• Short-Term Visa Options
• Long-Term Work Permit Options
• Useful Links

Short-Term Visa Options

Spain is a member of the Schengen Treaty. The Schengen Treaty is an agreement between European States, which allows for integration of their immigration policies and border control. Under the Schengen Treaty, a foreigner may enter any of the member states for tourism or business purposes for up to ninety (90) days every six (6) months. The ninety (90) day period is cumulative of all stays in member states during the six (6) month period. Extensions of the ninety (90) day period are not normally granted and would require an unforeseen event such as a medical emergency.

The Schengen Treaty member countries include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Citizens of the following countries, holding a regular passport, valid for at least three (3) months will not require a visa to travel to Spain:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Republic Of Slovakia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Chile, Cyprus, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (EAR) and European Union citizens.

Anyone not included in the list will need a visa to enter Spain.

To apply for a tourist or business visa the following requirements must be submitted in person at the embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence:

1. Original passport valid for a minimum of three (3) months;
2. Three (3) color passport-sized photographs;
3. Proof of valid immigration status if the applicant is not a citizen of the country where they reside;
4. A notarized invitation from a family member or friend who resides in Spain, or proof of hotel reservations;
5. Latest credit card statement showing credit of $50.00 per day of stay in Spain or travelers checks;
6. Last three (3) bank statements;
7. Employment verification letter;
8. Round trip airline ticket or proof of reservation; and
9. Proof of health insurance that will cover all expenses caused by a medical evacuation to the home country, emergency medical assistance or urgent hospitalization. This insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen countries.

Depending on the applicant’s nationality, visas can be issued as quickly as within four (4) or five (5) days or they may take as long as four (4) weeks to process.

For more information on different types of visas to Spain and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

Long-Term Visa Options

Work permits

Employees who need to stay in Spain on business for more than ninety (90) days or employees who will be working in Spain, even if it is for less than ninety (90) days require a work permit to maintain lawful status in Spain.

Work permits are available for:

1. Direct Hires
2. Inter-company transferees

In both cases, an “Offer of Employment” (“Oferta de Trabajo”) must be filed with the Spanish labor authorities. Generally, processing of the “Offer of Employment” takes from sixty (60) to ninety (90) days but in certain instances can take much longer.

Upon approval of the “Offer of Employment”, the foreigner has thirty (30) days to file his visa application with the Spanish Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over his place of residence. Medical certificates and certificates of good standing are required to apply for a residence visa.

Visas are normally issued within two (2) weeks.

The employee and his/ her dependants have thirty (30) days from the date of the visa’s issuance to enter Spain and register with the police.

For more information on different types of visas to Spain and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

Useful Links

• Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C.
• Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Spanish News Online
• Spanish Travel Guide
• The Universal Currency Converter