Who needs a Visa for coming to Spain?

Who needs a Visa for coming to Spain?

You might need a visa for entering Spain, depending on your nationality. That is why, it is so important to know the requirements due to they change frequently. In this section, we will help you to find out whether you need a visa and how to apply for it.

Citizens of the European Union are not required to get a visa since they already have the right to residency. In order to officially remain resident in Spain you have to apply for NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residence card (Tarjeta de Residence Comunitario).

Non-EU citizens visiting Spain need a visa in order to enter and visit Spain, unless there exists a special agreement between Spain and your home country; these countries are those of North & South America in addition to: Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia and Switzerland.

If you are one of these nationalities, you can enter Spain without a visa and stay for up to 90 days in any 6-month period.

Even if you are not required to get a visa, everyone has to apply for NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residence card (Tarjeta de Residence Comunitario).

Where and how to get a Visa
The visa must be requested and collected in person at the Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office for the area in which the foreign national resides.

The foreign national must collect his or her visa within two months of being notified that it has been granted. In the case of a residens, work, or students visa, the holder must obtain a foreign nationals identity card within one month of his or her entry into Spain.

If you do need a visa you need a letter of invitation from the Spanish language school of your choice. This letter has to fulfill certain requirements and has to be given to the Spanish General Consulate in your country/region.

Normally you will have to apply for the visa in person. Remember also to apply in time, as the average processing time it could be 3-4 weeks.

Documents required for any visa application in Spain:

- Passport valid for a minimum of six months and three photocopies of the personal information and photo page.

- 4 recent pictures, passport size.

- Original marriage certificate

- Original certificate of good conduct issued by the police department of the city or cities where the applicant has spent 6 months or more in the last 5 years, with a translation into Spanish.

- Original medical certificate typed on doctors stationary verifying that the applicant is free from the following quarantine diseases: yellow fever, cholera, and the plague. The certificate must also certify that the applicant is free of drug addictions and mental illness, with a translation into Spanish.

- Original Medical Insurance that will cover you in Spain.

- It is also necessary to submit two (2) photocopies of all the documents.
Types of Visa
What kind of visa should I apply?

Visa types:

- Retirement Visa for Spain.

- Student Visa for Spain.

- Investors and Self-employment Visa for Spain.

- Non-lucrative Visa for Spain.

- Work-exempt Visa for Spain.

- Family Reunification Visa for Spain.

All the information you need about different types of visas, available in the following link: Visa

You need to obtain the Visa prior leaving your home country. Once you have landed in Spain, it is too late.

Who needs a Visa for coming to Spain?

Where and how to get a Visa

Types of Visa

EU Countries

Non-EU Countries