Passport and Visa Information

You will need to schedule an in-person appointment at the BLS office to submit your visa application. Appointments frequently book up several weeks in advance, so it is important to complete this step as early as you can. New appointment slots often open up around one month in advance, and students should regularly be checking the BLS website for any openings that become available. 

Use this Guide to the BLS Spanish Visa Application to create your BLS account and secure your appointment. The BLS website doesn't always work smoothly and can sometimes be confusing. Be sure to have a strong and steady internet connection, and be patient!

Documents Acquired by You, the Student:

• Appointment confirmation to submit your visa application: Before you do anything else, you must secure an appointment (normally scheduled through the BLS website) to submit your visa application. Print out one copy of the appointment confirmation screen or email and take it with your other documents to the appointment.
• Completed National Visa Application form: You will fill out this document online when you book your appointment through the BLS website, and the website will generate a copy for you to download and print. Refer to this Guide to the BLS Spanish Visa Application for instructions on how to complete it. If you find that you need to manually complete a PDF version of the application form, refer to this Sample Visa Application Form for guidance and be sure to type your responses into the form before printing it. Print out one copy of the application form, preferably on double-sided paper, and hand-sign in the signature box on the final page.
• Your actual passport: Make sure your passport is signed, in good condition, and confirm that it will be valid for at least six months after your study abroad program ends and at least one year into the future from the date when you will submit your visa application (whichever period of time is longer). It must have at least one empty page for the visa to be stamped inside. Scan or take a picture of your passport before submitting it with your visa application so you will have a copy for your records.
• Two clear photocopies of the information page of your passport: Take your passport to an actual photocopy machine to make clear copies; photocopy machines are available in most school libraries.  
• Identity photograph (one printed photo): You can get this wherever “passport photos” are sold, including camera shops (i.e. Hunt's Photo), most drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, etc.), or at a post office. Your photo must have a white background and be printed on photo paper in color and cut to the appropriate size of approximately 2 inches (or 5 cm) in height and width. Paper-clip the photo (do not paste or tape it) to the first page of your National Visa Application Form. Write your name on the back of your photo to clarify that it is you.
• Digital headshot image (file size under 200kB): You will usually be required to upload this digital image file when booking your visa application appointment online through the BLS website. This digital image does not need to be exactly the same as the identity photograph. But similar to the printed identity photograph listed above, this digital picture should be taken in color on a clear white background with you facing forward. Have the photo ready before you go online to schedule your visa application appointment, and check to confirm that the file size is less than 200 kilobytes.
• Payment for the visa fee for the correct amount, based on your country of citizenship. Refer to the BLS website linked above for information on current fees. You will pay the fees by cash or debit card in the BLS office when you submit all your paperwork for the visa application. For most students, the visa fee payment will be around USD $100 to $200, but it could be different depending on your country of citizenship.
• BLS disclaimer form printed-out and signed by you.
• Immigration documents (two copies of each): Required only for non-US citizens. Acceptable documentation could include a notarized copy of your Green Card or other US residency visa. International students in F-1 status should provide a notarized photocopy of both their F-1 student visa (if applicable) and their I-20 certificate (pages 1 and 2 only, printed on a single double-sided paper). See Step 3 below for more information about notarization.
• Proof of residence in the consulate's jurisdiction: For students who attend Berklee in Boston, our study abroad team can provide you with a notarized Enrollment Verification Letter. Students who do not attend Berklee in Boston will need to either submit a notarized color photocopy of their driver’s license or state ID (specifically from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont) or a notarized enrollment verification letter from the local college or university that they attend in this region, showing that they have an address in the consulate's region of jurisdiction. Consult with your study abroad office at your home institution for guidance on how to obtain this document.
• Medical certificate (original and one copy): Watch this video about getting a medical certificate for further guidance. This document is currently required for all Spanish student visa applicants, accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations." Refer to this Template Medical Certificate from the Spanish consulate, which you can forward to your doctor's office. The certificate must have been issued within 90 days prior to the visa application and must be signed by a physician (MD or DO), not by any other kind of healthcare provider. It must include a doctor's signature, letterhead, and stamp and/or business card. It needs to include the text written in Spanish. Medical certificates do not need to be notarized or apostilled. If you need help getting an appointment with a doctor, reach out to your school's Health and Wellness office for assistance.

Required only for students studying abroad for a full academic year (not just one semester):

• FBI background check (original and one copy): Watch this video about getting a background check certificate for further guidance. Students studying abroad for just one semester do not need a background check. When studying in Spain for two semesters, students in the United States must obtain a Criminal Record History report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which must be obtained by applying directly with the FBI. Once the official background check certificate is received, it must be translated into Spanish and also authenticated with an apostille.

  See Step 3 below for further guidance with translations and apostilles. The Apostille for the FBI Background Check must come from the US Department of State, Office of Authentications. The translation must be completed by a “sworn translator” registered with the Spanish consulate. This is often the document which takes the longest amount of time to receive, so we encourage you to begin working on it immediately.

  If you have also lived in another country during the past five years, you will also need to obtain a criminal record check from the national law enforcement agency in that country and it must be apostilled by the appropriate foreign affairs department of that country's national government. 

Documents Provided by Berklee:

Our office will provide these two additional items to you after you have confirmed your enrollment in an upcoming study abroad semester. We normally email these to students several months before they will travel abroad to allow ample time for the visa application. You would print them out in color and include them with your visa application materials.  

• Berklee Valencia admission, housing, and financial means certificate: This document, written in Spanish and English, will verify that you are admitted to study full-time at an accredited institution in Spain. The document also verifies that you have confirmed housing in Spain and that you have the financial means to support your studies.
• Proof of Spanish health insurance: Berklee will provide a certificate, written in Spanish, showing that you will have comprehensive local health insurance coverage while in Spain. The certificate is issued by our Spanish insurance broker Barrón. This insurance will be separate from any other kind of insurance you have anywhere else in the world. All Berklee Valencia students will be automatically registered for the Spanish insurance coverage and will receive this certificate. 

Getting a Document Notarized

When a document is "notarized," it means that a government-authorized agent known as a Notary Public has stamped the document to verify its authenticity. If you need to get a letter or form notarized, you would sign it in front of a Notary Public who would then check your identification and stamp the paper to confirm the authenticity of your signature on it. If you need to make a notarized photocopy of something, you would take the original item to the Notary Public who would photocopy it and stamp the photocopy to confirm that it is a true and authentic copy of the original document.

You can find a Notary Public at many places in your community, including local public libraries, banks, UPS or FedEx stores, and city halls or other government offices. The Boston Public Library, for example, offers free or low-fee notary services by appointment at several of its branches around the city. For a small fee, walk-in notary services are also available in the city clerk offices at Boston City Hall and Cambridge City Hall, among other places. By appointment, the staff of Berklee Study Abroad can also notarize certain documents specifically for your Spanish visa application, such as photocopies of I-20 certificates and F-1 visas, if necessary. 

Getting a Document Translated

If you need to get a document translated for your visa application, the translation must be completed by a "sworn translator" who is registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even if they are fluent in Spanish, students or their friends/family cannot perform the translations for a visa application. You may consult this list from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to locate a qualified translator. The site is in Spanish and you may search for translators using the Spanish language name of each country. For example, to find translators based in the United States, search for "Estados Unidos." Translations can often be completed in just a few days via email with the translator. Translations do not require notarization or apostilles (even if the original document does). 

The Spanish visa application item that most commonly needs to be translated is the criminal record check certificate for students who will study abroad for a full academic year. Most other visa application documents do not require a translation. If you are unsure of whether or not a translation is necessary for a specific document, please contact Berklee Study Abroad for guidance.

Getting a Document Apostilled 

An apostille is an additional stamp that goes on the document, affirming its authenticity for international use according to certain agreed-upon standards. The United States, Spain, and many other nations around the world are members of an international treaty known as the 1961 Apostille Convention of The Hague which determines those standards. 

If your visa application document(s) need to be legalized with an apostille, it must be done in the place where it was issued (signed and/or notarized). A federally issued United States document, such as the FBI Background Check, must be apostilled by the US Department of State. See Apostille Requirements for more information. If a document from outside the US must be legalized with an apostille, you should check with your country’s international affairs department for further information. Review the following list of countries for instructions on how to get an apostille in each country. 

The Spanish visa application item which most commonly needs to be apostilled is the criminal record check certificate for students who will study abroad for a full academic year. Most other visa application documents do not require an apostille. If you are unsure of whether or not an apostille is necessary for another document, please contact Berklee Study Abroad for guidance.

Remember that you will need to schedule an in-person appointment at the BLS office to submit your visa application, and you must submit your visa application at least two months before your study abroad program begins. Appointments frequently book up several weeks in advance, so it is often necessary to secure your appointment first for a date in the future, by which time you will have compiled all the required visa application materials. New appointment slots often open up around one month in advance, and students should regularly be checking the BLS website for any openings that become available. 

Use this Guide to the BLS Spanish Visa Application to create your BLS account and secure your appointment. Applications must be fully complete (including all required photocopies) at the time of submission to the visa application center. The BLS website doesn't always work smoothly and can sometimes be confusing. Be sure to have a strong and steady internet connection, and be patient!

Remember that it commonly takes around 4-6 weeks for your visa application to be processed and approved. The BLS office will likely return some of your visa application materials with your passport and visa. Bring all of those returned visa application materials with you to Spain. You might not have to show them to anyone, but you should bring them along in case any Spanish immigration officer requests copies of your visa application documentation.

Spanish Visa Application Centers in the United States:

Spanish Visa Application Centers in Other Countries:

Refer to this listing of all Spanish consulates and embassies around the world. Like most of the Spanish consulates in the United States, many Spanish consulates in other countries are also contracted with a third-party visa processing agency called BLS International. It many cases, you will be submitting your visa application to BLS for processing. Contact Berklee Study Abroad if you are unsure of where to submit your visa application. 

All Spanish consulates and/or BLS International offices will require that you provide proof of your lawful residency within their region of jurisdiction. It is not possible to choose just any location; you must apply for your Spanish visa through the specific visa application center holding consular jurisdiction over the place where you attend school or the place where your primary home address is located. 

Most Spanish consulates require you to make an appointment to submit your individual student visa application. If you need to schedule an appointment, you should secure that appointment early, as appointment dates are usually booked up many weeks in advance. You can schedule your application submission appointment for a date in the future by which time you expect to have compiled the necessary visa application materials. Sometimes your appointment will be made directly at the Spanish consulate itself, though many Spanish consulates are contracted with a third-party visa processing agency called BLS International where you would book your appointment at a BLS office and submit your visa application there. 

If your BLS office or Spanish consulate does not schedule appointments and prefers to receive visa applications another way, that information should be posted to their respective websites.  

1) National Visa Application form: The consulate's application form for the student visa is usually posted on their website. Refer to this sample application form for guidance on how to fill everything out correctly. If applying through a BLS Visa Application Center, refer to this Guide to the BLS Visa Application for assistance. Depending on where you are applying, the BLS website may generate a completed copy of this form which you will download and print out. 

2) Identity photograph (one printed photo): You can get this wherever “passport photos” are sold, including camera shops (i.e. Hunt's Photo), most drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, etc.), or at a post office. Your photo must have a white background and be printed on photo paper in color and cut to the appropriate size of approximately 2 inches (or 5cm) in height and width. Paper-clip the photo (do not paste or tape it) to the first page of your National Visa Application Form. Write your name on the back of your photo to clarify that it is you.

3) Digital headshot image (file size under 200kB): If your application will be made through a BLS office, you may be required to upload this digital image file when booking your visa application appointment online through the BLS website. If required, this digital image would not need to be exactly the same as the identity photograph. But similar to the printed identity photograph listed above, this digital picture would need to be taken in color on a clear white background with you facing forward. Have the photo ready before you go online to schedule your visa application appointment, and check to confirm that the file size is less than 200 kilobytes.

4) Your actual passport: Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended study abroad period of time, and it should be valid for at least one year into the future from the date when you will submit your visa application. You will need to hand over your actual passport to the Spanish consulate or visa processing office, and you will be without your passport for several weeks while your visa application is pending. Remember to make a copy or take a picture of your passport's information page so that you have it for your records.

5) Proof of acceptance for study: This letter, written in Spanish and English, will be sent to you from Berklee after you have confirmed your enrollment in an upcoming study abroad semester. Contact us if you have questions about it. The acceptance letter includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia, confirmation that you have secured your enrollment by paying any required fees, and verification that the coursework you complete will be applied toward your degree program. 

6) Proof of availability of financial means: This information is contained within the "Proof of Acceptance for Study" document (listed above) which you will receive from Berklee. You will not need to provide separate documentation. 

7) Proof of Spanish health insurance: This document, written in Spanish, will be sent to you from Berklee after you have confirmed your enrollment in an upcoming study abroad semester. Contact us if you have questions about it. Your Spanish health insurance is separate from any healthcare plan you normally get through school or anywhere else. All Berklee Valencia students are automatically enrolled in the Spanish insurance plan and will receive this certificate. 

8) Medical certificate (original and one photocopy): You will need to obtain a medical certificate accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations." Refer to this Sample Medical Certificate, which you can forward to your doctor's office. The certificate must have been issued within 90 days prior to the visa application, and must be signed by a physician (MD or DO), not by any other kind of healthcare provider. It must include a doctor's signature, letterhead, and stamp and/or business card. It needs to include the text written in Spanish. Medical certificates do not need to be notarized or apostilled. Watch this video about getting a medical certificate for further guidance. 

9) Proof of residence in consular district: Make a copy of your government-issued ID or documentation proving the place where you live within the specific region of jurisdiction of the Spanish consulate where you are applying. 

10) Immigration status documentation: If you are not a citizen of the country in which you are submitting the Spanish visa application, include copies of documentation proving your lawful immigration status. For example, non-U.S. citizens applying for the visa at a Spanish consulate in the U.S. could include a notarized photocopy of their Green Card or other U.S. residency visa.  International students should supply a copy of their F-1 student visa (if applicable) and a copy of their I-20 certificate. 

11) Consulate-specific disclaimer form (if applicable): Some of the Spanish consulates require that you submit a "disclaimer form" acknowledging your understanding of their application process. Check your consulate's website and complete this if it is required where you will apply. If it is not listed as a requirement, then it may not be necessary in your particular location. 

12) Payment of the visa fee: The Spanish student visa fee varies depending on your country of citizenship. Check the specific consulate website and/or BLS website to verify the exact fees you must pay. The consulate or BLS website will specify how payment can be made, such as by certified check or money order, etc. 

Required only for students studying abroad for a full academic year (not just one semester):

13) Criminal record check certificate (apostilled and translated to Spanish): Only if studying in Spain for a full academic year; students studying abroad for one semester do not need this item. If you live in the United States, this item must come from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and be obtained by applying directly with the FBI. The apostille for the FBI background check must come from the US Department of State, Office of Authentications. If you live in another country, you will obtain your criminal record check from your national law enforcement agency and it must be apostilled by the appropriate foreign affairs department of your national government. The translation must be completed by a “sworn translator” (consult this listing) who is registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is often the document which takes the longest amount of time to receive so we encourage you to begin working on it immediately. Watch this video about getting a criminal record check certificate for further guidance.  

• Remember that you will have to submit your actual passport with your complete visa application packet.
• You will not have access to your passport for several weeks while the visa application is under review.
• Be prepared to pay the visa fee when submitting your application.
• Before you leave the consulate or BLS office, ask how long it will take to process your visa, how you will know when it is ready, and how you can pick it up. Once ready, you will usually be able to pick up your passport and visa during designated visa pick-up hours. Some locations will mail your passport back you (if you provide a prepaid envelope or if you have prepaid for the shipping service through their office). Each consulate has a different process, and you must confirm with them in advance.

The Spanish consulate or BLS office will likely return some of your visa application materials with your passport and visa. Bring all of those returned visa application materials with you to Spain. You might not have to show them to anyone, but you should bring them along in case any Spanish immigration officer requests copies of your visa application documentation.

The immigration officer may ask you questions about the purpose of your visit to the Schengen Area of Europe, and you should be prepared to explain where you are going and what you will be doing. You could choose to travel with a printed copy of your bilingual Berklee Valencia Admission Letter (mentioned above, which you used in your visa application) so that you have written information about the purpose of your travels. Be sure to save a copy of your airline boarding pass or travel itinerary just in case you ever need documentation verifying when you initially arrived in the Schengen Area with international student immigration status.

If you are studying abroad for an academic year, the student visa you receive will be valid for just 90 days to enable you to enter Spain with the proper international student immigration status. Thereafter, you will need to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero or TIE) within 30 days of your arrival into the Schengen Area of Europe. The on-site Berklee Valencia staff will assist you with that process of applying once you have arrived in Valencia and begin the semester. Don't forget to bring along any of the visa application materials that were returned to you when you got your visa. It will take several weeks for the Spanish immigration authorities to issue this TIE card. Your TIE card will be your national identification card while in Spain and will confirm that you hold lawful immigration status for the duration of your academic year abroad. Whenever you travel, you will always keep your TIE card with your passport.