Student Visa Requirements – Spain

Obtaining a Student Visa

The Study Abroad Center will act as a legal representative for Semester in Seville program participants and apply for the student visa on their behalf.

To have the Study Abroad Center apply for visa at the Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco, applicants must submit the documents below in the following order:

  1. Original Passport
  2. Only ONE original APPLICATION FORM completed, signed, and with two recently taken professional passport size pictures with white background
    • 1st PICTURE already glued on the application form
    • 2nd PICTURE attached with a clip onto the form

Write the departure date under APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL VISA

DAY/MONTH/YEAR
IE: 15 JUN 2018

    • Disclaimer: please stable it at the end of the application form
  2. Copy of the passport on white background
  3. Original acceptance letter:
    • 1st: the destination University acceptance letter in Spanish
    • 2nd: the US program letter
    • *Evidence of funds: statement from the University/School or US program assuming full financial responsibility for room and board.
    • If not included in the acceptance letter, provide one of the following:
      • Proof financial aid or scholarship of at least $665 USD per month, or prepaid accommodation
      • Notarized letter signed by your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) declaring full financial responsibility for room and board of the specified amount. Suggested wording: “I hereby certify that I the (father, mother, other) of (…), will support her/him with a monthly allowance of $… while she/he is in Spain and that I am financially responsible for any emergency that may arise”.
    • *Proof of Health Insurance: full medical coverage for the duration of the stay in Spain from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain which covers medical costs and repatriation resulting from accident or sudden illness.
  4. Medical Certificate signed by an MD (for stays over 180 days) – Academic year program students only; not required for semester students. See below for more information.
  5. Police Criminal Record Certificate + Apostille (for stays over 180 days): Academic year program students only; not required for semester students. See below for more information.
  6. Copy of Student ID or ID or driver’s license
  7. Evidence of Immigration Status in the US for the NON-US Passport holders only: copy of US Visa or US Residence Card
  8. Airplane itinerary
  9. Visa processing fees: Payable by Money Order only, care of the Study Abroad Center.

The visa process takes approximately 4 weeks from the day all documents are presented. Please plan accordingly.

 

FOR AN ACADEMIC YEAR

More than 180 days; Fall and Spring semesters

For students intending to study for an Academic Year (Fall and Spring semesters), in addition to the above documents, they must also submit a Medical Certificate and a certificate of absence of police criminal records.

If the student can submit the Police Criminal Record Certificate with Apostille and Medical Certificate in time, the Study Abroad Center can apply for the visa on the student’s behalf. Therefore, please plan ahead and start the process at least 2 months before the Semester application deadline. Otherwise, students will have to apply for their student visa at the Consulate General in person.

Medical Certificate

A recent doctor’s statement, dated no older than 3 months before the application date, on the doctor or medical center’s letterhead, duly signed and stamped, indicating that ‘the student has been examined and found free of any contagious diseases according to the International Health Regulation 2005’.

Police Criminal Record Clearance

Must be based on fingerprint search verification. Dated no older than 3 months before the application date. The certificate must be issued from either:

  • State Department of Justice. Original signed clearance letter (from the States where you have lived during the past 5 years). It must be legalized with the Apostille of The Hague Convention from the corresponding Secretary of State.
  • FBI Records, issued by the US Department of Justice – F.B.I. It must be legalized with the Apostille of The Hague Convention from the US Department of State in Washington DC.You must also present a police record from any countries where you have lived for more than six months during the past five years, with the corresponding Apostille of The Hague and a certified translation into Spanish or English where applicable.

State Department of Justice Clearance Letter

The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center issues criminal history record checks by name or fingerprints, sometimes referred to as a “Police Clearance” or “Police Abstract” for the State of Hawaii. Spain student visas require that the verifications are based on fingerprint searches. See the FAQ Page for more information.

Identity History Summary Request from the FBI

For more information, visit the FBI website and their FAQ section.

There are three options for submitting a request to the FBI that have their own unique procedures:

  • Option 1: Electronically submit your request directly to the FBI
    1. Go to https://www.edo.cjis.gov
    2. Follow the steps under “Obtaining Your Identity History Summary” section.

FBI CJIS Division
ATTN: Electronic Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306 

Plan carefully! Electronically submitted Identity History Summary requests are estimated to take 3 to 5 business days upon receipt of the fingerprint card. Additional time for mail delivery, if selected, should also be considered.

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Plan carefully! Processing time for mail-in Identity History Summary requests is 14-16 weeks.

  • Option 3: Submit Your Request to an FBI-Approved Channeler
    • FBI-approved Channelers receive the fingerprint submission and relevant data, collect the associated fee(s), electronically forward the fingerprint submission with the necessary information to the CJIS Division for a national Identity History Summary check, and receive the electronic summary check result for dissemination to the individual. An FBI-approved Channeler simply helps expedite the delivery of Identity History Summary information on behalf of the FBI.
    • Additional fees may apply.

Apostille of The Hague

Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents so that they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. See here for more information about how to request authentication services.

What to include when requesting authentications by mail:

  • A completed Request of Authentications Service (DS-4194) form.
    • Section 4 of DS-4191 – Country of Use = Spain
  • Your documents requiring authentication services
  • $8 fee by check or money order for mail-in services
  • One self-addressed, prepaid envelope for return of your document (don’t include FedEx).
  • Mail your packet to the following address:

Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206

Plan ahead. The average processing time for mail-in requests is approximately 12 business days from the date of receipt by the Office of Authentications.