Spain Business Visa from UK

A Schengen Business Visa is ideal for anyone visiting Spain briefly to conduct business. It is a 3-month short-term visa that enables you to attend meetings and conferences, sign contracts, and participate in other unpaid business-related activities.

British citizens are currently exempt from business visa applications for stays no longer than 90 days in a 180-day period in Spain. However, if you do not have UK citizenship then you may need a business visa before you travel to Spain.

This short-stay visa is the equivalent of a Tourist Visa but is intended exclusively for business trips. With this visa, you can enter Spain without a work permit for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. To obtain this visa, you must make an appointment at the Spanish consulate or embassy in the UK before travelling to Spain for business.

Page Contents

• Overview of Schengen Business Visa in Spain
• Types of Business Visas in Spain
• Spain Business Visa Requirements
• Documents Required for Spain Business Visa Application
• How to Apply for Spain Business Visa
• Processing Time for Spain Business Visa
• Spain Business Visa Interview Preparation
• Spain Business Visa Application Fees
• Extending a Business Visa in Spain
• Working Rights on a Spain Business Visa
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

To qualify for a Spain Business Visa, you must have had a criminal record check from the UK, travel medical insurance covering you for costs up to €30,000, and provide proof of residence and financial means.

You’ll also need to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and a photo, at an appointment centre.

The security information will be stored in the Schengen Visa Information System (VIS).

You can check with an immigration lawyer about the requirements for your business visa.

To make a Business Visa application, you will need to provide the following required documents to your nearest Spanish Consulate:

• Passport valid for at least three months longer than your intended stay. The passport must not be damaged or missing any pages
• Two recent high-quality passport photographs
• Completed application form
• Three recent bank account statements or a sponsorship letter from a person currently residing in the Schengen area (if the expenses of your trip are being covered) as proof that you have sufficient funds for your trip
• Evidence of sufficient health insurance coverage, which is valid in all 29 Schengen countries
• Letter from an employer, as proof of an invitation from the business or company you are visiting, with an in-depth itinerary detailing your business activities in Spain
• Proof of accommodation such as hotel reservations or a letter of invitation from a host
• Copies of passport pages that provide biometric data

The steps to applying for a Spain Business Visa are:

• Schedule a visa appointment with the Spanish Consulate
• Complete the visa application form
• Organise the documents required for your application
• Attend an interview
• Pay visa fee

An application for a Spain Business Visa must be submitted in person and processed between 6 months and 15 days before the scheduled travel date. To apply for a Spain Business Visit Visa, you need to make a visa fee payment of €80 and you will need to collect your visa within a month of being approved. To apply for a self-employed visa you will need to pay €219.10.

Once you have submitted your Business Visa application, the minimum processing time is approximately 15-20 working days, although this could increase to 60 days for complex applications.

There is no option to fast-track your application, so it is important to allow sufficient time when applying to account for any potential delays.

You may be invited to an interview as part of your business visa application. For this, you will need to bring an ID such as your passport or valid travel document.

At the interview, you will be asked some personal and security questions, such as whether you can financially afford your trip and the intended duration of your business visit to Spain.

You will also be asked if you have any criminal records and questioned about your knowledge of the Schengen Visa.

There is no dress code for a Spain Business Visa interview, and interviewees can wear smart attire that they feel comfortable in. It is best, however, to avoid wearing flip-flops, t-shirts, mini skirts, and very bright colours.

The cost of a Spain Business Visa is comprised of the visa fee and an application service charge. This can vary but you can expect to pay around £15.

The standard fee for a Schengen Business Visa is €90 for people over 12, and €45 for children aged 6 to 11. Children aged 5 and under will not be required to pay a visa application fee.

Additional fees may also apply for passport returns, SMS and email notifications, and premium service upgrades. Visa fees can be paid by cash, credit, or debit card. In the case of visa rejection or refusal, all fees are non-refundable.

Under special circumstances, you can apply for a visa extension if you need to stay beyond the maximum visiting period of 90 days. You must extend your Business Visa before it expires, however, you will need to leave the Schengen area and complete a Schengen Visa extension form.

Valid reasons for a visa extension include important personal reasons such as serious ill-health, late entry, force majeure, or humanitarian purposes such as natural disasters.

The visa application processing time takes 15 calendar days under normal circumstances.

If you want to apply for an Entrepreneur Visa and eventually move to Spain, you can apply for permanent residency after 5 years.

With a Spain Schengen Visa, you can earn a salary directly from your UK employer; however, you will not be able to work in Spain or partake in economic activities that will enable you to earn money in Spain. If you want to apply for a Spanish work permit as an employee, you must have a job offer from your employer, who must apply for a work permit on your behalf.

A Self-Employed Work Permit allows you to reside and work in Spain as an independent contractor for clients or as a sole trader. It is ideal for temporary residents looking to start a business in Spain.