Spain has it all — the art of Madrid, the beaches of the Costa del Sol, the food of San Sebastián, the streets of Barcelona. How to get a Spain visa depends on one question first: are you visiting for a short trip, or moving there for longer? A short visit of up to 90 days uses the Schengen short-stay visa, applied for through Spain. A longer stay — work, study, family or retirement — needs a Spanish long-stay national visa, a completely different application with its own fees, documents and waiting times. This guide covers both routes: which visa you need, every document, what it costs, how long it takes, and the mistakes that get applications refused. All figures were checked against the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 November 2026; the official sources are linked at the end.
Spain also does things its own way. In most countries you do not apply at the consulate directly — you apply in person, by appointment, at a BLS International visa application centre, which takes your documents and fingerprints and sends the file to the consulate. Spain sets its own financial means figure for visitors, and it has a formal invitation letter, the Carta de Invitación, for anyone staying with friends or family. Long-stay routes use income thresholds tied to a Spanish benchmark called the IPREM. Our general Schengen visa guide explains the 29-country system as a whole; this guide is the Spain-specific version. For comparison with a non-Schengen route, see our UK visa guide.
Required Documents — Spain Visa Checklist
This is the checklist for a short-stay Schengen visa applied through Spain, taken from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gather every item below before you book your appointment — missing documents are the most common cause of delay and refusal. Always compare this list with the BLS Spain checklist for your country. The long-stay documents are different; they are listed further down.
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| 1. Valid passport | Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 90 days after your planned departure, with at least 2 blank pages. Bring old passports too, with copies of previous visas. |
| 2. Completed Schengen visa application form | The Spanish Schengen form, filled in completely and signed — electronically or handwritten in capital letters. If the applicant is a minor, one parent must sign it. |
| 3. Passport photograph | One recent passport-size colour photograph, taken within the last 6 months, on a plain white background, facing forward, with nothing covering the face. Glued or clipped to the form, not stapled. |
| 4. Travel medical insurance — at least €30,000 | A policy covering repatriation for medical reasons, urgent healthcare and emergency hospital treatment, valid for the whole Schengen Area and the full length of your stay. The certificate must show your name, the dates and the minimum coverage. An insurance card alone is not accepted. |
| 5. Proof of funds — bank statements | Your 3 latest bank statements, original and bank-stamped, meeting Spain's minimum: €122 a day for trips under 9 days, or €1,099 minimum for stays of 9 days or more. Salary slips help. Bank letters or online printouts alone are not accepted. |
| 6. Proof of accommodation | Hotel or apartment reservations covering every night of your stay, with your name and the hotel's address and telephone number. Staying with family or friends? Your host must request an official invitation letter — the Carta de Invitación — from the local police department in Spain, and send you the original, plus a copy of their Spanish ID or passport. |
| 7. Flight itinerary | A round-trip flight reservation with a booking reference number, plus transport between cities inside the Schengen Area. Do not buy a non-refundable ticket before your visa is approved — a reservation is enough. |
| 8. Employment or business proof | If employed: a letter from your employer on letterhead stating your position, length of employment, salary and approved holiday. If self-employed: proof of self-employment and last year's income tax return. Retirees show pension proof; students show enrolment proof. Business travellers also need a letter from their company and an invitation from the Spanish company or conference organiser. |
| 9. Proof of legal residence where you apply | If you are applying in a country where you are not a citizen, proof of legal residence there — a residence card or a valid long-term visa — valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure. Short-term visitors cannot apply there; they must apply in their country of residence. |
| 10. Cover letter and travel plan | A short letter explaining why you are travelling, your day-by-day itinerary, who is paying, and why you will return home — your job, family and other ties. Minors travelling with one parent or alone need extra notarised authorisation documents. |
At a glance: short-stay visa fee €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 11, free for children under 6 · travel insurance minimum €30,000 · funds €122 a day, or €1,099 minimum for stays of 9 days or more · decision normally within 15 calendar days (can extend to 45 days) · apply no earlier than 6 months and at least 15 days before travel · stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
What Is a Spain Visa?
There is no single "Spain visa" — there are two, and choosing the wrong one is the most expensive mistake an applicant can make. The first is the short-stay Schengen visa (Type C): Spain is one of the 29 Schengen countries, so this visa lets you visit Spain — and travel onward to any other Schengen country — for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism, family visits, short business trips, medical treatment, or a course under 3 months. The second is the long-stay national visa (Type D), issued by Spain alone, for stays over 90 days: work, long study, family reunification, retirement on your own income, or remote work. A national visa also lets you travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, on top of your stay in Spain.
The two routes are handled differently. A short-stay application goes in person, by appointment, to a BLS International centre in most countries, and is normally decided in 15 calendar days. A long-stay application is usually lodged directly at the consulate, needs a much bigger file — including criminal record checks and medical certificates for stays over 180 days — and can legally take up to 3 months. One Spain-specific detail: a Schengen visa issued by Spain also covers entry to Gibraltar, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do You Need a Visa for Spain?
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need one. Citizens of many other countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Latin America — can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of the countries in Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806 must hold a Schengen visa even for a one-day trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the list.
Even if you do not need a visa, the entry conditions still apply. Border officers can ask for proof of your trip's purpose, your accommodation, your return ticket and your financial means — the same €122 a day, or €1,099 minimum, that visa applicants must show. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out at Schengen borders, so expect your fingerprints and photograph to be recorded on entry instead of a passport stamp. If you do need a visa, you must hold it before you travel — there is no visa on arrival for Spain, and no e-visa for ordinary passports.
Short Stay or Long Stay? Which Spain Visa Do You Need?
If your trip is 90 days or less and you are not going to work, the short-stay Schengen visa is the right one. If you will stay longer, or you want to work, study for a long course, join family or live in Spain, you need a long-stay national visa — a tourist visa cannot be extended into a long stay, and trying to stretch one is an overstay.
| Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) | Long-stay national visa (Type D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Stay | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period | Over 90 days — usually 1 year, then renewable |
| For | Tourism, family visits, business, short courses | Work, long study, family reunion, retirement, remote work |
| Where to apply | BLS International visa application centre, in person by appointment | Spanish consulate directly, in person by appointment |
| Fee | €90 adults, €45 children 6 to 11, free under 6 | Around €80 for most nationalities; some pay more under reciprocity rules — check your consulate |
| Decision time | Normally 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 days | Up to 3 months by law; student visas typically about 1 month |
| Work allowed? | No | Yes, for work, student (part-time) and digital nomad visas |
| After arrival | Nothing — leave before the 90 days run out | Apply for a residence card (TIE) within 30 days |
The other decision is which country to apply to. There is no single "Schengen embassy": you must apply to the consulate of your main destination. If Spain is where you will spend the longest time, you apply for a Spanish Schengen visa. If you will spend more days in France or Italy, you apply to that country instead — even if you land in Madrid first. If your stays are equal, apply to the country you enter first. The consulate checks your bookings against the country you applied to, so make your itinerary match.
How to Apply for a Short-Stay Spain Visa, Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm Spain Is Your Main Destination and Read the BLS Checklist
Decide your itinerary first: longest stay wins, and equal stays go to the country you enter first. Then download the tourist visa checklist from the BLS Spain page for your country. Spain's checklists differ slightly — the Carta de Invitación, the 3 latest bank statements and the €122-a-day funds figure are Spain-specific.
Step 2: Fill In the Application Form
Complete the form for Spain, electronically or handwritten in capital letters, then print and sign it. Answer honestly and exactly as your documents show it — your name as in your passport, your dates as in your flight and hotel bookings, your job details as in your employer's letter. A form that contradicts its supporting documents is a common refusal reason.
Step 3: Buy Your Travel Insurance
Buy travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation, valid for the whole Schengen Area and your full stay. The insurer must issue a certificate showing your name, the dates and the minimum coverage — an insurance card alone is not accepted. For a multiple-entry visa, it must at least cover your first trip.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents and Book Your Appointment
Collect every document in the checklist above, in the order the BLS checklist lists them, on A4 paper, with certified translations into English or Spanish where needed. Book your appointment online on the BLS Spain page and print the confirmation. Only complete applications are admitted — if a document is missing, the centre can turn you away.
Step 5: Attend Your Appointment and Give Biometrics
Go to the BLS centre with your passport, form, documents and the visa fee. Your fingerprints will be collected — standard for Schengen visas, and normally valid for 5 years, so a later application within that time may not need a new appointment in person. You pay the visa fee plus the BLS service fee at the centre, usually in local currency. The fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is refused.
Step 6: Wait for the Decision
The normal processing time is 15 calendar days from the day your application reaches the consulate, extendable to 45 days if a more detailed examination or extra documents are needed. Some consulates ask for longer — BLS centres in the United States note a minimum of 25 working days — so check what your consulate says and apply early. Do not book non-refundable travel while you wait, and do not call the consulate for updates in the first 15 days.
Step 7: Collect Your Passport and Check the Visa Sticker
When your passport is ready, BLS will tell you to collect it, or send it by courier if you chose that service. Check the visa sticker at once: your name, the dates, the number of entries, and the days allowed. If anything is wrong, tell the centre immediately.
How Much Does a Spain Visa Cost?
There are three costs on the short-stay route: the visa fee, the BLS service fee, and your travel insurance. The visa fee is set at EU level and is the same whichever Schengen country you apply to. The figures below are from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked on 6 November 2026, with the fee order in force from 1 January 2026. The adult fee rose from €80 to €90 in June 2024, so confirm the current amounts on the BLS Spain page before you pay.
| Cost — short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) | Amount (per person) |
|---|---|
| Visa fee — adults (12 years and over) | €90 |
| Visa fee — children aged 6 to 11 | €45 |
| Visa fee — children under 6 | Free |
| Visa fee — citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus | €35 (visa facilitation agreement) |
| BLS International service fee | Around €15 to €20, or about $20 at US centres — the amount differs by country, so check the BLS page for your country before your appointment |
| Travel medical insurance | Varies by provider and trip length; the policy must cover at least €30,000 |
The long-stay national visa has its own fee, set by Spain rather than by the EU. For most nationalities it is around €80, but some pay more under reciprocity rules — the exact amount depends on your nationality and the visa category, so confirm it on your own consulate's page before you pay. The BLS service fee is charged on top where a centre handles the application. All visa fees are non-refundable, and they are normally paid in local currency. The fee can be waived for specific categories — family members of EU or EEA citizens, for example — but ordinary tourist applicants should budget for the full €90 per adult plus the service fee and insurance.
Proof of Funds: Spain's €122-a-Day Rule
Of all the documents, proof of funds causes the most refusals, and Spain's figure is higher than many travellers expect. The minimum for 2026 is €122.10 per person per day, and at least €1,098.90 regardless of the length of stay (consulates round this to €122 a day, or €1,099 minimum for stays of 9 days or more). A 7-day trip needs about €854; a 14-day trip needs the €1,099 minimum, not €122 times 14.
That is why bank statements matter more than a single big deposit. Consulates ask for your 3 latest bank statements, original and bank-stamped, with salary credits visible. A large lump sum deposited a week before the application, with no history behind it, is a classic red flag — officers read it as borrowed money that will leave the account the day after the visa is issued. Keep your account active and consistent for months before you apply, and keep your salary slips. Cash, traveller's cheques and a credit card with a bank statement can all prove the funds, but bank letters or online printouts alone are not accepted. Accommodation works the same way: your bookings must match your itinerary day by day — a hotel in Barcelona while your itinerary says Seville that night is the kind of mismatch that gets an application refused.
Long-Stay National Visas: Work, Study, Family and Retirement
If your plans go beyond a short visit, the Type C visa is the wrong tool. A long-stay national visa — a Type D visa — is issued by Spain for stays over 90 days, and each purpose has its own route, documents and income threshold. The thresholds are tied to a Spanish benchmark called the IPREM, €600 a month in 2026. Spain's immigration regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) has been in force since 20 May 2025, so older guides may describe rules that no longer apply.
Work Visa
To work in Spain you need a job offer first. Your employer must obtain a work authorisation for you before you can apply — you cannot apply for a work visa and look for a job afterwards. Once it is granted, you apply in person with your contract, the authorisation, your passport, criminal record check and medical certificate. The consulate has up to 3 months to decide. The visa is normally issued for 1 year, and you apply for your residence card (TIE) within 30 days of arrival. Self-employed applicants must also show a viable business plan and the funds to carry it out.
Student Visa
For a course lasting more than 90 days you need a national student visa. You apply at the consulate in your home country with your acceptance letter, proof of funds of at least 100% of the IPREM — €600 a month for the length of the course — health insurance, and, for stays over 180 days, a criminal record check and a medical certificate. Courses of 3 to 6 months get a 180-day visa; longer courses get a visa for 1 year, and you then apply for your student residence card (TIE) in Spain. Students may work part-time, up to 30 hours a week. The decision period is about 1 month, so apply at least 2 months before your course starts.
Non-Lucrative Visa (Retirement and Financially Independent)
The non-lucrative visa is for people who want to live in Spain on their own income without working there — the classic retirement route. You must prove passive income or savings of 400% of the IPREM: €2,400 a month, or €28,800 for one year, plus €600 a month for each dependent. You must also show private health insurance with full cover in Spain, and you cannot do paid work on this visa. It is issued for 1 year, renewable in 2-year periods; after 5 years of legal residence you can apply for long-term residency. The consulate has up to 3 months to decide; in practice it often takes 2 to 3 months.
Family Reunification Visa
If a close family member already lives legally in Spain, they can sponsor you. The sponsor must first obtain a reunification authorisation in Spain, which itself can take several months, and only then do you apply for the visa. The sponsor must show housing and income of at least 150% of the IPREM. Once it is granted, the consulate normally decides within about 2 months. The visa is valid for 90 days for entry, and your residence card runs in line with the sponsor's permit.
Digital Nomad Visa
Spain's digital nomad visa is for people who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain. You must show an income of about 200% of Spain's minimum wage — roughly €2,442 a month in 2026 — plus proof of your remote work, a degree or 3 years of relevant experience, and health insurance. It is issued for 1 year and can be renewed. The consulate has up to 3 months to decide; in practice it often takes 1 to 3 months. This visa uses the minimum wage, not the IPREM.
| Long-stay route | Income or funds to show (2026) | Decision time |
|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative visa | €2,400 a month (€28,800 a year), plus €600 a month per dependent | Up to 3 months; often 2 to 3 months |
| Student visa | €600 a month for the length of the course | About 1 month |
| Digital nomad visa | About €2,442 a month (200% of the minimum wage) | Up to 3 months; often 1 to 3 months |
| Work visa | Employment contract plus work authorisation from the employer | Up to 3 months |
| Family reunification | Sponsor's income of at least 150% of the IPREM | About 2 months after the sponsor's authorisation |
Whatever route you take, the same rule applies after you arrive: within 30 days, go to the Foreigners Office or police station in Spain and apply for your foreigner identity card, the TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero). Your visa is an entry visa, not a residence permit — the TIE proves your right to live in Spain. Long-stay applications also need a criminal record check from every country where you have lived in the last 5 years, and a medical certificate, both legalised and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator where required. Start those early — an apostille and a sworn translation can take weeks.
How Long Can You Stay? The 90/180-Day Rule
A Schengen short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The 180 days is a moving window: on any day you are in the Schengen Area, you count back 180 days and add up all the days you have spent there. If the total is 90 or more, you must leave. The European Commission provides a short-stay calculator — use it before you book a second trip.
For example: 30 days in Spain in January leaves you 60 days in the 180 days that follow. Return in April for another 30 days and you have 30 left. By July, the January days start falling out of the window and your allowance grows again. Overstaying — even by one day — is recorded and can damage every future visa application. Keep your own count, and never rely on the days printed on a single visa sticker: the sticker's validity and the 90/180 rule are two different limits, and both apply. Multiple-entry visas are worth asking about if you travel often — consulates often give them to applicants with a clean travel history, while first-time applicants usually get a single-entry visa for the dates of their trip. Long-stay visas work differently: a national visa is issued for a year or for the length of your course or contract, and renewed inside Spain.
Common Reasons Spain Visa Applications Are Refused
Most refusals are paperwork problems that could have been avoided: applying to the wrong country's consulate — a trip mostly in France cannot be applied for through Spain; bank statements that do not show regular income, or a sudden large deposit with no explanation; a travel plan that does not add up — hotels in one city while the itinerary says another; insurance below €30,000, or a policy that does not cover the whole trip; no Carta de Invitación when staying with friends or family in Spain; and no clear reason to return home, such as no job or family ties shown in the file. If your application is refused, the consulate must tell you why and how to appeal — read that letter carefully, fix the exact problem it names, and only then reapply. Never pay an agent who promises a guaranteed visa; no agent can guarantee an approval, and a fake booking or bank statement will get you refused and can get you banned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Spain Visa
Do I need a visa to visit Spain?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not need one, and citizens of many countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan — can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of the countries in Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806 must hold a Schengen visa.
How long does a Spain visa take?
A short-stay visa normally takes 15 calendar days from the day your application reaches the consulate, extendable to 45 days if more examination or extra documents are needed. Some consulates ask for longer — BLS centres in the United States note a minimum of 25 working days — so apply 4 to 8 weeks before your trip. Long-stay visas can legally take up to 3 months; student visas typically take about 1 month.
Can I visit other European countries on a Spain visa?
Yes. A Schengen visa issued by Spain covers all 29 Schengen countries, and you can travel between them without border checks. You must still apply to the right consulate — Spain, if Spain is where you will spend the longest time, or the first country you enter if your stays are equal. It does not cover the United Kingdom or Ireland.
How much money do I need to show for a Spain visa?
For a short stay, Spain requires €122 a day for trips under 9 days, or a minimum of €1,099 for stays of 9 days or more, shown in your 3 latest bank statements. For a long stay: a student must show €600 a month, a non-lucrative applicant €2,400 a month, and a digital nomad about €2,442 a month. A steady account history matters far more than one large deposit made just before applying.
Can I work in Spain on a tourist visa?
No. A short-stay Type C visa is for tourism, family visits and short business trips only. To work in Spain you need a work visa — your employer must obtain a work authorisation for you first — or a digital nomad visa if you work remotely for companies outside Spain.
Do I apply at the Spanish consulate or at BLS?
In most countries, short-stay applications go to a BLS International centre, in person and by appointment — not to the consulate itself. BLS collects your documents and fingerprints, takes the fees, and sends the file to the consulate, which decides. Long-stay applications are usually lodged directly at the consulate. Check the BLS Spain page for your country.
Sources and Disclaimer
Sources (checked 6 November 2026): Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Consulate General of Spain in Washington, Schengen Visas (fee €90 / €45 from 1 January 2026, insurance €30,000, funds €122 a day with a €1,099 minimum, BLS submission, apply 6 months to 15 days before travel, Carta de Invitación, Gibraltar); Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Conditions for entry into Spain (financial means in 2026: €122.10 a day, minimum €1,098.90); BLS International Spain, usa.blsspainvisa.com (service fee about $20 at US centres, 25 working days minimum at some US centres); European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Applying for a Schengen visa (90 days in any 180-day period, main destination rule, 15 days, extendable to 45 days); IPREM 2026 of €600 a month (Law 31/2022) for the non-lucrative (400%), student (100%) and family reunification (150%) thresholds; Spain's minimum wage (SMI) for the digital nomad threshold of about €2,442 a month. Fees and rules change — always re-check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page and the BLS Spain page for your country before you apply or pay.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not immigration advice. It does not replace the official guidance of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the consulate handling your application, or advice from a regulated immigration adviser. If your case is complicated — a previous refusal, a criminal record, a dependant with special circumstances, or a trip that does not fit the usual tourist pattern — speak to a regulated adviser before you apply.