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.
Annex I (updated)
Canadian citizens do not require a visa for stays under 90 days in any 180 days period.
Permanent residents of Canada who hold 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.
The Schengen area encompasses 26 European countries without border controls between them: Austria, Belgium, 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. 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, one of their parents must sign the application.
2. Photograph. One (1) recent full-face color photograph passport-size, taken in person against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face taken by a commercial photographer or studio no more than six months before the date you submit your application. It should also meet the requirements pictured on this link.
Photographs of minors must not show any part of the adult holding them.
3. 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 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Travel medical insurance Confirmation of Coverage. 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 (approx. CAN $50,000.00). 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.
5. Payment of the visa fee. Please refer to the consular fee chart. Only cash, money order or certified cheque payable to the "Embassy of Spain" will be accepted.
6. Proof of status in Canada. Original and a copy of a Permanent residence card or a work permit or a study permit with academic transcript.
7. Print out of travel itinerary. Please do not purchase the ticket before visa approval is granted.
8. Proof that you can proceed to the connection destination after you have visited the Schengen countries, i.e., confirmed airline reservation with itinerary/required visa for the following destination. For travelers returning to Canada, your Canadian permanent residence card or visa should be valid at least for three months after the date of re-entry to Canada.
9. Proof of financial means: Copy of bank statements for the last three months, as well as any proof of income or credit card statements. If it were the case, confirmation of employment and last three payrolls.
During 2024, the amount required for a stay in Spain must exceed € 113.00 daily (CAN $ 166.00), multiplied by the number of days visiting and by the number of dependents travelling together. In any case, regardless of the length of stay, it should be in excess of € 1,020.00 (CAN $ 1,494.00) or the equivalent in a foreign currency), per person.
10. Supporting documents concerning the purpose of travel, for example:
When visiting relatives or friends, an invitation letter issued at a police station in Spain.
For tourism, please submit confirmed hotel reservations, stating name, address and telephone number of the hotel, including confirmation number and/or proof of group travel participation, etc.
If the purpose of your trip is business, please present a letter of support from the company concerned in the Schengen country where you travel to, and a letter from your employer stating your position within the company and the reason for your business travel. Either letter should clarify who is responsible for expenses and where you will be staying (such as a hotel reservation)
11. Proof of residence in the National Capital Region. The consular jurisdiction of the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa covers only the National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau).
If you live in a city other than Ottawa and Gatineau, you should apply for your visa at the Spanish Consulate General in Toronto or Montreal according to their consular jurisdictions.
12. A completed and signed “Documents Checklist”
When necessary to assess an application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
A Spanish translation of all documents submitted may be required in accordance to the provisions of article 15 of "Act 39/2015 on Uniform Administrative Procedures of the Spanish Public Administration"
Only those applications meeting the requirements specified in sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 will be accepted.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from third-country nationals residing in the National Capital Region who are travelling to Spain as their only or main destination.
- 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.
- Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted between 6 months and 15 days before the scheduled date of travel. Seafarers may apply for the visa up to 9 months before the date of travel.
- Proof of receipt: When a visa application is submitted, 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
- Biometric data capturing: The applicant's facial image and fingerprints will be captured during the visa application procedure. Applicants under 12 and applicants whose fingerprints have been taken in the last 59 months are exempt from fingerprint taking. However, in the latter case, if the applicant's prints are of poor quality, the Consular Office will request that they come back in to have their fingerprints retaken.
- 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 of 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. You can check the status of your visa application at https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx by entering the information on the receipt given to you.
If the status of your visa application is listed as "RESUELTO", a decision has been made and your visa has either been granted or denied.
In any case, you may pick up your passport on any working Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., without an appointment.
Other status are:
- “EN TRAMITACIÓN, Pendiente de trámite ": Pending a decision from Spain to some consultation.
- "EN TRAMITACIÓN, Pendiente de resolución ": Pending a decision from the Consul.
- "EN TRAMITACIÓN, Pendiente de expedición": Pending issuance of visa sticker.
- Return of passport and other documentation: To find out about the outcome of your visa application, click and input the personal data on your receipt. You may pick up your passport/visa without an appointment any working Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Permission granted by the visa: A visa does not automatically entitle someone to enter the Schengen area. The traveller must meet all legal entry requirements (see section "Conditions for entry into Spain").
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was 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 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 can 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).