Spanish visa resources
Appointments and biometrics for a Spain visa
Spain national visas are applied for in person by appointment at the consulate or its visa application centre, with the applicant appearing personally.
Important
A Spanish national visa is applied for in person. You book an appointment through the consulate's official system or its authorised visa application centre (for example BLS in some countries), and the applicant must attend personally — for minors, a parent or legal guardian applies.
You apply at the consular office covering your legal place of residence, and you generally cannot apply from a country where you are only a visitor.
How appointments work
- Book a slot through the consulate's official appointment system or its visa application centre
- The applicant appears in person to lodge the application and documents
- For study/work routes you can often book up to six months before your activity's start date
- Some consulates accept extra/supporting documents on set days without a fresh appointment
Biometrics and identity
- Personal appearance lets the consulate verify identity and take the required data
- Where a visa application centre is used, an additional service fee applies
- Fingerprints/biometrics for the residence card itself are captured in Spain when you attend to obtain your TIE
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.