TRANSIT & TOURIST VISAS: INSTRUCTIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Updated April 7th 2008

NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

 

The Consulate General in Chicago can issue visas exclusively for legal residents in its jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

 

In order to enter Spain, a visa may be required, depending on nationality of applicant, intended length of stay and purpose of the trip (tourism, studies, etc). If the reason for visiting Spain is tourism, study or business, and the stay is for less than 90 days, NO visa is required for US passport-holders, as well as for some other nationalities. However, many other nationalities always require a visa, regardless of the purpose of trip and length of stay (click on the nationality link above to view countries).

 

If you intend to visit (visit is always less than 90 days) only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Consulate of that specific country. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply at the Consulate of the country which is your main destination. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, but do not have a main destination, you must apply at the Consulate of the country where you will be staying the longest time. And if you will be staying the same amount of time in each of them, you must apply at the Consulate of the country of your first entry. A Schengen visa issued by a Consulate of any Schengen country allows the holder to travel also to other Schengen countries, during the validity of the visa (a period never longer than 90 days).

 

·       VISAS APPLICATION ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY MAIL. Visas must be applied for and collected in person by the applicant or by a legal representative  who presents his/her identification and a written notarized authorization from the applicant. The authorization must indicate the name and passport number of the applicant and the name and document number (e.g. Driver’s License number or passport number) of the person dropping off the application and/or picking up the passport.

·         Applications cannot be accepted earlier than 90 days before entering Spain, nor less than 14 days before the date of departure.

·        Average processing time for visas is 4-6 weeks (there is no special rush procedure). Nevertheless, some visas must be authorized in      Spain and will need a longer processing time.

·        Once submitted, no telephone consultations can be attended by this office regarding the visa processing status. If application is incomplete, it will be immediately returned to applicant.

 

 

TRANSIT AND TOURIST REQUIREMENTS

 

1.       Schengen Visa application form, filled out in print and signed, and 1 photocopy.

 

2.       2 recent passport photographs. Glue the original picture to each application form.

 

3.      Original regular passport or travel document, still valid for at least 6 more months with at least one blank page for the visa.

 

ALL DOCUMENTS LISTED BELOW MUST BE SUBMITTED ORIGINALS AND 1 PHOTOCOPY:

 

4.        Alien Registration Card or notarized copy of it, Visa, Reentry Permit or other USCIS document allowing return to the US.

 

5.       Proof of financial means for the length of stay, at a minimum rate of $700 for up to 9 days, and $70 per each additional day (i.e. bank statement of the last three months).

 

6.       Official itinerary or airplane ticket for the entire trip (in order to apply for the visa, you do not have to purchase the airplane ticket, but you must have a reservation showing confirmed names and dates of travel).

 

7.    Confirmed hotel reservations or invitation from legal resident in Spain obtained from their local Police Department in their place of residence (BOE nº 113, 11 de Mayo, 2007) or proof of housing.  

 

8.     Written confirmation from insurance company of a valid health/accidental insurance with full international coverage in Spain and rest of Schengen countries with a minimum coverage of $37,000. Or Travel/accidental insurance coverage for the entire trip.

 

9.       Notarized letter of employment in the US (with salary and dates of employment). If self-employed, provide business license and tax return. If unemployed, proof and source of steady income.

 

10.   For applicants under 18 years of age, a notarized authorization from both parents, with the Apostille of the Hague Convention (contact the Secretary of State for your state of residency) and a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate showing parents’ names.

 

11.  $ 92.40 money order, payable to the Consulate of Spain. No cash or personal checks. This is a non-refundable visa processing fee. 

     ($53.90 visa fee for the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Republic f Macedonia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine)

 

12.   This very page you are now reading, stating the visa requirements, must always be submitted.

 

*The Consular Administration has authority to evaluate and request additional documents—the submission of which does not guarantee the issuance of a visa—, as well as to request a personal interview.

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