How to apply for a visa for Spain from the United States?

The Schengen Area has reached an agreement with the U.S. authorities allowing their citizens to make short trips to its territory without a visa, which in no case can exceed 90 days.

Residents of this country who hold a 'green card' or a valid and current residence visa also benefit from this exemption, except for B-1 and B-2 visas, which are granted for temporary stays for tourism or business purposes.

Since Spain is part of the Schengen Area, U.S. travelers will not need to obtain a visa to travel to Spain.

List of Documents for Traveling to Spain

Short Stays

Although a visa is not required, individuals wishing to travel to Spain from the United States must meet a series of requirements:

• Have a valid passport issued within the last ten years that does not expire within three months after the intended departure date from Spain. Also, ensure it has enough blank space, at least two pages, for border control stamps.
• Reserve a round-trip ticket, demonstrating the traveler’s intention to leave Spanish territory before the 90 days allowed in the Schengen Area without a visa.
• Provide proof of accommodation for the entire stay, such as a hotel or AirBnB reservation.
• If accommodation is provided by a relative or friend, an invitation letter must be obtained before the trip, following the official template provided by Spanish authorities. The invitation letter is not a private document and must be processed at the local police station where the requester resides. Obtaining this letter involves a fee of 72.84 euros for the authorization and 6.36 euros for administrative procedures. These fees are only paid once if requested for two or more people at the same time.
• Justify the purpose of the visit to the Schengen Area if it is for business or work. In this case, an invitation letter from the company or entity that formally invited the U.S. traveler to an event in the territory is required, or from the company they work for in the U.S., explaining the professional tasks to be carried out.
• Demonstrate having sufficient financial means to cover the entire duration of the stay. Each Schengen state sets its own criteria. In Spain, the minimum amount to prove is 10 percent of the gross minimum wage, in euros or its legal equivalent in foreign currency. In 2020, this means 95 euros per person per day, starting from a minimum of 855 euros.

Minors must travel with both their passport and a signed authorization from both parents or their legal guardian to be allowed entry into the Schengen Area.

Stays Longer Than 90 Days

U.S. citizens wishing to stay in Spanish territory for more than 90 days must obtain a long-stay or type D visa before starting their journey. These types of permits are the responsibility of each Schengen state and are processed through Spanish consulates in the United States.

The Spanish Consulates in the United States are located in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

You can check which consulate corresponds to your place of residence in the U.S. by visiting the following link: exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/WASHINGTON/es/Embajada/Paginas/Consulados.aspx

The application for this type of visa must be made in person. The first step is to book an appointment through the corresponding consulate's website after gathering all the required documents, which vary depending on the purpose of the trip.

The process for obtaining a student visa is done through the representative of the educational institution or study program the applicant will be attending. If there is no representative, the student must apply for the visa in person by reserving an appointment at the consulate to present the required documentation.

The process for obtaining a work visa is handled by the company wishing to hire the U.S. resident.

Important Future Information: ETIAS

The Schengen Area plans to automate the control of its external borders and enhance security by implementing a new electronic travel authorization called ETIAS (according to its acronym in English), which is expected to come into effect in 2023.

From that moment on, U.S. citizens—and residents of other 60 countries currently exempt from the visa requirement—will need an ETIAS authorization for the external borders of Spain and other Schengen states. Fortunately, the process to obtain it will be very simple and done online.

Important Information

At AXA, we strive to provide you with precise and up-to-date information, but visa regulations may change at any time by the Spanish embassy or consulate. Therefore, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of these changes. Please contact the consular authorities for information on the terms and conditions for obtaining a Schengen visa in effect at the time you apply.

Other Countries:

• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Colombia?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Mexico?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Argentina?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Ecuador?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Peru?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Cuba?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Bolivia?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from Chile?
• What are the requirements to travel to Spain as a tourist?
• How to apply for a visa to Spain from India?

Frequently Asked Questions for Traveling to Spain from the United States

Do I need travel health insurance for Spain?

People who can enter Spain without a visa are not required to have travel health insurance—but it is strongly recommended to purchase a policy. This way, unexpected medical expenses—such as in the case of an accident or illness—or the need for repatriation in case of death can be avoided.

Will I get my money back if my Schengen visa application for Portugal is rejected?

No. The Schengen visa application form specifies—just below sections 36 and 37—that the rejection of the visa does not entitle you to a refund of processing fees.

When might I need a Schengen visa to travel to Spain from the United States?

The Schengen visa is only mandatory for U.S. residents who do not have a green card or residence permit—and even then, it is not needed in all cases. People in this situation, who have a passport issued by one of the countries benefiting from the Schengen visa exemption, can travel to Spain without requesting any permission. The rest must obtain a Schengen visa, processed through the BLA International company—and an appointment for starting the process can be booked at the following link: usa.blsspainvisa.com.