Spain Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

Also known as the Spain Schengen tourist visa, this endorsement is issued for people entering Spain for the purpose of tourism. The permit is issued for a maximum stay duration of 90 days in a 180-day period. The exact duration granted and the validity depends on the decision of the embassy. The permit can be issued as single-entry, double-entry, or even multiple-entry types depending on the number of times you would need to exit the Schengen zone. 

The application for the Spain tourist visa from India is done offline via a VAC (Visa Application Center). Before starting the application, ensure that you check if you are eligible for the tourist category. After that, you may proceed with the application as follows - 

1. Obtain all the documents as per the tourist category document checklist. 
2. Visit the website of the VAC, or the Embassy/Consulate of Spain and download the Spain tourist visa application form. 
3. Fill in the form with all the details and print it. You may also print the form and then fill it with a blue ink pen. Ensure to mention the purpose of the visit as ‘tourism’. 
4. Proceed to book your visa appointment at the VAC as per the jurisdiction. For this, you can use the online portal provided by the VAC. 
5. Visit the respective VAC with the documents, completed Schengen application form, and the fees. You will also submit your biometrics here. 

Keep in mind that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen permit in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. In this case, you may send your application through a third party, provided that they possess a letter of authorization. 

Spain VAC has started a mobile application wherein you can apply for the visa from your house. The VAC will send officials to your house to take your biometrics and documents. For more information on this new process, you must contact the VAC. 

You must submit only original and genuine documents. Providing fake documents or false information can lead to a Schengen visa rejection. 

Note that the applications must be made at the VACs situated across India as per the jurisdiction. If your state of residence (resident of a state for the past 6 months) is Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, or Pondicherry, your applications must be through a VAC located in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, or Ahmedabad. However, if your state of residence is one of the remaining states or UTs, you must apply through the VACs situated in Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, or Jalandhar.

To be able to apply for the tourist permit, you must meet the following conditions - 

• You must be living in the country you are lodging the application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it to the corresponding visa issuing authority in that country.
• You must possess a valid Indian passport that meets all the regulations.
• The sole purpose of your visit must be to take part in tourism and other related activities.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover all your expenses during the entire stay period in Spain.
• You must apply for the permit only if Spain -

• 1. is your only destination.
  2. is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here. 
  3. is your port of entry into the Schengen region.

As per the Spain tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens, the following are the list of documents you must produce - 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must contain at least 2 blank pages.
  2. It should not be older than 10 years.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.
• A covering letter - 
  1. This must include the applicant's details.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose of tourism, and the duration of the visit.
  4. It should be signed by the applicant and addressed to the Consulate/Embassy of Spain.
• Flight reservation for round trip
• Detailed travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation - hotel bookings/invitation to stay/residence bookings, etc 
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of occupation -

Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc.

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions: 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription glasses
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The processing time for the application for the Spanish tourist visa is dependent on the validity of the permit, the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. Normally it takes around 15 working days to process it. However, in certain cases, it takes even 30 or 60 days depending upon the level of complication.  

The application fees for this tourist permit is dependent upon the current foreign exchange rates, as well as the embassy decision. The embassy has the power to update the fees without any prior notice. Apart from the application fee, there will be biometric charges, delivery charges, as well as any service charges levied by the VAC. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting the application. 

Once you have submitted the application at one of the VACs, it is then forwarded to the Embassy of Spain or the Consulate of Spain for processing as per the jurisdiction. Note that even though you have submitted the application at a VAC, the processing is done by the embassy/consulate. The VAC has absolutely no influence on the processing.

If your visa has been approved, you can collect the passport directly from the VAC, or have it delivered to you for an additional charge. 

You can do the Spain visa status tracking by clicking here and entering your reference number and date of birth. You may also check your status by contacting your travel agency and have the track it for you. 

Once you have received the visa, you must keep in mind the following points to ensure that you have a pleasant trip to Spain. 

• Check the expiry date, the duration of stay, as well as the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. You must not stay longer than the permitted duration.
• Carry all your travel documents while travelling. You will be denied entry into Spain without this. 
• Ensure that you travel to Spain within 6 months of the visa issue date, or as mentioned in the Schengen sticker. After this date, your entry permit will become void and you will not be able to enter the country. 
• While you are travelling in Spain, ensure that you always carry a copy of your travel documents with you. You may be stopped for random police verification.
• While you are on a tourist permit, you cannot take part in paid work for a Spanish company or establishment. 
• You will not be able to extend the permit under any normal conditions
• You can move freely between the Schengen countries with this permit.