities can refuse entry.
The Schengen visa is issued for various reasons including travel for recreation, business visits, visits to friends and family, travel for a cultural exchange program or for sports, medical visits, short term courses and official visits.
Countries in the Schengen Area
The exact list of countries includes the following:
Austria | Belgium |
Czech Republic | Denmark |
Estonia | Finland |
France | Germany |
Greece | Hungary |
Iceland | Italy |
Latvia | Liechtenstein |
Lithuania | Luxembourg |
Malta | Netherlands |
Norway | Poland |
Portugal | Slovakia |
Slovenia | Spain |
Sweden | Switzerland |
Single, double or multiple entry
Depending on the purpose for which you are applying for the Schengen visa, you can get a single, double or multiple entry visa.
The single entry, as the name implies, will let you enter the country only once. You will be able to stay until your visa expires. However, if you leave before the visa expires then you won’t be allowed to enter again. This is because the visa is considered to have expired once you leave.
If you have a double entry visa, you will be able to enter twice during the time that your visa is valid. If you have entered Spain twice, and leave the second time before expiration of the visa, your visa will be considered to have expired once you leave the second time around.
The multiple entry visa, as opposed to both kinds discussed above, allows you to leave and enter Spain as many times as you want, for the duration that your visa is valid.
Schengen calculator
The duration of stay rule can sometimes get a little overwhelming and confusing for travelers due to the various rules and regulations involved. You must know how much time you have spent in the Schengen Area to avoid trouble with the law.
Online calculators like this one make your job much easier. They can help you track the time you have spent in the country as well as the days you have left.
Airport transit visa
If you are taking a flight to a region outside the Schengen Area, and have a transit in Spain, you will need to apply for an airport transit visa. This is true for citizens of various countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone etc.
You should remember that the airport transit visa does not allow you to actually enter Spain’s territory or that of any Schengen state. You will only be able to spend the duration of your transit at the Spanish airport.
National visa (for long stay visits)
This type of visas is for anyone intending to stay in Spain for more than 3 months or 90 days. There are some types of long-stay visas that will also let you work in Spain.
If you are from one of the countries in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you will be exempt from applying for this category of visas too.
Types of national visa
The national visa is usually specific only to the purpose that you get it for. For instance, if you have a study visa you will usually only be able to study on it. If you wish to work alongside your degree, you will usually need to apply separately for a work permit.
You will also need to apply for a residence permit that corresponds with your visa type. A student will need to apply for a student residence permit. You will also need to leave the country once your degree is completed.
If you wish to stay in the country after the purpose of your visit is over e.g. once your degree has finished, you will need to return to your home country. Alternatively, you will need to apply for a different kind of visa e.g. a job seeker visa or work permit to remain in the country.
There are numerous kinds of long stay visas in Spain. These include:
- Student visa – this will let you study in Spain, for all courses that last more than three months.
- Work visa – this is for qualified professionals who wish to work in Spain.
- Family visa – this type of visa allows family members of Spanish citizens from non-EU countries to join them in the country.
- Golden visa – this is an option if you are aiming for residency through the investment program. This program allows you to get Spanish residence if you invest a certain sum in real estate.
- Entrepreneur visa – if you are an entrepreneur wishing to invest in Spain, this is the visa option for you.
- Non-lucrative residence visa – if you have enough income to support yourself and your family members after moving to Spain, you can apply for the non-lucrative residence visa. Once you arrive in Spain, you can then apply for a residence permit.
Spanish Visa Application Procedure
To apply for a Spanish visa of any kind, you will need to follow the steps listed below:
Where can I apply for a Spanish visa?
You will need to submit your application at either the Spanish consulate in your country or an approved visa center like the TLS Contact, BLS International or VFS Global to which Spain has outsourced visa submission in your country.
What documents do I need for my Spanish visa application?
There are some standard documents that are required for all kinds of visas, and some that will differ based on the kind of visa that you are applying for and your individual circumstances.
Required documents for Spanish visa application
There are some documents that you will need for all types of visas. These include:
- Your passport, along with a copy of the bio-data page. The passport should have a validity of at least three months after the date of your intended exit from Spain.
- Two recent passport sized photographs. You will either need to upload these online or submit physical copies depending on the way that you choose to apply for the visa.
- Visa fee, although the exact amount will depend on the kind of visa you are applying for and possibly other factors like your age. These fees are non-refundable, even if you do not end up getting the visa or if you withdraw your application.
Additional documents for short stay visas
For a short stay visa, you might also need the following:
- Proof of your flights coming in and leaving from the country.
- Proof of financial means to support you during your stay e.g. bank statements, signed declaration of support from a sponsor.
Additional documents for long stay visas
Long stay visa applicants might also be required to submit the following (depending on their individual cases):
- Proof of financial resources, which can include bank statements, affidavit of support etc.
- Police record to attest to a clean criminal record.
- Proof of enrollment such as a university acceptance letter, or proof of employment such as a signed employment contract (depending on the visa you apply for).
- Medical certificate issued by a doctor, confirming that you do not have any contagious diseases and do not have any mental illness or drug addiction.
- Medical insurance in Spain from an authorized company.
Find out what kind of visa you need to apply for
The first step in this process will be to figure out the kind of visa you will be applying for. Analyze your situation carefully to decide which visa you will need.
Then locate the right application form since the form for a Schengen visa differs from that for a Spanish national visa. Make sure you have completed the correct form before signing and printing it.
Also make sure to gather all the necessary documentation beforehand. You can get a list of required documents from the embassy or even online. There are some standard documents required for all visa types while there are some specific ones depending on the visa type you are applying for.
Schedule a visa application appointment
For a Spanish visa, you can make an appointment either through a phone call, the website or by visiting in person. The exact methods might vary slightly depending on the regulations of the embassy in your country.
Remember that the Spanish authorities do not accept walk-in applications, so you will need an appointment in advance. And make sure you are on time, since the Spanish authorities will cancel your appointment even if you are 10 minutes late to it.
You will also have an interview with a consular officer on the same day. Everyone who applies for a visa, regardless of the type, must attend this interview. You will be submitting your application and documents in this interview.
Visa application fees
The fee schedule has been detailed in the table below:
Type of visa | Fee |
Schengen visa for adults | €80 |
Schengen visa for children 6 – 12 | €45 |
Schengen visa for children under 6 | €0 |
Transit visa for adults | €80 |
Transit visa for children 6 – 12 | €40 |
Transit visa for children under 6 | €0 |
National visa | €80 – 674 |
The fees for the national visa can defer due to the applicant’s country and type of visa. You can pay the fees in cash, through bank transfer or through a credit or debit card. The mode of payment will depend on the protocols of the embassy or consulate in your country.
Reduced visa fees for certain nationalities
There are some countries that have standing reciprocal agreements with the European Union, which means that their citizens will need to pay lesser fees for their visa applications.
Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Albania, Ukraine and Georgia will need to pay a fee of €35.
Processing time for Spanish visas
For the most part, the consulate that is responsible for processing the visas is bound to do so within a month of your completed application. However, under certain circumstances this time may be extended.
Due to this schedule, it is advisable to apply at least three weeks before you intend to travel to Spain, to avoid any delays by the Spanish embassy. The earliest you can apply if six months before your trip (though this is not recommended), and the latest is two weeks before your intended travel date.
If you intend to stay in Spain for more than 180 days, you will also need to apply for a tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE) or the Foreigner Identity Card within one month of your arrival.
Can I Work On A Spanish Visa?
This will depend on the visa that you apply for. Typically, you will need a work visa to be able to find employment in Spain i.e. your official documentation must explicitly state that you are here for work.
How Long Is My Spanish Visa Valid For?
The validity of each kind of visa is different:
- The Schengen visa is valid for 90 days within a 180 day period.
- An airport transit visa is only valid for the time between your flights that you will be spending at a Spanish airport.
- National visas will have a validity depending on the visa and can range from six months to a couple of years.
Can I Extend My Spanish Visa?
The Schengen visa will only be extended in exceptional cases like humanitarian reasons, personal emergencies or serious reasons and force majeure. You must have strong proof to back up this claim.
For the national visa, some kinds can be extended e.g. work visas. There are others like the student visa that will expire with the end of your degree and will not be extended. In that case, you will need to apply for some other visa depending on the reason you wish to remain in Spain.
Fees for extending a Spanish visa
The visa extension fee is €30, except in cases of force majeure whereby no fees apply.
What Happens If My Spanish Visa Application Is Rejected?
If a visa application is rejected, the embassy will always inform you in writing, while also letting you know the grounds on which they made this decision.
You may want to submit an appeal for your application to be reconsidered. This can be done within a month of the refusal. You can even file an application for judicial review by the High Court of Justice of Madrid.
Even if your visa application is denied, this should not stop you from reapplying for a new visa sometime in the future. In fact, you should carefully consider the reasons of the first refusal and make modifications to your application as necessary.
Conclusion
In the mosaic of Spanish visas, we’ve painted a clear picture of the options available to you. Whether you’re seeking a short stay or a long-term commitment to Spain, your path is now illuminated.
Take these insights, embark on your visa journey, and soon, you’ll find yourself saying “happy leaving” as you step into your Spanish dream.
Visa Secured!
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