Spanish Visa: Applying on Your Own

Boston
31 St. James Avenue
Suite 905
Boston, MA 02116
Tel.: 617-536-2506/2527
Fax: 617-536-8512
Email: cog.boston@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

The Spanish Consulate in Boston requires students to book an appointment online prior to appearing in-person to submit a visa application. Students should plan to submit their visa application at the consulate at least two months prior to their program start date, and will need to schedule their appointment approximately two to four weeks prior to their desired appointment date, although some appointments may be available a few days prior to the desire appointment date. Students must appear in-person during their appointment time to submit their passport and visa application materials, and must appear in-person again in approximately 4-6 weeks to pick up passport containing their visa. The Boston consulate will allow a representative to pick up the student’s visa and passport with the student’s written permission.

Chicago
180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: 312-782-4588/4589
Fax: 312-782-1635
Email: cog.chicago@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin

The Spanish Consulate in Chicago requires students to book an appointment online prior to appearing in-person to submit a visa application. Students should plan to submit their visa application at the consulate at least two months prior to their program start date, and will need to schedule their appointment at least one month prior to their desired appointment date. Students must appear in-person during their appointment time to submit their passport and visa application materials. Students may either appear in-person again in approximately 4-6 weeks to pick up passport containing their visa or may have their passport returned by mail by bringing to their appointment a self-addressed Express Mail envelope from the US Postal Service with appropriate postage pre-paid. No other carrier service is accepted and tracking of mailed items is the responsibility of the applicant.

1800 Bering Drive
Suite 660
Houston, TX 77057
Tel.: 713-783-6200/05/14
Fax: 713-783-6166
Email: cog.houston@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

The Spanish Consulate Houston accepts visa applications in person either by appointment, which must be scheduled online, or during walk-in hours from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday through Friday (plan to arrive close to 9am if you decide to do walk-in). Students should plan to appear in person at the consulate at least two months prior to their departure for Spain. Visa fees must be paid in exact cash or money order.

5055 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 860
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel.: 323-938-0158/0166
Fax: 323-938-2502
Email: cog.losangeles@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: California (counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Barbara y Ventura), Arizona, Colorado, Utah

The Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles requires students to book an appointment online prior to appearing in-person to submit a visa application. Students must submit their visa application at the consulate at least two months prior to their program start date – applications will not be accepted less than 60 days prior to the student’s departure for Spain. Students must appear in-person during their appointment time to submit their passport and visa application materials, and must bring a self-addressed Express Mail envelope from the US Postal Service with appropriate postage pre-paid in order to have their passport and visa returned by mail.

Miami
2655 Le Jeune Rd.
Suite 203
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Tel.: 305-446-5511/12/13
Fax: 305-446-0585
Email: cog.miami@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Florida, South Carolina, Georgia

The Spanish Consulate in Miami requires students to book an appointment online using the VFS Global appointment scheduling service prior to appearing in-person to submit a visa application. Students should plan to submit their visa application at the consulate at least two months prior to their program start date, and will need to schedule their appointment approximately one month prior to their desired appointment date. Applications will not be accepted more than 90 days prior to the program start date. Students must appear in-person during their appointment time to submit their passport and visa application materials, and must bring a self-addressed Express Mail envelope from the US Postal Service with appropriate postage pre-paid in order to have their passport and visa returned by mail. No other type of mailing envelope will be accepted and tracking of mailed items is the sole responsibility of the applicant.

New York City
150 East 58th Street, 30th Fl.
New York, NY 10155
Tel.: 212-355-4080/81/82/85/90
Fax: 212-644-3751
Email: cog.nuevayork@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey

San Francisco
1405 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel.: 415-922-2995 / 96
Fax: 415-931-9706
Email: cog.sanfrancisco@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Alaska, Northern California (except counties covered by Los Angeles consulate), Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, US Pacific Islands

The Spanish Consulate in San Francisco requires students to book an appointment online using the VSF Global appointment scheduling service prior to appearing in-person to submit a visa application. Students should plan to submit their visa application at the consulate at least two months prior to their program start date, and will need to schedule their appointment approximately one month prior to their desired appointment date. Students must appear in-person during their appointment time to submit their passport and visa application materials, and must bring a self-addressed and pre-paid envelope from the US Postal Service with the appropriate flat rate stamp (not a metered stamp) to have their passport and visa returned by mail. No other courier service will be accepted. Students may also pick-up their documents in person from 1pm to 2pm Monday through Friday, once they receive notification that their visa has been processed. Visa fees may be paid in cash (exact change) or by money order. To check the status of your visa, visit: http://sutramiteconsular.maec.es with your personal code given at your interview. No information will be given by telephone or email.

Washington, DC
Consular Section
2375 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
Tel.: 202-728-2330
Fax: 202-728-2302
Email: cog.washington@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, North Carolina

The Spanish Consulate in Washington, DC only accepts visa applications in person and does not schedule appointments in advance. The office is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; plan to arrive close to 9am if you can. Students should plan to appear in person at the D.C. consulate at least two months prior to their departure for Spain. Completed visas may be picked up in person or students may provide a self-addressed and pre-paid US “Express-Mail” envelope from the USPS at the time of application to have their passport retuned by mail. No other type of envelope will be accepted, and tracking of mailed items is the sole responsibility of the applicant. Please note that the visa application fee must be paid in cash in exact change.

Edificio Mercantil Plaza
Avenida Ponce de Leon s/n
Edificio Mercantil Plaza, Piso 11, Oficina 1101
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
Tel.: 787-758-6090/ 6142/6279
Fax: 787-763-0190
Email: Cog.SanJuandePuertoRico@maec.es
Website
Visa Information
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico, Islands of Culebra & Vieques, US Virgin Islands

The Spanish Consulate in Puerto Rico only accepts visa applications in person from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and does not schedule appointments in advance. Students should plan to appear in person at the consulate at least two months prior to their departure for Spain. Completed visas must be picked up in-person.

Most consulates require students to submit the following documents; be sure to check your consulate’s website for specific requirements:

• • National Visa Application form(s) filled out by hand (some consulates require more than one form and at some consulates – including Boston – the forms MUST be double- sided).  The National Visa Application forms can be completed in English and must be signed where indicated. Refer to the sample application and download a blank one from the website of the consulate at which you are applying.
  • Original passport plus one photocopy of the ID and signature page(s). Your passport must be valid for at least six months following the end of the program. Before submitting your passport to the consulate, please make a scanned copy for your records in case you need your passport information while your visa is processing.
  • Proof of residency in a state that falls under the jurisdiction of the consulate where you are applying for a visa, such as a U.S. driver’s license, U.S. state ID card, voter’s registration card, or a current student ID card (bring the original document plus one photocopy).
  • Two passport photographs with white background, with your name written clearly on the back side. Make sure the photos present the full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin – if the top of your head is cut off at all, the photos will not be accepted. Once you have double checked that you have filled out the National Visa Application(s) 100 percent correctly, glue one photo to the first page of the application in the box that says “photo” (do not staple or tape the photo, you must glue it).
  • Letter of acceptance, proof of international health insurance, and proof of “financial means”. Two visa letters from Boston University Study Abroad (in English) and Boston University in Madrid (in Spanish) will be provided to you to confirm your admission into the program, the payment of tuition, the number of hours per week you will be studying, as well as proof of health insurance and proof of financial means during your stay in Spain. You will receive these after you submit your Visa Letter Request Form (see “Forms to Fill Out Online” above). You must bring the original visa letters and one photocopy of each. Your acceptance email will not be accepted as proof of admission.
  • Visa processing fee. The processing fee for students was $160 for U.S. citizens at the time this was posted and varies for non-US citizens. Contact your local consulate to determine the exact charge and acceptable forms of payment at the time of your application.  The Boston consulate accepts only money orders (not personal checks or bank checks), payable to the Consulate of Spain. Do not forget to sign your money order, if required.
  • Immigration documents (for non-US citizens only; original and one photocopy). If you are not a citizen of the United States, you must submit your “green card” or student visa and I-20 form, F-1, H-1, etc., and one photocopy; your original documents will be returned to you following the appointment. At the moment of the submission of your application, you must have a valid U.S. visa to return to the United States following the conclusion of your program.
  • Other documents, as indicated by the appropriate consulate. For example, the Boston consulate requires students to submit a Supplement Form (Hoja adicional) with their visa application. This form may not be required at other consulates. For the Boston Supplement Form, refer to the sample application, and download a blank one. Other consulates may require a copy of your planned flight itinerary or other documents relevant to your semester abroad.

Please remember that although BU Study Abroad will act as a liaison during the application process, it is NOT a visa processing agency. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the visa process and requirements at the Spanish Consulate in their jurisdiction.