Your complete guide to a Spain visa for Indians

With beautiful beaches, the Tomatina Festival, and deep culture, Spain can be a great location to visit. If you are considering a trip to Madrid, Barcelona or any of the wonderful cities in Spain, here is everything you need to know about getting a visa as an Indian.

Do Indians need a visa for Spain?

Yes. Indian passport holders require a visa to enter Spain. Spain is a part of the Schengen area. So visitors need a Schengen visa to enter Spain for short-term visits. But if you plan an extended stay, you must apply for a Spain national visa.¹

Types of Spain visas

Spain offers short-term Schengen visas and long-term national visas in multiple categories. The short-term visas include tourism, business trips, study, medical treatment, and volunteering.² The long-term national visas are for higher education, employment, and establishing residence in Spain.³

Spain tourist visa for Indians

Indian citizens visiting Spain for tourism must apply for a Spanish tourist visa. This short-term Schengen visa allows you to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period to travel and see the country. The Schengen visa allows you to travel through all Schengen states, but you will need to show all the details for your trip to border authorities if you leave or enter Spain. You are not allowed to earn money in Spain on a tourist visa.⁴

Spain work visa for Indians

Indian citizens must apply for a Spanish National Visa to work for under 90 days. Spain offers different types of work visas, with the employee visa being the most popular. To apply for a work visa, you are required to have a letter of employment and a work contract.⁵

Spain student visa for Indians

Indian students can use the Schengen short-term visa for study programs that are less than 90 days. However, if the study period is over 90 days, you must apply for a long-term Spanish national study visa.⁶

How much does a Spain visa cost?

The Spanish visa fee and other charges are paid in Indian rupees at the visa application center by demand draft favoring the Consulate General of Spain.

Here is what you can expect to pay when applying for a Spain visa:

Visa Application Fee verified on 18 June 2023.

The tourist visa requires paying the application fee of INR 7,035, plus a service charge of INR 1,487. There are additional fees for resident visas with work permit exemptions or work permits for self-employed applicants.

Spain visa requirements

Here are the general requirements for a Spain visa:

• A valid Indian passport that expires at least three months after the visa expiry date.
• Have a travel medical insurance policy.
• Proof of access to a minimum of 810 EUR for the trip and at least 90 EUR per day of the trip, or currency equivalent, for tourists.
• Have confirmed hotel or accommodation for the entire stay in Spain.
• Work visa applicants must have a valid work contract.
• Student visa applicants must have a confirmed admission letter from the authorized university or institution.

Documents required for a short-term Spain visa

Indian passport holders must submit the following documents when applying for a Spanish visa for a short-term stay:¹⁰

• The completed visa application form.
• A recent color passport-sized photograph.
• Valid passport with a validity period of at least three months after the proposed departure date from Spain, and at least two blank pages.
• Proof of travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR is compulsory for a Spanish visa, for tourists.
• Visa fee payment proof.
• Proof of hotel, accommodations, or place of stay in Spain.
• A cover letter with the purpose of the trip, itinerary, and your intention to leave Spain before the visa expires, for tourists.
• Bank statements prove the availability of money to fund your trip.
• Any other document as required by the Consular Office.

Read through the checklist to ensure you have all the documents you need.

Documents for a long-term visa to Spain

A Spanish national visa for a longer-term stay requires specific documents depending on the visa category.

Work Visa requires the following additional documents:

1. Work contract stamped by the Foreign Nationals Office (Original plus one photocopy).
2. Criminal Record Check Certificate.
3. Medical certificate.

Study Visa requires the following additional documents:

1. Proof of admission to an authorized university or institution in Spain.
2. Health insurance with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.
3. Proof of accommodation in Spain.
4. Bank statements or income tax returns showing financial means for the stay in Spain.
5. For long-term visas, certificates of criminal record, medical certificates, and degree certificates are required.

How to apply for a Spain visa

The Embassy of Spain in India does not accept visa applications directly for short-term visas, including for tourism. Instead, Indian nationals must apply for short-term Schengen visas through the authorized visa application center, BLS International's official website.⁹

1. Download the visa application form from the official webpage.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Gather the documents according to the checklist.
4. Get your travel insurance.
5. Book an appointment from the visa application center.
6. Submit the forms and documents at the visa application center on the appointment date.
7. Pay the visa fees.
8. Obtain the visa acknowledgment and wait for the approval.
9. After receiving the notification, you can collect the visa and documents from the visa application center. Alternatively, you can ask for the documents by courier for a fee.

For long-term or resident visas, applicants need to complete the application form and follow the instructions for submitting the visa to the Embassy of Spain in Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai.

How long does it take for Indians to get a visa for Spain?

The visa application takes two to four days to reach the Embassy or Consulate of Spain office from the visa application center. The Consular center requires another four days to decide on the visa application. So, the overall processing time of a Schengen short-term visa is around seven to eight days, but it is recommended to allow at least 15 days.

The student visa processing time can extend up to one month, depending on the workload or applications in the pipeline.¹¹

The Spanish visa validity depends on the visa category. Tourists can stay in Spain for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. Long-term visas should cover the length of the work contract or period of study. Both new workers and students to Spain must apply for a Foreign Identity Card within one month of arriving in the country.¹²

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