Spain Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply (Schengen)
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa (C-type) to visit Spain for tourism, business, or family visits. The standard Schengen visa costs EUR 90 (adults) / EUR 45 (children 6–12) in government fees, allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and processing takes 15–45 days. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Spain visa at a glance
- Government fee
- EUR 90 (adults) / EUR 45 (children 6–12) — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 15–45 days (consulate/visa center ETA)
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Spain?
Some nationalities can enter Spain visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Check the Consulate General of Spain visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling.
Spain visa types
- Schengen short-stay visa (C-type)
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing, family visits — Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Airport transit visa (A-type)
- Passing through Spain to a third country — Airport transit only
- Long-stay visa (D-type)
- Study, work, or long-term residence — Long-stay
- National visa
- Specific purposes beyond Schengen short stay — Varies
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Spain depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the consulate or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Spain visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically 30–90 days depending on the agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa (C-type) for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Spain visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · 3+ months validity beyond intended departure from Schengen, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed Schengen visa application formSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
- Recent passport photoSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · 35x45 mm, white background.
- Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation)Schengen short-stay visa (C-type) · Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking)Schengen short-stay visa (C-type) · Proof of accommodation (hotel booking).
- Travel medical insuranceSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · minimum EUR 30,000 coverage valid for all Schengen countries.
- Proof of financial meansSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · bank statements or employment letter.
- Return ticketSchengen short-stay visa (C-type) · Return ticket.
Spain visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- EUR 90 (adults) / EUR 45 (children 6–12) — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Official processing
- 15–45 days (consulate/visa center ETA)
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Spain visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Spain visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Consulate General of Spain for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Spain visa above.
Submit your application
in person at the consulate or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
the official ETA is 15–45 days. Apply at least 15 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Spain's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the consulate portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Spain is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your Schengen visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A Schengen visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a Schengen tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Spain visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Spain visa questions, answered.
More for your Spain trip
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.