If you are a US citizen, then you do not need a Schengen visa to visit Europe, just an ETISAS visa will do. But what if you are in the US on a green card or a permanent resident permit? This article shows how to get Spain visa for Green card holders residing in United States.
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Do US green card holders need to get a Spanish Schengen visa?
Yes. The Schengen Area Free Movement Agreement states that your nationality (the country you hold a passport with) is considered more important than your country of resident. So if your country does not have a free movement agreement, you will need to get a Spain Schengen visa before visiting.
For example, if you have an Indian passport but live in the US, you will still need a Schengen visa to visit Spain because your country does not have a bilateral deal with Schengen states.
This applies to (e.g., Green Card holders; F1 (I-20), H1B, G1, J1, etc.) holders.
Can I apply for a Spain Schengen visa from the US if I am not a US Citizen and staying on a green card ?
Yes. You can visit any of the Spanish consulates or BLSS offices in the US to get your Spain Schengen visa. You do not need to go back to your home country for visa purposes.
Do US Citizens need a visa for Spain?
US citizens don’t need a visa to visit Spain as long as they don’t stay longer than 90 days in a 180-day period for things like tourism, business, short-term studies, cultural or sporting events, or medical treatment.
But if you want to live in Spain, study there, or work there for a long time, you need to apply for a National (D) Visa.
Starting in 2024, US citizens who want to visit Spain will have to sign up for ETIAS. ETIAS is an electronic travel permit that will let all people from countries that don’t need visas travel in the Schengen area without having to apply for a visa. It will be good for 3 years or until the expiration date on your passport, whichever comes first.
How and Where to Apply for a Spain Schengen visa in the US for Green Card Holders?
The Spanish Government has signed a contract with an external company (BLS International) for processing visas for Spanish Consular Offices in the United States, effective May 18th, 2023.
So you will need to apply for all your Spanish Schengen visas with them.
You must first visit https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/
There are 7 Spain visa application centers in the US : You can click below the jurisdiction that you come under to know your visa processing
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Boston
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Chicago
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Houston
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Los Angeles
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Miami
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in New York
- Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Washington DC
The next Step is getting an appointment for Spain visa with the consulate in the right jurisdiction.
The main link to the Spanish consulate for United States is : https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/EmbajadasConsulados/Paginas/index.aspx . From here, click on the “consular services” option to open the visa page.
What are the documents required for Spain Schengen visa applicants for green card holders?
Spain Schengen visa form
The applicant must fill out all of the parts of an official application form and sign it. If the person applying is under 18, one of their parents must sign the form.
You can download your Spain Schengen visa application form here. Do note that not all Spain Schengen visas applications are the same, when you are applying for Spain the content is in Spanish.
To know how to fill Spain Schengen visa application form, visit here.
Round trip flight itinerary
You need not book a fully paid flight ticket before your visa is approved as this can be risky if your visa is rejected. Instead, you can use flight itinerary to for visa purposes, and once your visa is approved, you can book the actual flight ticket.
- Arrival and departure from the Schengen area
- Departure and arrival to the United States of America
You can know more about flight itinerary for Schengen visa.
Travel insurance for Spain Schengen visa
Certificate of Insurance Company specifying name of applicant,dates of coverage, Repatriation coverage , minimum coverage €30.000 or $50.000. No deductibles must be included in the insurance consumables. You can get insurance by clicking below.
Your insurance must also cover other countries that you plan to visit (if any) . Know more about insurance for Spain Schengen visa here.
Visa Letter for Spain Schengen visa
A visa letter (also known as cover letter ) is one of the most important documents you need to submit when applying for a Schengen visa as this is the first document that the Spain visa officer will read to understand your Spain visa application.
It is also the only place where you can personally talk to the visa consulate and convince them to accept your visa application.
Know more about cover letter for Spain Schengen visa.
Spain Schengen visa photo specification
Photo must be attached to the application. An updated, passport-size, color photo taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective spectacles or clothing covering the facial oval. Baby and toddler photos must not show the parent holding them.
Know more about Spain visa photo specification here.
A Valid Passport
Copy of original passport pages with biometric data and previous Schengen visas. At least three months after leaving Schengen, the passport must be valid. At least two blank pages are required. Passports older than 10 years are rejected.
Proof of Residence
Proof that you live in the area where the consulate is located: State ID, Driver’s License, or Student ID.
Proof of legal residence in the United States :
- Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
- Valid US long-term Visa
- F1 student visas must also submit original and copy of I-20 form
- Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.
If applying for Spain Business Visa
A letter of invitation from either the Spanish company or the local company, outlining the contact person and address in Spain, as well as the objective of the visit and who will fund the associated expenses.
Proof of Accommodation
You will need to prove that you have your proof of stay already arranged this can be in terms of hotel or hostel bookings for each and every country and city of your trip.
If you are staying with someone else then Original Invitation issued by the local police station proceeded by a Citizen or a Legal Resident of Spain needs to be submitted.
To know more about proof of accommodation for Spain Visa.
Proof of Sustenance
You need to provide proof that you have money for the entire duration of this trip after you have booked the flight & accommodation for the whole trip. You must atleast show USD $115/day per person for the stay in the Schengen area.
Valid proofs can be one of bank statements for the last 3 months or latest credit card statement.
Proof of Income
- For employee: Updated Employer letter indicating position, length of employed and salary or the latest 3 payment stubs.
- For students: Registration letter from school, college or university.
- Self-employed: Last year Income Tax Return and a “Good Standing Certificate” issued by the Secretary of State.
- Financial dependent: Last joint Income Tax Return or joint bank statements
- Leave Approval letter for Spain Schengen visa letter from your current employer.
Additional Documentation for Minors
- Written permission from parents or guardians, notarized, to travel abroad.
- Birth Certificate, both the original and a copy.
- At least one parent must be there, and the other parent must give written permission for the application to be made in his or her place.
Who can Apply for Spain visa in United States ?
Any citizen of other nationals are spending most of their time in Spain during their trip to Schengen area, that is travellers who have Spain as the main or only destination in Europe.
If the number of days of stay is the same between Spain and the other Schengen country, then apply with Spain only if you are visiting .
Where to get an appointment for Spain visa for green card holders ?
You will need to make an appointment with the BLS International office in your jurisdiction. As mentioned earlier, there are 7 Spain branches of BLS in United States. The appointment can be made online on the respective website of the branch.
How long does it take for my Spain Schengen visa to be Approved ?
As of the day after the application was sent in, the law says that a decision must be made within 15 working days. However, this time limit can be extended to 45 working days if an interview or more papers are needed.
When people from certain countries apply for a visa, the central officials need to talk with them, which could make the process take longer.
The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
What happens on the day of the appointment for Spain visa for Green card holders ?
On the appointment day, your documents will be verified and by the BLSS official and if any of the documents are not fine, for example you have got the wrong type of insurance or your photo will be of the wrong specification, you will be asked to get a new one from their in-house studio or experts (at an exorbitant price).
So it is important that you make no mistakes here and have the consultation of Schengen experts such as ourselves.
Also your bio-metrics will be taken at the center.
During the passport application process, the applicant’s face and fingerprints will be taken. Fingerprinting isn’t done on people who are under 12 or whose fingerprints have been taken in the last 59 months.
But in the second case, if the applicant’s fingerprints aren’t very good, the Consular Office will ask them to come back and get them taken again.
A visa does not automatically entitle someone to enter the Schengen area. The traveller must meet all legal entry requirements.
What to do if my Spain visa is refused ?
The applicant can appeal a visa refusal to this Consular Office within one month after receiving notification. The High Court Justice of Madrid accepts judicial review applications within two months of receiving notice of the visa refusal or reconsideration appeal dismissal.
What are the types of Spain visa that green card holder can apply ?
- Spain Transit Visa : If you are having a layover in one of the airports of Spain, then you may need to get a transit visa.
- Spain Tourist Visa : Want to backpack across the Alps of Spain ? Then you can get a tourist visa for a maximum period of 90 days.
- Spain Visitor visa : This visa if for those who have a relative or friend who is living in Spain.
- Spain Business visa : If you are attending any trade fair, meeting clients or engaging in any business related activity you need a business visa.
- Spain Diplomat visa : for official visits of national delegations or government officials.
- Spain Medical visa : If you want to get some surgery or medical treatment in Spain.
- Spain Student Visa : Enrolling in a university in Spain. Then you can get a student visa or study visa.
- Spain visa for Sports, Film Crew : If you are attending any football event or shooting a movie ? then you need to get a culture visa.
- Spain Spouse Visa : If you want to join your spouse who either is a citizen or has a work permit for
FAQ – Spain visa for green card holders
How to book an appointment for Spain visa for green card holders?
You will need to determine your jurisdiction for visa appointment and once that is done go to the respective subdomain on the BLSS website and from there you will be able to make your appointment for Spain Schengen visa.
After that you will be given an appointment confirmation known as Appointment Request no.
Should you buy flight and hotel bookings before my Spain visa is approved ?
No. The consulate itself says that you need not buy travel tickets before your visa is approved.
We recommend that you do not purchase travel tickets until your visa has been approved. On the other hand, you may provide us with a reservation, a planned travel itinerary