Spain, situated in the southwest of Europe, is a country that always manages to draw attention. If I said Spain is one of the most unique countries in the world, I would not be wrong at all. There is a huge range of food, wine, landscapes, towns, and customs. Almost every single town distinguish from others. Every corner of the country is full of activities. You can enjoy at the pristine beaches, taking sunbath and dive into the pure water of the Mediterranean Sea. From rough mountainous terrain to the glistening beaches, Spain amazes people with natural beauty that offers breathtaking views. I know the words are a little bit chaotic, but it is just because that words are not enough to depict the country's beauty. Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world. In 2019 the number of tourists who visit the country hit the record by reaching a whopping 83.7 million tourists. If we research further, we will see that cities, specifically Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville are the most visited places in the country. Barcelona has buildings, structures with varied styles of architecture sprinkled all over the city. You can find beautiful Baroque and Gothic-styled buildings that are picturesque and promise the best photo shots of your life. Ciutat Vella is most likely to walk you past, medieval era. Like other Mediterranean countries, Spanish cuisine is famous for its diverse range of food. One of the famous ones is Paella, a rice-based dish that contains beans, saffron, olives, spices, herbs, vegetables, and meat or seafood, depending on your preference. Another thing that Spain is famous for is the Spanish culture. Spanish dance of Flamenco is nothing but passion. Spanish festivals are the events that gather all people around and make the day to remember. You have probably heard about or see La Tomatina. Since 1945, people rage fierce tomato wars upon each other just for fun and to reduce stress. To realize your travel to Spain, you should check whether you need a visa or not. Luckily for today's article, we will look at Spain tourist visa. We will cover Spain tourist visa requirements, Spain tourist visa minimum bank balance and price for tourist visa to Spain. But first, we will look at the visa policy of the country to determine does Spain require a tourist visa for a specific country.
Visa Policy of Spain
As a country of Schengen area requirements and conditions for Spain’s short visa types are defined by Schengen regulations. Therefore we can say Spain tourist visa is the same as the Schengen tourist visa. However, it does not mean that Spain does not have its regulations on visas. That is, in the case of travels exceeding 90 days, people need to apply for national visas or, in other words, long-term visas. From which countries does Spain require a tourist visa? According to the laws set by Schengen countries, besides the members of the Schengen countries and EU countries, citizens of the following countries do not need to go through visa processes. Therefore, they can be called Spain visa-free countries, which are given below: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Uruguay. If your country is not on the list, then you better read the article carefully because you will need the visa. What are visa types in Spain? As we mentioned before, they are categorized as short-stay visas (Schengen visas), long-stay visas, and transit visas. As you can see from the name, short-term visas are established for short-length travels not exceeding 90 days. The visa type we are interested in is in this group. How to apply for Spain tourist visa? How long does it take to get a tourist visa to Spain? How long can you stay in Spain with a tourist visa? Do I need medical certificate for Spain tourist visa? These are the questions you should seek answers to before starting your application. Without further ado, let’s get into tourist visas.
Tourist Visa
This visa type is designed for people who want to visit Spain for touristic purposes for a short time. On the list below, you will find Spain tourist visa requirements:
• The visa application form that is completed, signed, dated by the applicant is needed.
• A passport with a validity of three months after you leave Spain. The passport should not be issued more than 10 years ago and should have a minimum of 2 blank pages. Photos should be attached correctly. It should bear the signature of the applicant.
• Two photos that are taken recently. The face from a frontal view should cover 70 or 80 (32x26 mm) per cent of the photo. A uniform and white background is advised.
• A copy of your national ID card with remaining validity of three months after you leave Spain.
• If the applicant's citizenship and country of origin are not the same, then a duplicate of the residence permit that should stay valid for three months after departing from Spain is needed.
• Copies of the main page of the passport and all previously processed Schengen visas.
• Travel itinerary. Round trip flight reservations and accommodation booking with essential information regarding dates, addresses, etc.
• Proof that the applicant is capable of financing the travel. For that purpose, one of the following can be presented: a personal bank statement indicating your financial movements for the last 3 months, cash, credit card, payslips, evidence of employment, personal property, assets, etc.
• Medical insurance covering the medical costs during the travel. The insurance should function in all Schengen countries. It should stay valid for the duration of the entire travel. It should be able to cover at 30 000 euros worth of cases. In an insurance document or separate confirmation document, conditions should be indicated clearly.
• If a minor is travelling, a copy of the birth certificate and translated version into either Spanish or English is required. If not accompanying, parents' approval for the travel should be affirmed by the letter of consent written by them.
We learned what documents are needed for visa applications. "How to apply for Spain tourist visa?" is another thing that is necessary to shine a light on. Follow the instructions below. First, find the local embassy or consulate of Spain in your country. Then make an appointment. When it is time, attend the embassy and present the required documents and pay the fees. By the way, if there is none in your country, find the nearest embassy to your country. What is the price for tourist visa to Spain anyway? The fee for the tourist visa is 80 euros. But there are some exceptions in which the amount can decrease. For example, in the case of children under the age of 12 (children under six years is free from fee), the amount is equal to 40 euros. For the nationals of certain countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine), the amount is 35 euros. How long does it take to get a tourist visa to Spain? The average application processing time varies between 3 and 20 days. It depends on the visa application country. How long can you stay in Spain with a tourist visa? Spain tourist visa allows travellers to remain in Spain for 90 days.
Some things can confuse people regarding Spain tourist visa. One of them is financial proof. When we apply for short-term visas, we face the requirement of having some amount of money in our bank accounts. Therefore some can ask what is Spain tourist visa minimum bank balance is? A foreigner who seeks to enter the territory of Spain needs to attest owning the overall amount for the duration up to 10 days that is representative of a 90% of the gross national minimum wage (636.93 €) that is 573.23€, while in case of exceeding ten days the daily required amount is 70.77€.
Do I need medical certificate for Spain tourist visa? The answer is yes. You will present a medical certificate proving that you are not a container of any disease (like COVID-19) that can harm the public. As for Spain extend tourist visa, it is possible. You have to attend corresponding Foreigners Offices and Police Stations.
