Spain Tourist Visa 2024: Eligibility, Requirements & Application Process

Spain is a country full of charming alleys, stunning beaches, and much more. Many expats choose it as their vacation spot, particularly those from the UK. Do you intend to travel to Spain? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about requesting a tourist visa to Spain.

Does entering Spain require a tourist visa?

A Schengen short-stay visa also called a C-type visa, is needed for visitors who want to stay in Spain for up to 90 days on a short-term trip. With a Schengen Visa, a person may visit any country that is a part of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days at a time for business or tourism.

There are currently 29 member countries that make up the Schengen Area. These nations are all found in Europe. Among the 29 Schengen nations are:

• Belgium
• Austria
• Croatia
• Bulgaria
• Denmark
• Czech Republic
• Finland
• Estonia
• Germany
• France
• Hungary
• Greece
• Italy
• Sweden
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Slovenia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Latvia
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Luxembourg
• Spain
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Romania
• Poland

Travelers who fit into any of the following categories must apply for the Spain tourist visa, which is a component of the Schengen short-stay visa:

• The passenger is a national of a third country, and to enter any Schengen Area member country, they must get a Schengen visa.
• The traveler is a citizen of a third country that has an agreement with the Schengen states for visa-free travel; yet, you were previously denied entry into Spain or any other Schengen nation without a valid visa.

Spain Tourist Visa 2024

Travelers who intend to visit Spain primarily for vacation, exploration, or sightseeing must apply for the Spain tourist visa, which is a component of the Schengen short-stay visa. The duration of the 90-day tourist visa to Spain is limited to travel, and it is valid for 180 days.

Requirements

When requesting a Spain tourist visa or a short-term Schengen visa, the following paperwork is needed:

• Application Form
• Your current passport, both original and copy.
• Two pictures from a passport. Per the Schengen visa photo requirements, you must submit two passport photos that were taken within the last six months. Please be aware that the quantity of photos varies based on the nation in which you submit your Schengen visa application.
• Certificate of Civil Status
• Evidence of accommodations
• Itinerary for a round-trip flight
• Health insurance for travel
• Cover letter
• Letter of invitation
• Evidence of sufficient finances
• Travel itinerary Evidence of your intended mode of transportation funding to Spain.
• There may be situations when you require additional documentation to help with your application.

Digital Schengen visa

The physical Schengen visa application and sticker process will now be digitalized, according to a new plan adopted by the European Parliament. This implies that visitors from outside the Schengen area will soon be able to apply for and obtain their digital Schengen visa online, bidding farewell to lengthy lineups and intricate paperwork.

This implies that people will be able to apply for a visa to enter Spain without having to schedule an appointment or bring their passports in person. Under the new proposed regulations, visas will be provided digitally as a 2D barcode that is cryptographically authenticated, in place of the current visa sticker. This will lower the security concerns associated with stolen and counterfeit visa stickers even more.

The new regulations call for the creation of a single website for the submission of Schengen visa applications. Visa applicants can use this portal to fill out all required fields, upload digital versions of their trip and supporting documentation, and finish paying for their visa expenses.

They will also be notified of any updates about the progress of their visa application.

How to Apply for the Spain Tourist Visa

Use the procedures listed below to apply for a Schengen visa so that you can enter Spain:

Fill out the application for a tourist visa to Spain

Filling out the Schengen visa application form is the first step towards obtaining a tourist visa for Spain. Make sure you accurately complete the form, print it, and sign it at the conclusion. After filling out the form, make sure to verify that all of your questions are correct and that you did not make any errors.

It should be noted that the responses you provide on the visa application form must match the data included in the remaining documents needed to obtain a tourist visa for Spain.

Make an appointment

You will need to schedule an appointment for the submission of your visa application file and the interview once you have finished the Schengen visa application form. Please be aware that you can schedule an appointment to apply for a Spain visa via phone or on the website of the body in charge of accepting your application, depending on which is more convenient for you.

Assemble all necessary paperwork

You must acquire all of the aforementioned documentation needed to apply for a tourist visa to Spain after scheduling an appointment at the visa application center.

Keep your appointment for your Spain visa

Upon compiling all necessary paperwork, await the day of your visa interview. Make sure to organize all of your paperwork in its proper order and arrive at the Spanish embassy, consulate, or VAC on time for your interview.

You will need to go to a meeting with a consular officer, who may ask you some questions about why you are applying for a visa as well as about your trip to Spain. They may also require you to give them the supporting documentation.

Cover the application fees for a visa

You need to pay the necessary visa application fee to finish the Spain tourist visa application process. The most recent reports state that the European Commission has increased visa costs by 12.5 percent.

The revised fees are as follows: adult applicants will now pay EUR 90 instead of EUR 80, and minors between the ages of 6 and 12 will pay EUR 45 instead of EUR 40, according to information published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Only Schengen regions will be affected starting on June 11, 2024. The whole Schengen visa charge is waived for children under the age of six.

Where can I apply for a tourist visa to Spain?

You can apply for a tourist visa to Spain by going to the Spanish embassy or consulate in your nation of origin. Applications for visas are accepted at all Schengen country embassies and consulates. To give your application enough time to be processed, you should submit your application at least 15 days before your journey to the main destination you intend to visit’s diplomatic office.

Please be aware that you must apply at least 90 days in advance of your visit.

Processing period for a tourist visa to Spain

The processing of a tourist visa application for Spain can take up to 10 working days or one to two weeks. As the holiday season approaches, more applications will be received, and processing times may lengthen.

This time frame, nevertheless, might occasionally be extended by 30 or even 60 days. Such an extension might occur because of your particular situation or because the embassy where you submit your application is overloaded with requests for processing visa applications.

What should I do if my tourist visa to Spain is denied?

You will receive a letter explaining the reason for the rejection if your application for a Spain visa is denied. In this instance, you have two options:

• Proceed and submit a fresh application by learning from past errors and enhancing your circumstances.
• Only if you believe that the Schengen Visa application denial was unfair or mistakenly made should you write an appeal letter. When drafting this letter, you should have a solid argument and provide evidence to back up your claims.

Can I extend my tourist visa to Spain?

Yes, you can extend your Schengen visa for Spain, but only in very specific circumstances where you enter Spain with new information and unique justifications. These excuses include force majeure or humanitarian concerns. To renew your tourist visa for Spain, you must apply to the following Spanish authorities at least one month before the visa expires:

• Ministry of the Interior – Direction General for the National Police and the Civil Guard
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation – Direction General on Consular Affairs and Consular Assistance