Study stays of less than 90 days do not require a study visa. Depending on the applicant's nationality, a short-stay visa may be required (see “Schengen visas").
Visa for stays exceeding 90 days to participate in the North American Language and Culture Assistant program (NALCAP) 2024-2025 sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain.
The visa must be requested sufficiently in advance of the start of the program, since the procedure involves consultations with other authorities.
"Relative" means for this purpose, the spouse, common-law partner and children under eighteen or children with disabilities and not objectively able to provide for their own needs due to their health status. Relatives will not be allowed to work during their stay in Spain.
with duration of at least the requested time of stay and must contain at least two free pages in the visa section (copy of the page where your data and photos appear). Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Acceptance Letter by the Regional Education Authorities (“Nombramiento"). This letter must provide information on the school the applicant has been appointed to (address, phone number, contact email). It must also contain information about the grant, the duration of the program and the insurance policy. The Consulate of Spain will ONLY accept original signatures or electronically signed letters.
Fill out numbers 21 (date of entry) and 28 (complete information related to school in Spain) on application form.
5. Background check (status over 180 days), stating that applicant does not have criminal record where you have resided for the past five years. Not applicable for students under 18 years old.
You must request a background check verified by fingerprint comparison. The criminal background check must be issued by the US Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State and Local Police and State Police background checks will not be accepted.
The background check must be issued within six months prior to the submission of the visa application.
The criminal record must be legalized with the Apostille certification and translated into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator. (The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille
does not need a translation).
If the applicant has spent six months or more during the last five years in another country, he/she must submit the police records from that country, legalized with the Apostille
Certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate
in that country.
6. Medical certificate: A recent doctor’s statement, dated no more than three months before the application date, with the doctor or medical center’s letterhead, duly signed, stamped and translated into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator stating.
"This medical certificate certifies that Mr. / Ms. (...) does not suffer from any diseases that may have serious implications for public health in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations 2005".
(Please see Appendix I. In case of use this appendix, translation to spanish is not necessary)
7. Proof of residence in the consular district. Provide original and copy of US Driver's license or US State ID.
8. Payment of the visa fee.
The visa application fee is $160 for US citizens and $99 for other nationalities, unless reciprocity fees apply (Canadians, Australians, British, etc.).
Additionally, BLS Visa Application Center processing fees must be paid.
Consular fees are updated by law. Please verify the current rate at the time of processing.
Applications submitted to the Spanish Visa Application Center will have a service fee of USD 18 (tax included) payable by debit or cash.
The fee is non-refundable.
9. Disclaimer form must be presented with application.
Required documents for family members
For each family member accompanying the student, the following must be submitted:
The documents listed above as 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and
Proof economic means to cover the expenses of stay and return to his/her country. For the support of family members during their stay in Spain: the last three personal bank account statements showing at least a minimum amount of $480 for the first family member per month of stay and $320 per month for each of the remaining family members who will integrate the family unit in Spain.
- Original Birth Certificate of children legalized with the Apostille certification and translated in Spanish. Attach a copy of identifications of both parents. If the parents are divorced, submit the final divorce and custody sentence of the child legalized with the Apostille certification. If the country is not part of The Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and copy).
- Original Marriage Certificate legalized with the Apostille certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and copy).
- Original Domestic Partnership Certificate legalized with the Apostille certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and copy).
- Proof of public or private health insurance (travel insurance will not be accepted) from an insurer recognized and authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for nationals and must be maintained for the entire duration of the authorization. No deductible or copayments.
It must cover at least all the preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance activities that are carried out in health centers or socio-health centers, as well as urgent health transport.
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.
Visa application period. Visa applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the beginning of the pertinent study programs, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities. Incomplete applications will be returned, only complete applications will be admitted.
The presentation may be made by the interested party or through a duly accredited representative (for which the attached notarized model can be used).
A prior appointment will be requested on the following website, in case you do not prefer to send the documentation by postal mail: https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/miami (National Visas)
Email: info.miaminational@blshelpline.com
Phone +1 786-329-7199
IMPORTANT NOTE: Until December 1, 2023, BLS Visa Service for Spain will continue to accept applications by mail, addressed to
3191 CORAL WAY, Suite 611,
Coral Gables -Florida 33145
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: Once the application is accepted as complete, the legal period for reaching a decision is of 1 month from the day after the application has been registered on the visa system (not from the date of the application is received in this Consulate General), but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
Collecting the visa.
Once your visa has been processed, you will receive a text message indicating that your passport is ready to be picked up. You must go to the BLS offices (not the Consulate). The hours enabled for collection are from Monday to Friday between 3:00 and 4:30 PM.
Refusal of the visa or study stay permit. Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified by mail, 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 in Spanish language (by mail with tracking number) 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.
Once the visa has been collected, the applicant must enter the Spanish territory during the period of validity of the visa. Upon entry and within the first thirty days, applicant must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card or TIE (“Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero”) at the "Comisaría de Extranjería y Documentación" in the city where the person will be a language assistant. The TIE will be valid for as long as the language assistant is part of the program in Spain. In the case of minors, this procedure may be carried out by a representative. Besides, the visa must be stamped upon entering the Schengen States.
You can also make an appointment online:
When the applicant collects his/her visa, he/she must enter Spain within the validity period of the visa (no more than three months if the duration of the activity exceeds six months).
The initial authorization for temporary residence (TIE) will last for one year and its validity will begin on the date of entry into Spain.
If the duration of the activity does not exceed six months, the visa will be sufficient to document the stay.