IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Spanish Government has signed a contract with an external company (BLS International) for processing visas for Spanish Consular Offices in the United States.
IT IS MANDATORY TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
For STUDENT VISA request an appointment through this link: https://usa.blsspainglobal.com/Global/account/login
GENERAL INFORMATION
Visa for students under 18 and staying exceeding 90 days for studies, training or internships.
- The minor student must apply in person accompanied by his/hers parents or tutors at this Consulate.
- At least one parent must be present; the absent parent must give notarized authorization to apply in his/her behalf with a copy of his/her ID.
- If both parents are not in the US, the tutor duly represented by a notary authorization from both parents must be presented.
- The Consulate of Spain in Chicago will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
1. National visa application form. The applicant must complete the official application form, filling it in each of its sections; one of his/her parents must sign the application.
2. Photo has to be glued to the application form. An updated photo-paper picture, passport size , facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. 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 contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction: State ID, Driver´s License or Student ID.
5. Proof of legal residence in the United States (non Americans). Must present one of the following documents:
- Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card).
- Valid US long-term Visa.
- Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.
6. Acceptance letter in Spanish issued by the school indicating:
- Student`s full name.
- Passport`s number.
- Initial and ending dates of the program (Maximum one scholar year).
- Minimum 20 hours per week.
- Contact name, phone number and email of the person at the school.
- From a Spanish Public School, the program must be promoted and financed by one of the following:
- Spanish Public Administration.
- Non-profit Associations or Foundations.
7. Proof of financial means. The minimum required amount is equivalent to the100% of IPREM . For 2023 is approx. US$ 700 per month. Provide either of the following:
- Letter in Spanish from the School or US program assuming full financial responsibility.
- Proof of financial aid or scholarship of at least 100% IPREM.
- Notarized letter of parents/custodians in Spanish or translated into Spanish, assuming full financial responsibility for room and board, along with their bank statements of the last three months.
Suggested wording: "I hereby certify that I the (name of : father, mother, other) of (student´s name), will support her/him with a monthly allowance of US$700 per/month while she/he is in Spain and that I am financially responsible for any emergency that may arise."
8. Health insurance. Certificate in Spanish issued by an Insurance Company operating in Spain specifying:
- Name of applicant.
- Start date of the coverage.
- The health insurance must not have a deductible, copayment, or coverage limit; it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital, and out-of-hospital expenses. The coverage has to be minimum $50.000 (30.000 Euros).
- An Insurance card will NOT be accepted as proof of coverage.
- Travel insurance is not accepted.
9. Authorization from both parents: Notarized authorization in Spanish to travel and live in Spain, indicating:
- Length of stay of the minor in Spain
- Information of all host family members over 18 with ID numbers
- Address in Spain.
10. Original and copy of both parent`s ID .
11. Original and copy of minor's Birth Certificate, legalized with the Apostille of the Hague convention and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
12. From the tutor and host family, Letter in Spanish assuming full responsibility of the minor while in Spain. For each member over 18 present the following:
- Certificate of “Registro de Crímenes de naturaleza sexual" issued by Registro Central de Delincuentes Sexuales.
- Copies of ID (DNI o NIE).
13. Visa fee. For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees 2024
Present the payment the day of your appointment. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled. BLS International will charge with their additional services.
Table informationApplicant
| From Sep. 24, 2024
|
American students
| $ 160
|
Other Nationalities
|
Students over 13
| $ 99
|
6-12 years old
| $ 44
|
5 and under
| $ 0
|
FOR STAYS OVER 180 DAYS:
Bilingual Medical certificate, accrediting student´s good health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must have the Doctor's Stamp, or can be printed on medical center´s letterhead; it must not be older than 3 months. It is recommended to use our template .
Procedure
Applying for a study visa also entails applying for a study stay permit.
- Who can apply for a visa: Students under 18 and staying exceeding 90 days for studies, training or internships. This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district or who are regularly in the consular district for study purposes even if they are not a resident
- 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 1 month from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: BLS International will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Refusal of the visa or study stay permit: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a study stay permit or 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: If the study stay does not exceed 6 months, the visa will be valid for the entire stay and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card.
If the study stay is for longer than 6 months, the visa will be valid for a 90-day stay. The student must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card within a period of 1 month from their entry into Spain, at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the Police Station of the province in which the permit was processed.