General Information
Visa for foreigners who have obtained a university degree in the past two years or who are in the process of obtaining a university degree in Spain. Also, it applies for foreigners participating in an internship program in Spain (through the signature of an internship agreement or of a trainee contract) with the purpose of improving their knowledge, skills and experience in a professional environment.
The Internship has to be approved by the Delegation of Sub-delegation of the Government in the province in which it will be carried out.
If these conditions are not met, it is possible to apply for a study visa for the undertaking of other internships in Spain (see “study visas").
The Consulate of Spain in Houston will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Required documents
(ORIGINAL AND COPY OF EACH DOCUMENT)
- National visa application form Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.
- Photograph. It has to be glued to the application form A recent, passport-size 2x2 inches, with white background. The face should be clare and visible.
- Passport of Official Travel document. Original and copy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and cannot be issued more than 10 years ago. Please, make sure that the passport has two consecutive blank pages to affix the visa. The passport will remain at the Consulate during the visa process.
- Residence permit. Original and a copy of the permit issued by the Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government in the province where the internship will be carried out.
Local State background checks and Apostilles are not valid.
- Criminal record check certificate. Stating that the applicant has no criminal record in the place where he has resided for the last five years. Applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record check certificate issued by the FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC. It cannot be older than 6 months from the application date and it must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
- Proof of residency in the Consular jurisdiction: State ID, Driver´s Licence or Student ID from one of the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
- Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-US Passport holders): Must present one of the following documents:
- Notarized copy of Permanent Residence Card (Green Card)
- Valid US visa plus a copy of the I-20 document.
- Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.
- Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- Consular visa fee: Money Order pay to the order of The General Consulate of Spain in Houston.
US Passport holders fee $190.00
Other nationalities fee $94.00
For Nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the visa fee.
- Only USPS (Express or Priority Mail) self-address prepaid envelope with tracking number.
- Postal delivery authorization
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district.
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted by the applicant, or by one of their parents if they are a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
- Place of submission: Applications and requirements must be submitted via postal mail to General Consulate General of Spain in Houston- Visa Department (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057)
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when additional documents are requested or the applicant is called in for an interview.
- Collecting the visa: The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted is based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for the authorized internship period, with a maximum validity period of 6 months (in the case of an internship hosting agreement) or of 1 year (in the case of a trainee contract). The visa accredits legal residence in Spain.
If the authorized internship period is longer than 6 months, it is possible to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card from the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.