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Spain visa

Europe · Southern Europe

Prepare your visa application for Spain: Schengen short stay, study or another national visa. Find the documents, basic fees, processing times and resources to prove. The right route depends on your nationality, residence, purpose and length of stay.

Updated on 18 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 18 October 2026

At a glance

Short stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area, subject to the length granted.
Submission
The consulate competent for your residence, or a centre it designates. Check the post's procedures.
Basic Schengen fees
90 € from 12 years; 45 € from 6 to under 12; free under 6. Exceptions and possible service fees.
Schengen decision
In principle 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in cases requiring additional examination.

Do you need a visa?

Fiji passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa required (Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated version of 30.12.2025).

Official source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II (consolidated version of 30.12.2025)EUR-Lex — Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, annexes I et II (version consolidée du 30.12.2025) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Spain visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 60

List of nationalities

Visa required 104

List of nationalities

Information not available 7

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Schengen short-stay visa
Tourism, family visit, business and other admissible stays of at most 90 days in 180. First check whether your nationality and situation require a visa. Official page (new tab)
National visa
For a stay of more than 90 days, in particular for work, study or settlement. Work activity may require this visa even for less than 90 days. Official page (new tab)
Study and equivalent-activity visa
For more than 90 days: admissible studies, mobility, volunteering or training. Up to 90 days, a student visa is not required, but a short-stay visa may be. Official page (new tab)

Choosing the consulate and the route

For a Schengen visa, Spain must be the sole or main destination, or the country of first entry if no main destination can be determined. Normally apply to the consulate responsible for your legal residence. Check the official directory and the post’s instructions: appointments, service providers and submission procedures vary.

Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a visa to settle, study or work in Spain; registration formalities must still be checked. Family members who are third-country nationals follow their own rules.

Preparing and submitting the application

  1. Choose the visa according to the purpose, the length of stay and your situation; consult the competent consulate's list.
  2. For Schengen, normally submit between 6 months and 15 calendar days before travel. Exceptions exist, in particular for justified emergencies.
  3. Complete and sign the form; prepare supporting documents suited to the trip and the place of submission.
  4. Book the required appointment. Attend for fingerprint collection when it is required.
  5. Pay the applicable fees and, where relevant, the service provider's fees; keep the receipt and the tracking reference.
  6. Respond to requests for documents or an interview, then collect your passport according to the post's instructions.

For studies, normally apply at least 2 months before the activity begins, unless you have duly justified reasons for being unable to meet this deadline.

Documents for a Schengen short stay

For multiple entries, prove insurance for the first stay and undertake to be insured for subsequent ones. Exemptions exist. A national visa follows its own list, in particular for the passport and insurance.

Fees and processing times

The basic Schengen fees are 90 € from 12 years, 45 € from 6 to under 12 and nil under 6. Exemptions, agreements or nationality-based measures may change the rate. A service provider's fees may be added; check the amount in local currency and the payment method.

The Schengen time limit is normally 15 calendar days for an admissible application; it may reach 45 days when additional examination is necessary. Also allow time to obtain an appointment.

For a national visa, check the fees and time limits for your category. For studies, after the residence authorisation is granted, the consular information sheet provides for a visa decision within a maximum of 1 month, extendable if documents or an interview are needed.

After the decision and on entry

Check the dates, length of stay and number of entries shown on the visa. Its validity does not allow you to exceed the stay granted. A visa does not guarantee entry: the authorities may request evidence of the trip, accommodation, return and resources.

For travellers subject to this resource requirement on entry, the Spanish formula retains 10 % of the gross monthly minimum wage per person per day, with a floor of 90 % per person. Entry and exit days are included.

Using the monthly minimum wage of 1 221 € set for 2026, the calculated reference amounts are 122.10 € per day and at least 1 098.90 € per person. Confirm the applicable amount and conditions with the consulate. Certain holders of residence or study permits, national visas or return authorisations qualify for exemptions.

For studies of more than 180 days, apply for the foreigner identity card within the month following entry. If a visa is refused, read the reasoned notification: it sets out the appeal routes and their time limits.

Biometrics, studies and former investor visas

Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints. Fingerprints recorded in the VIS less than 59 months ago may be reused, but a new collection remains possible, in particular where there is doubt about identity or insufficient quality. An exemption from fingerprints does not guarantee an exemption from an appointment.

For studies, prepare evidence of admission and payment of enrolment or equivalent documents for your activity, resources, suitable health insurance and medical certificate. A criminal record certificate concerns adults whose stay exceeds 180 days. Translations, legalisations and family documents depend on the case.

New investor visa applications have been closed since 3 April 2025. Applications submitted earlier may follow the rules in force at the time of submission. Visas and authorisations already valid keep their duration; renewals follow the rules applicable to the initial grant.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Which visa should I apply for to visit Spain?

If your situation requires a visa and the stay does not exceed 90 days in 180, consult the Schengen route. A business trip is not automatically paid employment. To work, study long-term or settle, check the appropriate national category.

How much does a Schengen visa for Spain cost?

The basic rate is 90 € from 12 years, 45 € from 6 to under 12 and free under 6. Exemptions or special rates may apply. Any service fees are separate from the resources to prove for the trip.

Do I have to attend the appointment in person?

Attendance is required for fingerprint collection when it applies. Their reuse from the VIS may be possible if they are less than 59 months old, but the consulate may request a new collection or an interview. Follow its instructions.

Does an invitation exempt me from other supporting documents?

No. An invitation may prove accommodation or purpose; it does not automatically replace the passport, resources, return or other applicable conditions.

Can I apply for a student visa for a short course?

For a study activity of at most 90 days, a student visa is not required. A short-stay visa may however be necessary depending on your nationality and situation. Beyond that, check whether the activity is eligible under the student route.

Can a new investor visa application still be submitted?

Not under this former route: new applications have been closed since 3 April 2025. Earlier applications, permits that remain valid and their renewals follow the applicable transitional provisions.

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