The Kingdom of Spain is one of the key tourist destinations in Europe. This country attracts tourists from different countries with its warm maritime climate with positive temperatures throughout the year, rich cultural and natural resources, developed infrastructure, and relatively low prices compared to northern EU countries.
The requirements for entry into Spain for USA Citizens in 2024 are exactly the same as for any foreign person entering Schengen from a third country outside the EU.
The main condition for entry into Spain today is the presence of a Schengen visa issued by the consulate of this country. Entry into Spain with Schengen visas from other countries is not limited, but it does affect your personal visa history and the likelihood of a visa being re-issued.
Types of visas to Spain
In 2024, USA peoples can easily obtain Spanish Schengen visas. There are no official restrictions on the issuance of visas to USA citizens.
Tourist visa
The most common type of short-term visa is C. It can be issued for travel dates, for several weeks or months, and can also be issued for 1 to 5 years. The period of stay in Spain on such a visa is possible up to 3 months every six months. The main conditions for issuing a visa are the availability of financial guarantees and connections with the country of residence, the route and travel plan.
Depending on the purpose of the trip, other types of short-term visas may be issued: short-term study visa, business visa, visa by invitation of a private person, transit visa. In all cases, in addition to the basic set of documents, confirmation from the inviting party (with the exception of transit) will be required.
Spain Golden Visa
A type of long-term national visa D of Spain, issued to investors who have purchased real estate for an amount exceeding 500 thousand euros or who have invested more than 1 million euros in the Spanish economy. The Spanish Golden Visa is issued in Spain on the basis of a completed financial transaction. The visa is issued for 2 years to the investor and his family with the possibility of extension in Spain and gives the right to stay in the country for an unlimited amount of time, do business and apply for citizenship by naturalization after 10 years. If you wish, it is not necessary to become a tax resident of Spain and live in the country.
Spanish residence permit for financially independent persons
Type of long-term national visa D, issued to persons who have a high income and wish to reside in Spain. The visa is issued at the Spanish Consulate in the USA for 1 year and then extended in Spain. The main condition for a Spanish residence permit for the financially independent is passive income outside the eurozone, 4 times the minimum wage in Spain. The visa allows you to add family members to the applicant’s program, open an account in a Spanish bank, and stay in the country for an unlimited amount of time. One of the conditions of this visa is the need to reside in Spain for more than 183 days a year, which means becoming a tax resident; You also cannot get a hired job.
Digital Nomad Visa
Type of long-term national visa D, issued to employees who work remotely for a foreign company and wish to reside permanently in Spain. The main conditions are: confirmed high income, availability of a long-term contract and qualifications in your field. The digital nomad visa is issued at the Spanish Consulate in the USA and is valid for 1 year with the possibility of extension. With this visa, you will need to become a tax resident of Spain and live more than 183 days a year on its territory. The advantage is the opportunity to earn up to 20% of income in this country.
There are also other types of long-term national visas: study for a period of more than 90 days, for family reunification and work. Each visa requires an invitation from the receiving party, in addition to a standard set of documents.
Cost of a visa to Spain for USA Citizens
The cost of applying for a visa yourself through a visa center in 2024 consists of service and consular fees.
The consular fee for
- Persons over 12 years old is 88 USD
- Persons under 12 years old – 44 USD, with the exception of children under 5 years old.
Application period for a visa to Spain
Currently, the consul’s review period for an application for a Schengen visa is up to 45 days. Most often, the decision is made earlier – within 2-3 weeks.
Spanish visa validity period
The minimum period for which a Spanish visa is issued is for the dates of travel. Often a visa is issued with an entry and exit corridor: for 1–3 months, but can be issued for a longer period: from six months to several years. In this case, the 90/180 rule applies, when a tourist can stay in the country for up to 90 days every six months, with mandatory departure for the next 90 days. Depending on the number of entries, a visa can be single or multiple. In the latter case, it is allowed to enter and exit several times.
Documents for obtaining a visa to Spain
Application form for a visa to Spain and consent to the processing of personal data. Filled out in a special form in English, in block letters. The applicant’s personal signature is required.
International passport. Must have a duration of at least 3 months from the end of the trip.
- You must have at least 2 free pages for visa and stamps.
- Sample photo. It is necessary to provide a color photo of 3.5×4.5 cm, similar to the photographs for a Schengen visa. The face in the photo should occupy at least 70% of the frame.
- Receipts for payment of consular and service fees.
- Health insurance policy. Coverage must be more than 30 thousand euros in the EU and Schengen area, and the policy must last the entire duration of the trip.
- Photocopies of all pages of the USA passport.
- Reservation of real estate in Spain. Confirmation of the reservation and the possibility of payment: hotel, apartment, letter from the inviting party.
- Round-trip air tickets. Or a route sheet describing the movement of tourists around Spain and returning home from it.
- Financial guarantees. The applicant can provide a choice of: confirmation of employment (letter from the employer describing the salary and permission to leave), documents about his own business, a sponsorship letter. You also need to provide a bank statement with an amount in your account sufficient for travel, and a report on the movement of funds for the last 3 months.
- Additional guarantees. As additional guarantees, you can provide documents confirming your connection with the country of residence: documents on real estate rights.
The consulate has the right to require the provision of additional documents if the specified data is not enough for them.
Biometrics
At the Visa Application Centre, all applicants can be referred for a biometrics procedure even if the biometrics was taken less than 59 weeks ago.
Requirements for the applicant
- The applicant must not be on the EU sanctions list.
- The applicant must not have previously been deported from an EU country and must not have any visa violations.
- No criminal record in your country of citizenship and residence.
- You must obtain medical insurance from an authorized insurance agency.
- You must have a registered address in your country of residence.
- It is necessary to confirm the financial reliability and purity of income.
- Photo requirements
- It is necessary to provide a color photo of 3.5×4.5 cm, similar to the photographs for a Schengen visa. The face in the photo should occupy at least 70% of the frame.
Visa application procedure
At the moment, it is possible to apply for a tourist visa in Spain at the Consulate General in United States and at regional visa centers in USA. Due to the limited supply, registration is carried out through special bots, independently on the website of the visa center or through visa agents. The waiting time can range from three weeks to a couple of months.
The entire procedure for submitting documents and obtaining a visa can be divided into several stages:
Preparation of documents. At this stage, the applicant collects all the necessary documents, affixes an apostille and makes translations, if required. Registration takes place on the visa center website and the applicant’s application form is filled out.
Finding a slot to submit documents to the visa center. The applicant independently, with the help of agents or a bot, registers for a specific date to submit documents to the visa center.
Submission of documents. The applicant arrives on the appointed day with prepared documents and submits them to the visa center. Biometrics for a Schengen visa are also provided there. A fee is paid. Transfer of documents is possible through a third party. In this case, a power of attorney is issued.
Waiting for a response from the consulate. When submitting documents, the approximate waiting period is called; it can be up to 45 days from the date of submission, but is usually 14 days. During this period, the consulate may contact the applicant to provide additional documents. The status of the application can be checked on the website of the visa center using the details issued on the day of submission.
Obtaining a visa. You can pick up the documents yourself or with the help of a courier.
According to statistics, in 2024 the consulate issues visas most often for travel dates and for 1–3 months.
Also Read : The 10 Best Attractions in Las Vegas in 2024