Spain Visa From The UK
One of the most common travel queries since the UK left the EU (European Union) is whether or not a visa is required for travel around the continent. Here, Total Law talk through all of your options for a Spain visa.
Total Law is a firm of specialist immigration lawyers who work daily to help people travel, live, work and study abroad. Give us a call to discuss your circumstances and seek advice and support in applying for the relevant visa on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Do I need a Visa to go to Spain from the UK?
There are a variety of Spanish visas granting access to and legal residence in Spain for a set period of time; each designed for a different purpose of stay. When the UK was a member of the European Union, citizens were granted visa-free travel to Spain as a fellow member. Now, however, there are circumstances within which Brits need a valid Spain visa to enter the country.
British citizens are currently exempt from visa applications for stays intended for leisure purposes that last no longer than 90 days in a 180-day period. Where a trip to Spain is for a business, study or work purpose, or will last longer than three months, a full visa must be obtained.
Citizens of European Union or Schengen Zone countries may enjoy visa-free travel to Spain in varying circumstances; and travelling from the UK has no bearing on that validity.
Citizens of ‘third countries’ that are neither EU or Schengen Zone members may be required to obtain a Spain visa. Contact Total Law to talk through your situation and learn more on what’s required. Call us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Types of Visas available for Spain
Spain’s visa types are designed to cater for every type and duration of stay. The most common visas are as follows:
Short Term Schengen Visa (Type C; Tourist Visa)
Spain is a member of the Schengen Zone; a group of 29 countries that allow free movement with no border controls between them. A short-term Schengen Visa facilitates free movement within all Schengen territories for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for leisure or tourism purposes. Currently, British citizens are visa-exempt from Type C visas for Spain but they may be required for other countries.
Alongside Spain, the Schengen Area includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. This means that where a Short Term Schengen visa is obtained for visiting Spain, it grants travel to all of these states.
Long Term National Visa (Type D)
A Long Term National Visa is another type of Schengen visa that facilitates the holders living, working, studying or travelling for leisure purposes in a Schengen state for a period of over 90 days but less than one year. However, it does not guarantee entry to all of the Schengen area as each country has its own individual entry requirements. British citizens are not visa exempt from this type of permission and so must obtain one before entering the country if they wish to stay for longer than three months.
Transit Visa
A Transit Visa is a travel permission allowing travellers to stay within the International Transit Area of any Spanish airport for up to 24 hours before embarking on onward travel. Citizens of certain visa-required countries must obtain a Transit Visa if they intend to disembark a plane (even if not leaving the airport) on Spanish territory.
Short Term Business Visa
Spain Short Term Business Visa grants permission for the holder to take a trip to the country for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for the purposes of work. This may be working remotely, working for their job in a Spanish office or location, or temporarily working for a Spanish firm. Such a visa is required if any traveller is intending to work gainfully while in Spain.
Work Permits
Employers in Spain wishing to employ anyone from non-EEA countries (that is; not any EU member, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) must apply for a work permit for the employee once they have made them a job offer and issued them a work contract. Work permits are available for varying lengths of time and varying industry sectors. These are considered work permits allowing an individual to take part in gainful employment while in Spain.
Self-Employed Visa and Digital Nomad Visa
Non-EU citizens who wish to work in Spain as a self-employed person (‘Autónomo’ in Spanish) may apply for a Self-Employed Visa to allow them to enact gainful employment by themselves. This visa type is also valid for those intending to launch a new business in Spain as a Sole Trader where they otherwise wouldn’t be valid for an Entrepreneur Visa. Where a non-EU citizen intends to work remotely on existing freelance or self-employed work but do so from Spain, they may apply for a Digital Nomad Visa.
Entrepreneur Visa
Entrepreneur Visas are intended to foster new businesses in Spain by entrepreneurs who are not EU citizens. This visa type holds strict requirements; including that the commercial enterprise must serve ‘public interest’ and must contribute to the country’s economy. An Entrepreneur Visa lasts for a period of three years, after which it is assumed the holder will move on to a formal work permit or leave the country if the business has been unsuccessful.
Student Visas
There are various types of Student Visa for Spain, each dictated by set time periods and study activities. Activities that can be completed on Spanish soil by these visa holders include doctorate students, teaching assistant training, internships (where they do not qualify for a usual internship visa), unpaid training, full-time studies at an accredited school or education institution, completion of au pair programmes, volunteering for public interest programmes, working as an unpaid conversation class assistant, and exchange programmes for accredited secondary schools. Brits wishing to travel to Spain for any of these purposes must apply for the relevant Student Visa. If they are intending to study at a higher education institution on Spanish soil, it must be one officially recognised by Spanish authorities.
Family Reunion Visa
Nationals of other countries who have successfully gained a visa, work permit or other travel documents permitting them legal residence in Spain may be able to apply for a Family Reunification Visa for valid family members to join them; particularly in the case of a child being a minor or a spouse residing elsewhere. Family Reunion Visas are intended to avoid the unnecessary split of established families who intend to temporarily stay in Spain. Each family member is considered a separate applicant and in most cases will be granted leave to remain in Spain for the entire stay duration of their relative’s visa or travel permission.
Non-Lucrative Visa
Non-Schengen citizens who wish to travel longer term around the Schengen Area may do so on a Non-Lucrative Visa. This visa type is for leisure travellers who wish to reside and travel through any Schengen countries for a period of up to three years but does not permit the visa holder to take part in any business or work activities or earn any income, and so is only suitable for those with a decent amount of disposable income that can be proven through documentation.
Golden Visa (Investor Visa)
The Golden Visa is the colloquial nickname given to the Investor Visa programme which aims to increase investment into the Spanish economy by granting residency to those who make a large financial investment. This may be into Spanish real estate (€500,000 or more); public debt (€2,000,000 or more); closed investment funds or VC venture capital (€1,000,000 or more); shares and stocks or social participation in a Spanish capital company/ies (€1,000,000 or more); bank deposits (€1,000,000 or more) or the establishment of a new business on Spanish soil that creates jobs for the Spanish population, has a positive socio-economic impact and/or makes a valuable contribution to science or technology.
Retirement Visa
Those hoping to retire to Spain and live from their existing finances without making any further income may apply for either a Golden Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa. Both allow for non-EU citizens to live in Spain long term without gainful employment. There is currently no specific visa for retirees according to Spanish authorities.
Spain Visa Requirements from UK
Each visa type for Spain has individual eligibility requirements dependent on its type, the applicant’s nationality and circumstances, and the intended duration of stay. In most cases, proof of the following documents is to be provided along with the visa application form:
- A valid passport
- A certificate confirming a clean criminal record
- (In some cases) Proof of departing travel booked – usually in the form of a booking reservation or confirmation
- (In some cases) Proof of accommodation booked usually in the form of a booking reservation or confirmation
- (In some cases) Private health or travel insurance documents
- (In some cases) Proof of access to a set amount of money – usually in the form of a bank statement
- (In some cases) Full details of your business to be launched, business already operating or investment made.
Spanish authorities reserve the right to request other documentation at any stage during the visa application process
In the case of a work permit, the employer must file for the appropriate travel permission on behalf of the employee. Companies need to provide:
- A copy of a valid employment contract and job offer
- Documentation detailing the intended role and remuneration
- Details of employees’ valid passports
- Proof of employees’ clean criminal records.
If you’re unsure of what needs to be provided for your visa application, Total Law can help. Call our team today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
How to Apply for Spain Visa from UK
In most cases, the visa application process is fairly straightforward for British citizens looking to travel to Spain. Except in circumstances of irregularity, the following process should be followed:
Collation of supporting documents
Various documents are required for applicants to submit proof of their meeting the eligibility criteria for the visa they intend to apply for. Any delay in providing such documents will result in a delay to the visa processing period, and so it is always recommended that these are collected in the appropriate format and language ahead of the visa application being made.
Completion of online application form
An online application form is completed by the applicant and submitted to the Spanish Embassy. This notifies the immigration authorities of the applicant’s intent and allows them to book an appointment at the Visa Application Centre for document review and processing.
Payment of visa fee
Any payable visa fee amount is made when the Visa Application Centre appointment is booked. Receipt of this payment clearing allows for confirmation of the appointment.
Appointment at Visa Application Centre
Anyone applying for a Spain visa must attend an appointment at their Visa Application Centre, which in the UK is an office run by third party company BLS International at the Spanish Embassy in London. Applicants must take all supporting documents with them and prepare to have their photo and fingerprints taken.
Awaiting of permission
Once the Spanish Embassy has all documents pertaining to the visa application, they will process the application. This varies in time from several weeks to months, depending on circumstance. Once a decision has been made, the immigration authorities will make contact and advise the applicant of the decision.
Where an employer is intending to hire an employee from a non-EEA country, they must first apply for a work permit granting permission for the employee to travel and enact gainful employment whilst in Spain. The applicant may still need to visit a Visa Application Centre or Embassy, but such appointments will not be required until the company has first filed for the relevant permission. A contract for employment must have been submitted to both the employee and Spanish authorities for a permit to be granted; it cannot be done on a speculative basis.
Spain Visa Fees
The Spanish visa fees are as follows:
Short Term Schengen Visa: €90 adults, €45 children
Long Term National Visa: €75 + €150 administration fee
Transit Visa: €80 over 12s, €40 ages 6-11, free under 5s
Short Term Business Visa: €80
Work Permits: €80-€154.20
Self Employed Visa: €219.10
Digital Nomad Visa: €60 for one year, €73.60 for three years
Entrepreneur Visa: €73.26
Student Visa: €80 (some countries exempt)
Family Reunification Visa: €80
Non-Lucrative Visa: €516
Golden Visa: €73.26
There may be additional costs associated with applying for a Spanish visa, including admin fees, renewal costs and fees in collating supporting documents.
How can Total Law help?
Total Law are a firm of specialist immigration lawyers who work day in, day out to help people obtain the proper travel permissions to visit, live, work, study and retire overseas. This includes Spanish visas of all types: helping applicants collate the correct supporting documents, undergo the application and appeals process, and attend visa interviews.
Call our team now on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to discuss your circumstances and maximise your chances of visa application success. We aim to take the stress out of visa applications and will do all we can to communicate clearly and openly without jargon.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
British citizens can stay in Spain for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa; but only for leisure or tourism purposes.
BLS International are a third party company who run Spain’s visa application processes in the UK. They are the only official partner of the Spanish authorities based in Great Britain.
From 2025, Brits will need to apply for and obtain a visa waiver known as ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) in order to enter any Schengen country, including Spain.
The Embassy of Spain in London can be found at 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X8SB. There is a separate BLS International visa processing office situated at 20 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AG.
British citizens don’t need to apply for a Transit Visa for Spain but those who hold a passport for one of the eligible countries will need to apply even if they have no intention of leaving the International Transit Zone of the airport.
