The Schengen visa is issued to third-country nationals listed in . This visa allows the holder to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days (in any 180-day period) for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family, medical treatment, studies, training placements or volunteer activities that last under 3 months, or for other non-gainful activities. It also allows transit through the territory and airports.
The Schengen area encompasses 27 European countries without border controls between them: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The Schengen visa allows the holder to travel to any of the Schengen States and to transit through their territory, but it does not automatically entitle them to enter the Schengen area. The border authorities can refuse entry if the visa holder does not provide proof of the purpose and specifics of the trip, or if any of the other entry requirements are not met (please refer to the section “Conditions for entry into Spain”).
Required documents
1. Application form. Each applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of minors must not show any part of the adult holding them.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen territory. It must also contain at least 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data, previous visas from different countries and migration stamps.
5. Travel medical insurance. The insurance must cover the costs of repatriation for medical reasons or death, as well as for urgent healthcare and/or emergency hospital treatment for the entire stay and throughout the Schengen area. Coverage must be of at least €30,000 or its equivalent in local currency. If the application is for a multiple entry visa, the medical insurance must be valid for the first planned entry. The applicant must undertake to purchase insurance for future trips.
6. Payment of the visa fee. Click here for more information.
7. Documents corroborating the purpose of travel and the specifics of the stay, that the visa applicant has sufficient financial means, as well as the intention of the visa applicant to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires.
7.1. Details of the trip
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- Cover letter (account of the purpose of the visit).
- Flight bookings (roundtrip). It is advisable not to buy the air ticket until the visa has been granted.
- Hotel accommodation for the duration of the stay or, if you are visiting family or friends in Spain, an invitation letter from the resident in Spain issued by the Spanish national police.
7.2. Evidence of economic means
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- Original, stamped and signed bank statements of the applicant and sponsor (if any) of the last 6 months.
- Original, signed letter by the sponsor detailing the concepts/amount to be covered and proof of the relationship of the sponsor with the applicant must be submitted, if relevant.
- Income tax returns (ITR-V or Form 16) for the last two years of the applicant and sponsor, if applicable.
- Salary slips for last three months, when available.
- Photocopy of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) card
7.3. For business meetings: Original invitation letter from the Spain-based company/companies. Written in Spanish, the letter should refer to the purpose of the visit and, the existing commercial relationship with the applicant. His/her name, passport number and envisaged travel dates should also be mentioned.
7.4. For participation in conferences, business fairs or sports events
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- Original letter of invitation from the organizers. The letter must clearly mention the name and passport number of the applicant, duration of the event, whether the expenses of the travel and accommodation shall be paid by the applicant or by the organizers, and involvement of the applicant in the event.
- In case of corporate participation, also a cover letter of the applicants’ company. The letter should mention the names of its employees travelling to Spain.
