General information
The Schengen visa is issued to third-country nationals listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806
. 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.
Canadian citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 days period.
Permanent residents in Canada holders of a blue Canadian Travel Document (Convention of 28 July 1951) are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to visit Spain, regardless of their nationality.
Applicants of Schengen visas living in
Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories or Yukon can also process their visa applications at the
Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver. More information
HERE.
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. Border authorities may 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.
Required documents
Schengen visa application form. Each applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections.
If the applicant is a minor, both parents must sign the application.
For minors travelling alone, the application must include a letter of consent of both parents or legal guardian certified by a notary public or a commissioner of oath indicating the legal tutor in Spain with proof of his/her/their ID, a certified copy of the passports of both parents or legal guardian and a certified copy of the minor's birth certificate.
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.
- Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen territory. It must also contain at least two consecutive blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
- Proof of your legal status in Canada: permanent resident card, work permit, study and certificate of studies, etc. These documents must be valid up to 90 days after your return from the Schengen area.
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 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.
- A visa fee to be paid when you submit your application. CHECK THE VISA FEE HERE. The consular fee is to be paid the day of your appointment, preferably in cash or by money order or certified cheque to "Consulate General of Spain in Toronto".
- Documents corroborating the purpose and the conditions of entry in the Schengen area, the availability of sufficient financial means of the visa applicant and that can establish the intention of leaving the Schengen area before the visa expires.
- For visits to relatives and friends: Invitation letter issued at a Police station in Spain.
- For tourism: a confirmed hotel reservation indicating name, address, phone number and confirmation number or proof of group travel participation.
- For business: a letter of support from the company located in the Schengen country of the purpose of travel and a letter from your employer in Canada stating your position and the purpose of travel. One of these letters must state which one is responsible for your expenses and where will you stay (hotel confirmation for example).
- Print out of your travel itinerary. It is not advisable to purchase flights tickets before the visa is granted.
- Proof of financial means sustained in time: Stamped bank statements, letter from your bank with your personal information on it and work contract or employment letter, title deeds or any proof of income. You must prove funds at least in the equivalent to $1,597.50 CAD; if you are going to stay more than 9 days in Spain, increase that amount in the equivalent of $177 CAD for each additional day.
If your parents or partner is going to cover the costs, you must submit a notarized letter signed by them indicating their consent and a copy of their bank statement for the last three months. Proof of relationship will be required. Documents from outside of Canada must be legalized/apostilled and translated to English or Spanish.
8. Proof of residence in the consular district such a driver's licence or any other government-issued identification document. Your address in the consular disctrict and proof of the fact that you are living there (ownership, lease agreement, utility bills. All under the applicant's name).
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
- Who can apply for a visa: Applications must be submitted in person. If the applicant is a minor, the application must be submitted by their legal representatives.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular Office. The Consulate General of Spain in Toronto will process the Schengen visa applications submitted by applicants living in the consular jurisdiction in person by appointment only. Book your appointment HERE.
- Biometric data capturing: The applicant's facial image and fingerprints will be captured during the visa application procedure.
- Proof of submission: When a visa application is submitted, the Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of submission of the application with a code enabling them to check the status of the file through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 15 calendar days as of the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended to 45 calendar days if an interview or additional documents are requested. Visa applications submitted by nationals of certain States require consultation with the central authorities that could affect the duration of the visa procedure.
- Return of passport and other documentation: passport and other documents related to your visa application must be picked up by the applicant (no appointmet required), monday to friday from 1pm to 2:30 pm at:
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the legal grounds on which the decision was based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal 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 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.
Complaints or suggestions about the service received or about the visa application procedure may be submitted online through this website. They may also be submitted in writing at this Consular Office.
Data protection
The processing of personal data of visa applicants is done in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
Persons wishing to exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Visa Information System (VIS) may do so by addressing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation
Inspección General de Servicios
Postal address: Plaza de la Provincia, 1, Madrid, España
Email: dpd@maec.es
The following forms may be used to do so:
Persons whose visa application has been refused because they are banned from entering the Schengen area may exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Schengen Information System (SIS) by addressing the Ministry of the Interior.
To obtain more information on your rights and duties and on how to exercise your rights of access, rectification and erasure of data included in the SIS, please refer to the website of the Spanish Data Protection Agency.
Basic legislation
Community Code on Visas
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).
- Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).