Spain Passport and Visa Information
Passport
To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned program end date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew it as soon as possible. This can impact applying for your visa. Without a visa, you will not be able to attend your program in Spain.
Ideally, students should have a passport or apply for passport renewal before applying to USAC to ensure a smoother pre-departure process. However, not having a passport will not hinder your USAC application.
Passport applications and renewals can take time! Processing times vary and do not include mailing time. Mailing times vary across the country. U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time.
Visa
A student visa is official permission from a foreign government to live and study in that country. It comes in the form of a stamp or sticker that is placed directly onto a page in the passport.
Depending on your citizenship, a student visa is only required if you are studying in Spain for 90 days or more (e.g., semester and yearlong programs). U.S. citizens participating on summer or January programs do not require a student visa.
The Spanish Government utilizes an external company (BLS International) for visa processing for Spanish Consular Offices in the United States, excluding the San Francisco Consulate. If your consulate is utilizing BLS for visa processing, this will be specified on the consulate’s website.
U.S. citizens must obtain a student visa through a Spanish consulate/BLS prior to departure if they are studying abroad in Spain for 90+ days. Visa processing is out of USAC’s control as visas are not guaranteed and are granted at the discretion of Spanish consulates. Preparing to apply for a visa can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks (minimum) to 4-8 weeks or longer depending on the length of the program. Yearlong students will need to provide additional documents, which take significant additional time to process.
Upon submitting a visa application, processing time can take 4-8 weeks or longer to complete by the Spanish Consulate. The entire visa process includes gathering application materials, application submission, and application processing time. Take this into consideration when selecting the best term for you to study abroad.
Certain consulates may require that students schedule an appointment and appear in-person at a BLS location to apply for and/or pick up their visa. Requesting an appointment with specific consulates will take additional time and planning on the student’s end. If you are required to personally travel for your visa, this will be at your own expense as part of the visa process.
Please keep in mind that consulates may not be responsive and may refer you to their website to answer your questions. Your Program Advisor will guide you through the application process as best they can, but students are responsible for ensuring they meet all deadlines, requirements, and other recommendations by the Spanish Consulate and BLS. Visa processing and approval are at the discretion of the Spanish Consulate.
Once you submit your application, the consulate will have your physical passport while your visa is processed. Therefore, traveling internationally prior to the start of your study abroad program may not be possible and will interfere with your visa application process. USAC strongly recommends against international travel, including other study abroad programs, prior to the program start date.
Consulates continuously update and change information on their websites. USAC does its best to communicate updates to students, however, it is the student’s responsibility to reference the Consulate and BLS websites during the visa submission process. USAC is not responsible for any changes made by the consulate/BLS.
Non-U.S. citizens
Check with your home country consulate and the embassy of the country in which you plan to study regarding visa requirements.
Typically, non-U.S. citizens who study/reside in the U.S. can apply for a Spanish student visa in the U.S. jurisdiction where they study/reside. Additional visa application materials will be required. Non-U.S. citizens who do not live in the U.S. should research applying for a Spanish student visa at the Spanish consulate of their home country.
Permanent residents of the U.S. should check with U.S. Immigration as leaving the country for more than one year may jeopardize permanent resident status. Tax clearance and re-entry forms may also be necessary in these cases.
U.K. travel - Electronic Travel Authorization requirement
On January 8, 2025, an electronic travel authorization (ETA) will be required for all U.S. citizens entering the United Kingdom (U.K.). This requirement applies to all travel, including study abroad, tourism, or other reasons. Airlines will check to make sure all passengers have an ETA prior to boarding.
U.S. citizens will be able to apply for an ETA starting on November 27, 2024.
Students must obtain an ETA prior to their arrival. It will cost 10 GBP. Please submit an application at least 72 hours in advance of your departure. While the ETA is valid for two years upon receipt, study abroad students are still limited to a six month stay in the U.K. without a visa. It does not extend the timeline of a valid student visa.