Tourist Visa Spain
Spain Tourist visa allows you to visit Spain for a short period for tourism, vacation, or to visit family and friends residing in Spain. A Tourist visa permits you to stay in Spain for up to 90 days.
To learn more about the Tourist visa for Spain, its eligibility requirements, how to apply, and guidance with filing your application, contact us today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online. Our Spanish immigration lawyers at Total Law are always available to answer all questions you might have concerning Spain visas and residency requirements.
Overview of Spain Tourist Visa
The Tourist visa for Spain is essentially a Schengen visa that allows you to spend up to 90 days in Spain. Since Spain is a member of the borderless Schengen Zone, you can visit other Schengen countries during your stay with a Tourist visa. However, your total stay in the Schengen area must not exceed 90 days.
Although a Tourist visa grants up to 90 days of stay in Spain, it can be issued for less than that, depending on your visiting purpose and nationality. For example, If you’re coming to Spain to attend a conference, you may be issued a Tourist visa that permits you to stay in Spain for only the duration of the conference.
The Schengen Tourist visa is strictly for tourism and non-gainful activities. It does not permit the holder to work in Spain. Working in Spain on a Tourist visa or overstaying your visa validity is illegal and can result in a ban from the Schengen area for up to three years.
Page Contents
- Overview of Spain Tourist Visa
- Do You Need a Tourist Visa to Travel to Spain?
- Eligibility Requirements for Spain Tourist Visa
- Required Documents for Spain Tourist Visa
- Application Process for Spain Tourist Visa
- Where to Apply For a Spain Tourist Visa
- Spain Tourist Visa Application Fee and Processing Time
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Tourist Visa to Travel to Spain?
This depends on your nationality. European Union citizens enjoy visa-free entry to Spain and can stay as long as necessary.
Non-EU nationals from non-visa-exempt countries must obtain a Tourist visa to travel to Spain. However, you can visit Spain without a visa if you have a residence permit in another Schengen country.
Citizens of Schengen visa-exempt countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States can visit Spain without a Tourist visa if they’ll be staying for less than 90 days. However, starting November 2024, they must register for the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at the Spanish or any other Schengen border before entering Spain.
The EES is a digital border control system that registers non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area. Non-EU/EEA visitors to the Schengen area must submit their fingerprints at the port of entry or before leaving their home country, depending on the travel route.
The EES will serve as an interim border solution before the EU introduces the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in 2025. Once ETIAS is introduced, nationals of visa-exempt countries must apply for authorisation before entering the Schengen area. The application involves providing personal information and travel details and a €7 authorisation fee.
Eligibility Requirements for Spain Tourist Visa
The eligibility requirements for a Tourist visa for Spain include:
- Financial Sufficiency: You must have sufficient financial resources to cover your stay in Spain. The Spanish immigration rules require that you have a minimum of 90% of the minimum wage for ten days (€900) if you’ll be visiting for ten days or less. If you’re visiting for longer, you must have at least €70.77 for each day of your stay.
- Intention to Leave: You must prove to the authorities that you’re only coming to Spain for a short visit and intend to leave at the end of your visit. You can prove this by showing strong connections to your country, such as current employment or enrollment in a study program.
You must convince the consular authorities that you have enough money to cover your stay and intend to leave Spain at the end of your visit.
Required Documents for Spain Tourist Visa
You must submit the following documents to show your eligibility for the Spanish Tourist visa.
- A completed and signed Schengen visa application form
- A passport issued within the last ten years with at least two blank pages. The passport must be valid up to three months after your planned departure date from the Schengen area.
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Copies of the biometric pages of your passport and pages with visa stamps
- Flight reservations for the entirety of your trip. It should contain your personal details and points of entry and departure from each country in the Schengen area.
- Proof of current residence. This could be a national ID card, voter’s card, student ID, or driver’s licence.
- Proof of accommodations in Spain. You can present any of the following:
- Hotel reservations for each night of your stay in Spain. It should include your details and the name and contact details of the hotel.
- Original and photocopies of a letter of invitation if you’re visiting family members or friends.
- Booking confirmation with complete itinerary and hotel reservations if you’re travelling on a cruise ship.
- Rental agreement if you’re renting a place for your stay.
- Civil status documents such as marriage or civil partnership certificate
- Proof of sufficient financial resources. It can be six months’ bank statements, credit card statements, or a sponsorship letter if someone else is financing your trip. The letter of sponsorship should include the sponsor’s bank statements.
- Travel medical insurance that covers up to €30,000 of medical expenses and provision for medical evacuation. The insurance should be valid for all countries in the Schengen area.
- A notarised authorisation letter if you’re travelling with a minor.
- Proof of visa fee payment.
Other Required Documents
You must provide additional documents to prove your intention to leave the Schengen area after your visit. The documents you’ll provide depend on your current professional and social status.
- If you’re a student, proof of enrollment (admission letter) and leave approval letter from your school.
- If you’re employed:
- Employment letter
- Bank statements for the last six months
- Certificate of Income Tax deductions
- A no-objection letter from your employer showing your approved time off work and the expected date or return to duties.
- If you’re self-employed
- Business licence
- Company bank statements for the last six months
- Income Tax Return
- If you’re retired, a six-month pension statement.
Application Process for Spain Tourist Visa
The application process for a Tourist visa for Spain involves the following steps.
- Download and Complete the Application Form: You will find the visa application form on the Spanish embassy or consulate website covering your area of residence. Fill out the form with correct and current details, print it out, and sign at the end. Ensure that the details you filled out in your application correspond with those in your supporting documentation.
- Schedule an Interview: After completing the application, schedule an interview at the Spanish consulate or visa application centre nearest you to submit your application and supporting documentation. You can schedule the appointment via their website or phone call.
- Gather the Required Documents: Gather all relevant supporting documents once you’ve scheduled your appointment. Do not wait until the interview date is close to avoid omitting necessary supporting evidence.
- Attend the visa Interview: Go for the interview on the scheduled date with your visa application form and all required documentation. A consular officer will meet with you and ask you questions about your trip to Spain and the purpose of travel. The officer will also review your documents.
If you’re travelling to the Schengen area for the first time in five years, they’ll capture your biometric data (photograph and fingerprints) during the interview. - Wait For a Decision: After filing your application, you’ll have to wait for a decision. The Spanish consulate or visa application centre will notify you once a decision is made.
Where to Apply For a Spain Tourist Visa
You can apply for the Tourist visa at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your area of residence. The Spanish authorities outsource visa application management to third-party visa application centres in some countries. You should apply at the nearest visa application centre if that’s the case in your country.
If there’s no Spanish consulate or third-party VAC in your country, you can submit your application at the Spanish consulate or a VAC in a neighbouring country.
However, you should only apply for a Schengen Tourist visa at a Spanish embassy, consulate, or VAC if:
- You are only visiting Spain and no other Schengen country
- You’re visiting Spain and other Schengen countries but will spend more nights in Spain
- You’re spending equal nights in Spain and other Schengen states but will enter the Schengen area through the Spanish border.
If you will be spending more nights in another country, you should apply for a Schengen visa at that country’s embassy or consulate.
Spain Tourist Visa Application Fee and Processing Time
Tourist Visa Application Fees
When applying for a tourist visa for Spain, you must pay an application fee of €90. For children between ages 6 to 12, the cost is reduced to €45. Children younger than 6 years are exempt from visa fees.
Processing Times
Spanish embassies and Schengen embassies, in general, usually process Tourist visa applications within 15 working days. However, it can take longer when there’s a high application volume. During such peak periods, visa processing can take between 30 and 60 days.
How Can Total Law Help?
The application process for a Spain Tourist visa can be tedious due to the numerous documents required to prove eligibility. Gathering all the required documents can be time-consuming and stressful, particularly if you’re a busy professional or business person. You may need professional assistance to take the stress of the process off you.
Here’s where Total Law comes in. We’re a team of experienced Spain immigration lawyers who help clients of all nationalities obtain Spanish and Schengen visas. Our services include:
- Helping you determine your eligibility and the correct visa for your situation
- Gathering all the necessary documents to support your application
- Guidance with completing the application form and filing it on your behalf, where permitted.
- Maintaining correspondence with the embassy or consulate until you receive a visa decision.
- Offering legal representation where necessary
We also offer post-immigration services for clients who immigrated to Spain or any other country in the Schengen area via an appropriate long-stay visa.
Our lawyers can help you anytime via calls, skype, email, or in person (where possible). You can reach us today +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact us on our website for immediate assistance.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
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Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply for a Tourist visa up to 180 days and no less than 21 days before your planned travel date.
You can apply to extend your Schengen Tourist visa in specific situations, such as a late entry, to complete medical treatment, humanitarian reasons, or force majeure.
The Tourist visa is specifically for tourism and non-gainful activities. You cannot work or participate in a certificate, diploma, or degree program in Spain with a Tourist visa.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.