I know there are a lot of blogs that detail how to get a Spanish visa. This is the most up to date one - I literally applied for it about a week ago.
It was emotionally draining and I still wake up with heart palpitations.
Just Kidding.
Only slightly.
You just have to be on top of your stuff - if you are naturally a detailed person who pays attention to details you'll be absolutely fine. This will actually probably be a walk in the park for you. However, if you are not - be warned - you have got to be on your toes. They can be a bit nit - picky and as I have heard this is only the beginning.
Honestly nothing has really changed except that some consulates require appointments and others will allow walk-ins. Some require that you have all your documents translated in Spanish and some do not.
Mine required appointments but thankfully did not require Spanish translation.
Hallelujah.
For starters - book your appointment. Don't worry if you don't have all your documents yet, give yourself the appropriate amount of time you think you would need and book it! Some people will have to fly to their consulate office - yep this is just part of getting a visa. There are only 8 consulates for Spain in the U.S.A (possibly six but I know there are not a lot and time slots fill up fast) Depending on when you need your visa - do not hesitate.
Unfortunately I did hesitate because I thought that I had to have all my documents before I made the appointment. Thank goodness someone told me to book ASAP and I was able to get a early enough appointment.
Second - Immediately after setting your consulate appoint in that same breath set appointments for your background check and doctors appointment. The background check was a piece of cake. Went in to get my fingerprints done and within a week or so had my results. Once the results come in, I immediately sent them off (some choose to take a trip) I sent them to my nearest state department office to get it officiated by Hague Convention. Google your state's Hague office (which is usually near the state office) and it will explain the process of how to get that officiated. All I had to was fill out a form, send in a $15 payment and a pre-paid envelope for them to send it back - mine took almost two weeks to get back. So in total if you are on it - the background check can take about three weeks - a month. Just to give you a timeline idea.
Now onto the doctors appointment - for me this was the biggest headache. Hopefully you have a good relationship with your doctor or you have a family doctor. If you don't be extremely detailed and upfront with what you will need because it can get tedious and this could make or break your visa app.
The appointment part was easy. They took some blood test and once my results were in - initially they were supposed to write a note that specifically said: " ___ is free of any contagious disease according to the international health regulations of 2005...." In addition, it must have your doctor (who MUST be a MD) signature, the office stamp and the office letterhead. <insert eye roll> because I guarantee your doctor will not comply or have half of those things.
So my doctor did everything BUT write the specific wording. Don't ask me why not - it's a long story - but this led to them not accepting my "medical" paperwork and me having to make multiple visits to my doctors office. But I will write on that more - maybe- eventually - it's still a bit of a shaky experience. So instead I will warn you - be very specific and detailed with your doctor. If it helps come with the medical certificate printed (you can find on your Spanish consulates page) and create a letterhead for the doctors office. Honestly I am doing that the next time.
After that everything is smooth sailing. Fill out the application form, print copies of your acceptance letter, print copies of your passport, print copies of your license i.d.
Make triple copies of everything.
I repeat make TRIPLE copies of everything.
Two for them.
One for you.
Scan your copies onto your computer and save because you never know when you will need them.
It was emotionally draining and I still wake up with heart palpitations.
Just Kidding.
Only slightly.
You just have to be on top of your stuff - if you are naturally a detailed person who pays attention to details you'll be absolutely fine. This will actually probably be a walk in the park for you. However, if you are not - be warned - you have got to be on your toes. They can be a bit nit - picky and as I have heard this is only the beginning.
Honestly nothing has really changed except that some consulates require appointments and others will allow walk-ins. Some require that you have all your documents translated in Spanish and some do not.
Mine required appointments but thankfully did not require Spanish translation.
Hallelujah.
For starters - book your appointment. Don't worry if you don't have all your documents yet, give yourself the appropriate amount of time you think you would need and book it! Some people will have to fly to their consulate office - yep this is just part of getting a visa. There are only 8 consulates for Spain in the U.S.A (possibly six but I know there are not a lot and time slots fill up fast) Depending on when you need your visa - do not hesitate.
Unfortunately I did hesitate because I thought that I had to have all my documents before I made the appointment. Thank goodness someone told me to book ASAP and I was able to get a early enough appointment.
Second - Immediately after setting your consulate appoint in that same breath set appointments for your background check and doctors appointment. The background check was a piece of cake. Went in to get my fingerprints done and within a week or so had my results. Once the results come in, I immediately sent them off (some choose to take a trip) I sent them to my nearest state department office to get it officiated by Hague Convention. Google your state's Hague office (which is usually near the state office) and it will explain the process of how to get that officiated. All I had to was fill out a form, send in a $15 payment and a pre-paid envelope for them to send it back - mine took almost two weeks to get back. So in total if you are on it - the background check can take about three weeks - a month. Just to give you a timeline idea.
Now onto the doctors appointment - for me this was the biggest headache. Hopefully you have a good relationship with your doctor or you have a family doctor. If you don't be extremely detailed and upfront with what you will need because it can get tedious and this could make or break your visa app.
The appointment part was easy. They took some blood test and once my results were in - initially they were supposed to write a note that specifically said: " ___ is free of any contagious disease according to the international health regulations of 2005...." In addition, it must have your doctor (who MUST be a MD) signature, the office stamp and the office letterhead. <insert eye roll> because I guarantee your doctor will not comply or have half of those things.
So my doctor did everything BUT write the specific wording. Don't ask me why not - it's a long story - but this led to them not accepting my "medical" paperwork and me having to make multiple visits to my doctors office. But I will write on that more - maybe- eventually - it's still a bit of a shaky experience. So instead I will warn you - be very specific and detailed with your doctor. If it helps come with the medical certificate printed (you can find on your Spanish consulates page) and create a letterhead for the doctors office. Honestly I am doing that the next time.
After that everything is smooth sailing. Fill out the application form, print copies of your acceptance letter, print copies of your passport, print copies of your license i.d.
Make triple copies of everything.
I repeat make TRIPLE copies of everything.
Two for them.
One for you.
Scan your copies onto your computer and save because you never know when you will need them.