Spain is one of the top tourist destinations for foreigners due to its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, a rich history, and iconic architecture. Its cuisine is also famous, with dishes like paella, jamón ibérico.

Foreign nationals with the intension to enter Spain for a short stay, not more than 3 months must first apply for a Spanish visitor visa also known as the Schengen visa.

What is a Schengen visitor visa?

A Schengen visa is a legal document that allows foreigners enter Spain or any other Schengen member country for the purpose of tourism, visit to family member or friends, attend meetings or conferences, medical treatment, voluntary jobs without pay, training placement, and any other non-paid activities.

Which countries makes up the Schengen territory?

About 29 European countries make up Schengen which allows citizens or permanent residents of each member country travel to other Schengen countries without border controls. The government of these 29 European countries made this agreement to enable free movement of citizens and goods within the territory.

The Schengen region is made up of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Spanish visa exempt countries

If any of the following applies to you, then you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa before you can visit Spain or any other Schengen country for a short period of time;

• You are a citizens of EU or EFTA member countries.

• You are a citizen of a country that is part of the Schengen visa free regime.

• You are a lawful permanent resident of any of the Schengen member countries.

You can also read our article on: German Student Visa

Required Documents for a Schengen Visa Application

In order to apply and successfully get your Schengen visa application approved, then you must submit the required documents and even supporting documents to back your visa application.

• International passport: You must submit an international passport with a validity period of at least 3 months beyond your intended period of stay in Spain.

• Your must also submit photocopies of your passport’s data page.

• Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamp/sticker

• Passport photographs: You must submit 2 recent passport photographs that meets with the Schengen visa photo requirements.

• Schengen visa application form: You must submit a dully completed application form with your signature on it.

• Travel medical insurance: You must purchase a travel medical insurance before you can be allowed to travel to Spain or any other Schengen country. If your visa has multiple entries, then you must sign an undertaken that you will buy another travel insurance for subsequent entries.

• Proof of fund: You must prove that you have the financial means to support yourself and any accompanying family member during your stay in Spain by;
  • Submitting your bank account statement for the last 6 months.
  • If someone is is supporting you financially, then he or she must send you a letter of support, stating that he or she will support you financially during your short stay in Spain.
  • Your sponsor must also send his or her account statement.

• Statement of purpose: You have to submit a convincing statement of purpose (SOP), stating your travel intent and detailed specifics of your travel to Spain.

• Invitation letter: If you intend traveling to Spain to visit a family member or friend, then you must get an invitation letter from the person that is inviting you to Spain. The person must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Additional Documents

• Proof of civil status: You must submit your marriage certificate or your kid’s birth certificate as it helps to prove your strong ties with your home country.

• Proof of employment: If you are gainfully employed, then you must submit an employment contract letter, stating your role at your company and the during of the contract.

• Property deeds: If you have landed properties, then you must submit documents that shows ownership of the properties.

Schengen visa application process

Below we have outlined the step by step process of applying for a Schengen visitor visa.

• Complete the application form: You must download and then complete the Schengen visa application form. You have to fill all the fields with your correct information. You must sign the completed form before submission.

• Gather the required documents: After completing the Schengen visa application form, and signing on the completed form, gather all the required documents.

• Schedule a visa appointment: After gathering the required and supporting documents, you can go ahead and schedule your visitors visa appointment at the Spanish consulate or Schengen Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your home country.

• Attend your Interview: Ensure you carry all the required documents along with you to your visa appointment. On the appointment date, you will;
  • Submit your visa application in person.
  • Pay the visa application fee.
  • Submit your biometric (fingerprints and face capture).
  • Have a short interview.

What is the cost of a Schengen visa?

• Applicants aged 12 and above: The cost is 80 euro.

• Applicants aged 6 to 11: The cost is 40 euro

• Applicants aged 5 and below: Applicants that are aged 5 and below are exempt from paying a visa application fee.

Is biometric mandatory for a Spanish visa application?

Yes biometric submission is a crucial part of a Spanish visa application process. Failure to submit your biometric will result to a visa denial.

Is there an exemption to biometric submission?

Yes if you have submitted your biometric for a previous Schengen visa that you applied for within the last 5 years, you do not need to submit another biometric. Also applicants who are under the age of 12 do not need to submit their biometric.

What is the earliest time to submit a Schengen visa application?

The earliest time to submit a Schengen visa application is 6 months before the scheduled date of travel to Spain, and the latest time you can submit a Schengen visa application is 15 days before the date you plan traveling to Spain.

What is the Schengen visa application processing times?

The legal processing times for a Schengen visa application is 15 days but it can extend up to 45 days in some cases depending on the complexity of the application.

The number of visa applications in the Schengen Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your home country can also affect the processing times of your Schengen visa application.

What is the validity period of a Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is generally valid for 3 months but the consulate officer processing the visa has the sole discretion to decide the validity of the visa that will be issued to you.

The consulate officer can decide to issue you a 7 days visa depending on your circumstance.

What should I do if my visa application is denied?

If your Schengen visa application is denied which is not a pleasant thing, you can either submit a fresh application and fix all the issues that led to the denial of the visa application or make an appeal.

If you feel your visa application was denied by mistake or was denied unfairly, you can make an appeal to the Spanish government. Kindly note that your appeal must be written in Spanish language.

You can also read our article on: Australia Visitor Visa

Possible reasons for a Schengen visa denial

Following below are the possible reasons for a Schengen visa application denial;

• Incomplete or inconsistent visa application.

• Lack of sufficient fund to support your stay in Spain or other Schengen countries.

• Invalid or fake Schengen travel insurance.

• Lack of strong ties to your home country.

• Lack of genuine visitor entrant requirement.

• Bad travel history.

• Having a criminal record in your home country.

• Having a deadly and communicable disease.

• Unclear travel itinerary.

At Schmick Travel, we have expert consultants with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry. If you would love us to handle your Schengen visa application process for you, kindly get in touch and and one of our expert consultants will be glad to assist.