–          Requirements for entry into Spain (REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY)

–          Visas (visas 2010 EN)

–          Application for Schengen Visa (application)

–          List of Spanish Embassies and Consulates (list)
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO SPAIN FOR A STAY NOT EXCEEDING NINETY DAYS IN ANY SIX MONTH PERIOD

Art. 5 of the Schengen Borders Code
Art. 25 of the Aliens Act
Arts. 4 ff. of the Aliens Regulation

In order to enter Spain for a stay not exceeding ninety days in any six month period, the following requirements must be met:

1.     Passports or travel documents Documents must be valid for the total duration of the planned stay.

Citizens of any State of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein only require a National Identity Card or valid passport. In the case of minors, the National Identity Card must also be accompanied by written parental consent.

2.     Relevant visas (where applicable) A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel within the countries contained within Schengen area, and therefore does not allow access to territory that does not belong to the aforementioned zone (the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus).

3.     Justification of purpose and conditions of the stay, and accreditation of sufficient economic means of support for the duration of the stay in Spain

o    Tourism or private trips. Presentation of any of the following types of documentation may be required:

1.     Substantiating documentation of accommodation reservation, or private letter of invitation from a private individual if staying in their dwelling, issued in compliance with Order PRE/1283/2007, of May 10, which establishes the terms and conditions for the issuing of a letter of invitation by private individuals in favor of foreigners who are interested in entering the country for tourism or private reasons The letter of invitation does not under any circumstances exempt the foreigner from any of the other requirements for entry into Spain.

2.     Proof of confirmation of the reservation of an organized trip with itinerary.

3.     Closed round-trip or tour ticket.

For the accreditation of economic means, foreigners must adhere to the requirements set out in Order PRE/1282/2007 of May 10, which establishes the economic means that foreigners wishing to enter Spanish territory must prove that they have at their disposal. This currently stands at 64.14 euros per day per person, and in all cases a total minimum of 577.26 euros per person.

o    Trips with a professional, political, scientific, sporting, religious, or other purpose. Presentation of any of the following types of documentation may be required:

1.     Invitation from a company or entity to participate in meetings, conventions, etc, of a commercial, industrial, or other nature.

2.     Document certifying the existence of commercial, industrial, or other relations.

3.     Access cards to fairs, conventions, congresses, etc.

4.     Invitations, admission cards, reservations or programs which indicate insofar as is possible the name of the organization that has issued the invitation, the duration of the stay, or any other document that indicates the purpose of the visit.

o    Trips for the purpose of study or training. Presentation of any of the following types of documentation may be required:

1.     Document of registration in an educational institution to participate in a theoretical or practical educational/training course.

2.     Certificates related to the courses taken.

4.     In exceptional cases, presentation of the medical certificates required by the Ministry of the Interior, in accordance with the Ministries of Health and Consumption and Work and Immigration, or the application of the regulations of the European Union. Every effort will be made to ensure that these certificates are requested with sufficient notice.  resentation of medical certificates, where appropriate.

5.     Applicants must not be subject to an exclusion order (appearing on the Schengen Information System [SIS] or the National Register of persons banned from entering the country). Possible causes of exclusion:

1.     Having previously been deported or returned to another country by Spain or by any Schengen State.

2.     Having been expressly denied entry for activities contrary to the interests of Spain, activities against human rights, or for notorious connections with criminal organizations.

3.     Being internationally sought for criminal activity.

6.     Applicants must not represent a danger to the public health, public order, national security, or the international relations of Spain or any State with which Spain holds an agreement related to these matters.

7.     Not having stayed in Spanish territory for a total of 90 days in the last 6 months, counting from the date of last entry (art. 20.1 Schengen, and art. 30 Law).

updated: 15/02/2011 13:42


VISAS

The regulations governing the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain and their social integration are established in Organic Law 4/2000 of 11 January, modified by Organic Law 8/2000 of 22 December; Organic Law 11/2003 of 29 September; Organic Law 14/2003 of 20 November; and Organic Law 2/2009 of 11 December. The implementing regulation for the law was approved by Royal Decree 2393/2004 of 30 December.

In the case of citizens from the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and their spouses, common-law partners, ascendants and descendants, the applicable regulation is established in Royal Decree 240/2007 of 16 February on nationals from European Union member states and other States which have signed up to the agreement on the European Economic Area, entering and remaining in Spain.

Foreign nationals who wish to travel to Spain must be in possession of a visa, unless they are nationals from countries which are not included in the list of countries with the obligation to carry a visa in order to cross external borders for stays in the Schengen Area of no more than three months (90 days) in a period of six months (180 days) from the date of entry into the Schengen Area.

There are three types of visa for travelling to Spain, depending on the type of journey you intend to make:
·         Airport transit visa.

These visas allow the holder to cross the international transit zone of a Spanish airport. Nationals from countries included in the list of countries with the obligation to carry an airport transit visa must be in possession of this visa (list I and list II).
·         Short stay visa (Schengen).

These visas allow the holder to transit through or remain in Spanish territory and all other Schengen States  for a maximum period of three months (90 days) within a period of six months (180 days) from the entry date into the Schengen Area. Nationals from countries included in the list of countries with the obligation to carry a visa in order to cross external borders must be in possession of this visa.
·         National visa.

These visas allow the holder to reside; reside and work; study; or conduct research in Spain. All foreign nationals who wish to enter Spain in order to reside; reside and work; or study must be in possession of this type of visa, unless they are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.