Do I need a visa?

All students participating in study abroad programs in Spain longer than 90 days are required to apply for a student visa.

Please note, if you will be in Spain longer than 180 days, you will have additional requirements that can lengthen the time is takes to receive a visa.

Processing Time and Visa Appointment

Processing time is approximately 4-8 weeks from the date of application.

All applicants must schedule an appointment and appear in person at BLS in Chicago to receive a visa. It is recommended that you schedule your appointment as soon as you have all of your required documents and no later than 2 months in advance of the program start date. Appointment slots fill up quickly and it can be challenging to get an appointment closer to your departure time.

NOTE: BLS has changed their procedures and you will also have to go back to BLS to pick up your passport/visa once it has been issued.

BLS international - Visa Appointment

The Consulate of Spain in Chicago is now outsourcing their visa application processing to a company called BLS international. This is where your visa application appointment will take place.

​Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at BLS International Office. Appointments must be requested through the following Visa Appointment Link.

Address:

BLS International

121 W Wacker Dr., Suite 1307

Chicago, IL 60601

NOTE: Appointments are very limited. Students have the option to choose a Prime Time appointment for an additional fee of $70 dollars if there are not appointments available in the time-frame necessary to receive a visa back in time, we would encourage students to choose this option.

BLS Contact Information

Phone: +1 516-888-1169

Email: [email protected]

Estimated Cost

$160*, refer to the website of the consulate for updated fee information.

*A student went to the appointment today (11/5/25) and said they were charged $168.  The Consulate website still says the fee is $160 but make sure have enough money to pay $168.  And they do not have change so bring an exact amount.

Additional fees via BLS International add $60 dollars for a total of $220 in estimated fees.

BLS prefers that students pay visa fees and additional fees with debit card or cash.

Previous Student Experience with BLS

Click here for advice from a previous student on how to navigate the visa application process to Spain through BLS International in Chicago. Please note: The location of BLS has changed since this advice letter was made.

 Resources

Student Visa Guidelines

BLS Spain Student Visa Checklist

National Application Visa

Bilingual Medical Certificate Template

BLS Disclaimer form

Consulate of Spain in Chicago 

New Changes as of May 19, 2025

Appointments - No later than 2 months in advance of program start date.

Passport - Must be valid for one year (we are waiting for confirmation to see if this means one year from application date or end of program date)

Visa Dates - Students visas will be granted 30 days prior to the program start date and will be valid through 15 days following the program end date

Insurance Coverage - Insurance coverage must match the program dates including the extra 30 days at the beginning and 15 days at the end 

Proof of Payment - The Spanish institution/ university will issue a letter in Spanish (or with an accompanied certified translation) certifying that the student has paid the registration/enrollment fees. The letter must include the student's name and passport number.  

Medical Certificate - All students regardless of program duration must include a medical certificate. You can use this template.  

Nearest Consulate or Embassy

This will NOT be where your appointment takes place but is the location for the Consulate in Chicago.

Consulate of Spain in Chicago
180 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1500

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Consulate Contact Information

E-mail:  [email protected]     

Phone: (312) 782-4588

Additional Information

Students will need to purchase health insurance that meets the specific visa requirements. The travel insurance policy required by Padnos International Center for all GVSU students who study abroad, meets the visa requirements. Students' current personal insurance will not meet these requirements. Review the information regarding health insurance on the visa guidelines carefully.

Please note that if you are staying in Spain for more than 180 days, there are additional visa requirements including an FBI background check.

The FBI background check can take 3-5 days to process electronically or 2-4 weeks by mail. The FBI background check must be current (issued within 4 months) of the date you apply for your student visa. The timing of this process is important to ensure you apply for the FBI background check with plenty of time, but not too early that it will expire before you apply for your student visa. You must apply for your study visa within 90 days prior to your departure. You can find out more about the process on the FBI website.

You will need to have an apostille for the background check from the State Department.

Alternative to applying directly to the FBI for background check:

Past students have expedited the process of securing the FBI background check by utilizing the Fieldprint Services Team for an extra fee (currently $50). This service can provide a background check within 24 hrs of your appointment.

For programs over 180 days: Your visa will be issued for 90 days with multiple entries. No later than 30 days after arrival in Spain, you must request a Student Card (Tarjeta de Estudiante) at the Subdelegación del Gobierno (Oficina de Extranjeros), which will allow you to stay in the country for the duration of your program. You will need to submit the following documents when applying for the student card:

- Original Medical Certificate

- Original Criminal History Information/Police Background Check