Spain Schengen Visa from The UK

Travellers from the UK with British citizenship don’t currently need a visa if they wish to visit Spain for less than 90 days in a 180-day period. You should note that this rule is set to change in 2025, after which UK nationals will be required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver.

UK residents who hold another nationality may be required to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa even now. If you are resident in the UK but have EU or EEA nationality including Switzerland, you will be exempt from the visa requirement for travelling to Spain but it is always best to double-check.

Page Contents

• Do I Need a Schengen Visa for Spain from the UK?
• What Spanish Schengen Visas are There?
• Requirements for a Spain Schengen Visa
• Transit Visa
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Family/Friends Visitor Visa
• Short Study Visa/Training Visa
• Medical Treatment Visa
• Cultural Visas (Including Sports, Religion, and Film Crews)
• Official Visit (Diplomat) Visa
• Missing Residential Permit Visa
• Travelling on a Spanish Schengen Visa
• How to Apply for a Spanish Schengen Visa?
• Your Visa Interview
• After You Have Applied
• What Documents Are Needed?
• Deadlines and Processing Times
• Visa Fees
• Impacts of Overstaying a Short-Term Visa
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Spanish Schengen visa is divided into multiple sub-categories that cover a variety of travel purposes and circumstances. At a glance, the available visas are:

• Transit Visa
• Airport Transit Visa
• Transit Visa for Sea-Men
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Family Visit Visa
• Short Study Visa / Training Visa
• Medical Treatment Visa
• Cultural Visas (Including Sports, Religion, and Film Crews)
• Official Visit (Diplomat) Visa
• Missing Residential Permit Visa

When applying for a Schengen visa, you will be required to meet general entry requirements and adhere to the specific visa conditions. This means that you must honour the limited time period of 90 days maximum and not overstay your visa.

When travelling on a short-stay visa, you will be expected to cover all your expenses. You must show that you have the financial means to do so or that you are being sponsored by a hosting organisation that will cover for you. Evidence may include bank statements or contracts.

You will need to show that your visit will not negatively impact Spain’s healthcare system or otherwise go against the public interest. As such, you will be asked to provide a criminal record certificate and a health certificate showing that you have no significant health condition that may pose a risk. Additionally, make sure that you take out adequate travel insurance that will cover medical expenses in the wider Schengen region.

The tourist or visitor visa is the standard visa permission for individuals who want to travel to Spain for a limited-duration vacation. You may be permitted to travel to other member regions of the Schengen region but you will have to apply for a multiple entry visa to do so. Remember that the country you are applying with will need to be your first point of entry.

A Schengen Business visa will allow you to travel to Spain for business for a brief period of time. Reasons might include corporate events, meetings, or conferences, as well as further development and training.

This visa allows you to visit family members or friends who are residents of Spain. You will usually explain who you wish to visit and show where you will be staying and for how long. Keep in mind that this visa has a limited period of validity and is not a path towards reuniting long-term.

You may apply for a short-term study visa if you are travelling to Spain for limited-time education-related purposes such as research conferences, training, or similar. This is also available to volunteers or interns who are carrying out unpaid work as part of a recognised organisation.

When applying, you will need to show details of your educational purpose, evidence of your affiliation with an educational institution such as your enrollment certificate, or a signed contract that shows you are carrying out unpaid work for an authorised organisation.

If you require special medical treatment that you will receive in Spain, you will need to apply for a short-stay medical visa. Usually, you will need to provide details about your medical condition from your doctor or hospital, including diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. You must also confirm that you have been invited for medical treatment in Spain to qualify for this visa.

Furthermore, your letter should explain your planned modes of transportation and accommodation, as well as who may be accompanying you.

You will be required to be able to cover your medical expenses and should note that travel insurance will not usually cover preexisting conditions when the purpose of travel is to seek medical attention.

The cultural visa allows short-term travel to Spain for individuals involved in a variety of cultural activities such as sports, religion, or film crews.

You will need to show a letter of invitation from the Spanish event organiser or organisation that you will be hosted by.

If you are applying as part of a film crew, you will be asked to outline the details of your planned shoots, including locations, the other members of the team and general production information.

You will be asked to show an authorised certificate that confirms your active status as filmmaking staff.

This visa allows individuals with a diplomatic passport to enter Spain for official purposes such as government meetings, conventions, or consultations.

You will need to provide evidence of your diplomatic status and an official letter of invitation from the organisation that is hosting you. This letter must specify any sponsorship or how you are financing your stay.

If you have lost your residential permit card and need to return to Spain you will need to apply for this visa for re-entry. You will need to show as much evidence of your status as you can when applying for this visa and will need to apply for a re-issue of your residential card once you are back in the country.

As the name suggests, the Schengen visa covers not only Spain but other countries that are part of the Schengen agreement. When applying for your visa, you will have the option to select a multiple-entry visa which will allow you to travel to more regions than just Spain.

You should note that the country you are applying for this visa through must be your first port of entry so if you are applying for the Spanish Schengen visa, you will need to first travel to Spain before visiting other member countries in Europe.

To apply, you should first determine which visa category you are applying for. Once you have decided that, make sure you understand the requirements and work to gather all relevant evidence.

The Schengen visa can generally be applied for online. To do so you may submit your initial application form through BLS. Alternatively, you will be able to apply the traditional way by booking an appointment with your local Embassy, Consulate, or visa application centre. In the UK this will be the Spanish embassy in London or Edinburgh, or the Spanish Consulate in Manchester.

Appointment times can be hard to come by so make sure that you don’t leave your visa application too late. Once you have successfully booked your visa interview, remember to confirm your attendance in the days leading up to it.

You will need to bring all of the required application documents when you are attending your visa interview. Make sure you are ready to explain why you want to visit Spain and how you qualify for the visa that you have chosen. You will be asked to provide your biometric details and you will need to pay your visa fee.

If you are unsure about this step, it can help to first discuss your application with a visa expert. Our immigration lawyers at Total Law will be happy to support you. You can call us today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for immediate help.

At the end of your visa interview, you will be given a proof or receipt number which you will later need to track your application online or to collect your visa decision when it is ready. Make sure you don’t lose this.

If you have been asked to provide additional documents, you should try to do so as soon as possible. You will be permitted to return without an appointment during set times to submit whatever is missing.

Depending on your personal circumstances, the documents needed to apply for a Spanish Schengen visa may vary but you should generally be ready to provide the following:

• Your completed and signed Visa application form (this should be the Schengen visa form, not the one for a national visa)
• Your Passport (Make sure it is valid for another 6 months at least by the time you plan to travel)
• A passport picture that meets visa requirements and has been taken in the last 6 months
• Details of your travel plans such as flight tickets
• Information about your accommodation arrangements
• Proof of adequate travel insurance (this must be valid for your entire stay and will have to cover medical expenses in the Schengen area)
• Bank statements or other proof of financial means
• A letter of invitation from your hosting organisation, where applicable

You may need to provide other documentation to further explain your circumstances.

You should always strive to apply early, leaving enough time before the date you wish to travel. Depending on the visa, the earliest you can apply may vary, so always read the requirements for your desired permission.

Generally, Spanish visas take on average 15 days to process, but you should plan for it to take longer as this is subject to circumstantial or seasonal delays. Some visas such as the business visa or tourist visa may be processed sooner in about 10 days, but again, this is not a fixed number.

While you cannot expedite your Spanish visa application, you can make sure that your application is as strong as possible before submitting it. This will usually help prevent issues and can save you stress or even a possible rejection. You should seek expert immigration advice if you are unsure or if you just want certainty when filing your application.

Once a visa decision has been made, you are expected to collect this from the place where you applied within one month. Should you have been unsuccessful you may file an appeal within one month of the decision or within two months if you are requesting a judicial review.

The fees for a Spanish Schengen visa may depend on your circumstances but you should expect to pay €40 for children between the ages of 6 to 11 and €80 for anyone over the age of 12.

Keep in mind that there may be additional costs such as travel costs, health insurance policies, accommodation and possibly other permits. Your total budget will depend on your personal circumstances.

When applying for your visa you agree to adhere to all associated conditions, including the limited validity period. Failure to leave the country by the time your visa expires may have serious repercussions with the Spanish authorities such as fines or imprisonment and will likely affect your ability to get a visa in the future. You should seek legal advice if you have or are at risk of overstaying your visa as it is best to act as soon as possible.