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How to get a Spanish Student Visa
Passport
You must obtain a passport to enter Spain. Your passport must be valid for at least seven months after your return to the US. US citizens spending fewer than 90 days in Europe, will only need a passport. A Spanish tourist visa, which is valid for 90 days, is automatically issued to all US citizens who enter Spain. If you have not already obtained your passport, click Passports for more information.
Visa
US citizens studying in Toledo for a semester or year, or US citizens staying in Spain for more than 90 days, must obtain a student visa. Non-US citizens should check with the Spanish embassy to determine any special regulations pertaining entry into Spain at any time.
The following information explains how to obtain a Spanish student visa. US citizens participating in May session or summer session do not need a visa. Remember to read all information that you receive regarding student visas carefully. Requirements could change at any time and can vary from consulate to consulate.
Each student MUST inform the Learning Abroad Center of his or her plans for obtaining the student visa whether they chose to use this service or not.
Spanish Embassy
Visit the Spanish Embassy web site to determine which jurisdiction serves your area or contact them at 202.452.0100. Each regional Spanish Consulate holds jurisdiction over the residents in its area and has a right to set its own processing fees and procedures. Most of them require in-person visa application. Follow the instructions for your consulate.
Chicago Spanish Consulate
If you live in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, or Wisconsin go to the Consulate
General of Spain in Chicago web site to obtain the visa application
and instructions. Click on 'Paperwork and Requirements for Consular Services' under the 'General Information' section, then click on 'Visas' to find the link to the Schengen visa form. Read the instructions and make sure to gather
everything everything specified. Visa applications cannot be mailed
to the consulate. Print Step-by-Step
Instructions to assist you in completing the Schengen visa application.
University of Minnesota Visa Service
The Spanish consulate in Chicago has graciously granted the University of Minnesota the ability to both drop off Spanish student visa applications and pick up the completed student visas on behalf of students studying abroad in Toledo for those student who live within the Chicago consulate jurisdiction.
No student is required to use this service. If you choose not to use this service you will need to make arrangements to receive your visa independently. This is only a courtesy to students in the event that they wish to not make one or two trips to Chicago. If you do not want to use the U of M visa service, you must drop of your visa application and pick up your completed visa in person in Chicago.
To use this service, a $50 fee will be assessed to your University of Minnesota account. This fee will not be listed separately on your student account. It will be added to the overall program fee.
You must come to the Learning Abroad Center IN PERSON on one of the designated dates to drop off any material. If you are unable to come to the Learning Abroad Center personally, you may have a friend or family member come to drop off your materials.
Only complete visa applications will be accepted. If you fail to include one or more of the necessary pieces to receive your visa when you present your visa application to the Learning Abroad Center, you will have to return at a later time with your complete visa application.
No visa applications or materials will be accepted via the US postal mail. Pieces received in the mail will be returned to sender.
If the Learning Abroad Center brings your visa materials to Chicago, once your visa has been issued, you may go to Chicago individually to pick you your visa. We will email students when the visas are ready in Chicago. There is no price difference if you choose this option.
If you live outside of the state of Minnesota, completed visas can be returned to the student via Fed Ex once picked up from the Chicago Spanish Consulate by the U of M.
Visa Application Requirements
Visa requirements change often and vary from consulate to consulate. To date, the following items are required to apply for a student visa through the Chicago consulate:
- Three (3) copies of signed and completed Schengen application (see Step-by-Step Instructions on how to fill out the application)
- Original, signed passport
- Photo copy of US driver's license, US state ID, or voter registration card
- Three (3) passport photos (these are SEPARATE from the ones you submitted to the Learning Abroad Center with your confirmation materials)
- Proof of admission letter* (This letter is provided by the Learning Abroad Center and will be added to your application when you drop off your other materials. If you do not use the U of M's visa service, this letter will be sent to you.)
- Signed money order for $100 payable to the Consulate General of Spain (personal checks and cash are NOT acceptable)**
- Academic Year students (students going for more than one semester) must also provide the following:
- Medical Statement: A doctor’s recent statement, on doctor's or medical center's letterhead, indicating that the student has been examined and found to be free of communicable diseases and in good physical and mental health to travel and study abroad (make your appointment early!)
- Police Report: Contact the county in which you currently live in order to obtain this document
If you decide to use the U of M's visa service, you will also need the following item:
- A notarized letter granting the University of Minnesota permission to pick up and drop off your visa material (see sample wording below)
*The Proof of Student Status letter provided by the Learning Abroad Center will act as your proof of admission, proof of medical insurance (this is DIFFERENT from the Medical Statement), and proof of financial means. NO additional documentation will be needed for those three pieces.
**If you use the U of M's visa service, there are TWO separate fees. The first, the $100 to cover the cost of the actual visa, must be in the form of a money order. Money orders can be obtained at any major bank and at many post offices. The second fee, the $50 for the U of M's visa service, will be billed to your student account. If you do NOT use the U of M's visa service, you need only pay for the visa itself.
Wording for Notarized Authorization of Drop Off & Pick Up
University of Minnesota students can go to Student Legal Services in the West Bank Skyway for Notary Public.
Date: (FILL IN TODAY'S DATE)
Consulate General of Spain
180 N Michigan
Chicago, IL
Attn: Spanish Student Visa
I, (NAME OF STUDENT) authorize the designated staff member from the University of Minnesota's Learning Abroad Center to serve as my legal representative to drop off my Spanish student visa application and later return to pick up my completed Spanish student visa.
Student Name:
Student Passport Number:
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Printed Name)
(Notarized Seal and Signature below*)
*NOTE- Do NOT sign the letter before your meeting with the notary public.
Things to Remember
- Request your visa for the duration of your stay in Spain, and allow for post-program travel. Your visa must cover the whole time that you plan to stay in Europe. It is better to have too much time than not enough time.
- Exact flight itineraries are NOT needed to apply for your visa, only estimated dates of departure from and return to the US.
- You may not receive all of the time that you request on your initial visa. If this is the case, you will have to extend your visa while you are in Spain; usually this is a group activity done with a staff member. You will receive more information about this process upon arrival.
- If you plan on traveling to Eastern Europe or Africa, note that some countries require US citizens to have a visa in order to enter the country. Please check with individual consulates before departing from the US.
- Citizens of countries other than the US, please note that requirements may be different for you. For non-US citizens, permission from US authorities to exit and reenter the US may be required. Refer to US immigration for assistance.
Last modified on October 8, 2008 |