Spain Visitor Visa - Definitive Guide

Also known as the Spain Schengen Visitor visa, it is issued for people entering Spain for the purpose of visiting their family members or friends living in the country. The permit is issued for a maximum stay of 90 days in a 180-day period. The exact granted stay duration and validity depends on the decision of the consular officer processing your application. The permit can be issued as single-entry, double-entry, or even multiple-entries.

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

1. Obtain all the documents as per the visitor visa document checklist. 
2. Visit the website of the VAC, or the Embassy/Consulate of Spain and download the Schengen application form. Note that the application form is the same for all the Schengen categories.
3. Fill in the application form with all the relevant details and print it. You may also print the form and then fill it with a blue inked pen. Ensure to mention the purpose of the visit as ‘visiting family/friends’. 
4. Proceed to book your visa application appointment at the VAC according to the jurisdiction. For this, you can use the online facility 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 visa in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. In that case, you may send your application through a third party, provided that they are accompanied by a letter of authorization. 

Note that Spain VAC has initiated 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 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 one of 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 visitor permit, you must meet the following conditions - 

• You must be residing 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 authority in that country.
• You must possess a valid Indian passport that meets all the regulations.
• The main purpose of your visit must be to meet your family/friends living in Spain. 
• You must possess enough funds to cover all your expenses for the entire stay period in Spain.
• You must have been formally invited by your relatives or friends. 
• You must apply for the permit only if Spain is-

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

As per the embassy requirements, the following are the list of documents you must produce to apply for a visitor permit. 

• 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.
• Invitation letter from your family/friends stating the entire details of the travel
• Residence proof of your family/friend - Residence permit, copy of visa, etc
• Proof of sponsorship (if any)
• A covering letter - 
  1. This should include the visitor’s basic details and source of funds. 
  2. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit. 
  3. It should be addressed to the Embassy of Spain.
• Proof of accommodation -  hotel bookings/invitation to stay/residence bookings, etc 
• Round flight trip bookings
• 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 Spanish visitor permit is dependent on the exact validity, the number of entries given, the volume of visa applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. Normally, it can take about 15 working days. However, it may take up 30 days to 60 days in extreme cases. As a result, it is recommended that you apply well in advance. 

The application fees for the Spanish visitor visa is dependent upon the currency exchange rates and the embassy’s decision. The embassy has the authority to modify the fees without any prior notice. Apart from the application fee, there will be biometric charges, delivery charges (if applicable), as well as any service charges levied by the VAC. As a result, you must confirm the exact amount before starting the application.

Once you have submitted the visitor visa application for Spain at one of the VACs, it is then forwarded to the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi or the Consulate of Spain in Mumbai for processing, as per the jurisdiction. Note that even though you have submitted the application at a VAC, the processing is solely done by the respective mission alone. The VAC has no influence on the processing. 

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

You can track your Spanish visitor visa application 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 them track it for you.

Once you issued the visitor permit, you must keep in mind the following points to ensure that you have a pleasant journey- 

• Check the exact expiry date, the duration of stay, as well as the number of entries mentioned on the Schengen visa sticker. Your travel must be in accordance with this.
• Ensure that you carry all your travel documents while travelling. You are required to show them at the port of entry. 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 permit will become invalid and you will not be able to enter the country without a new one. 
• While you are travelling in Spain, ensure that you always carry a copy of your travel documents with you. 
• While you are under the visitor category, you cannot take part in any paid work. You may, however, be allowed to do unpaid charity or voluntary work.  
• You will not be able to extend the visitor visa under any normal conditions.
• You can move freely within the Schengen zone with the visitor permit.