Spain family visit visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Spain family visit Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇪🇸 Spain·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Spain
Type
C · FAMILY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededVisiting family / friends — short stay (Type C) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 13
Competent authority
Consulate General of Spain with jurisdiction over the applicant's US state of residence
Application centre
BLS International (BLS Spain Visa Application Centers across the US)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
$35
Est. total (adult)
$135
Long stay (Type D)
€80
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: BLS International.
Fee notes
Spain uses BLS International in USA (all ~8 locations). Service ~$32-40. D ~€80 (approximate; US nationals may face reciprocity amount for some categories).
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–10 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Highly variable and the main bottleneck; slots fill fast, scarce especially summer. ~1-4 weeks, worse in peak season.
Application centre
BLS International (mandatory in-person by appointment). NY, Washington DC, Houston, LA, SF, Chicago, Miami, Boston, each mapped to a specific Spanish consulate by US state (complex jurisdiction map).
Timeline notes
Decision normally within 15 calendar days, up to 45. Some sources cite 10-15 working days after the consulate receives the file. Strict state-to-consulate jurisdiction.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
€122.1
Minimum
€1098.9
In EUR ≈
as shown
Floor
90% of gross national minimum wage (SMI) = EUR 1,098.90 per person, regardless of intended duration of stay (floor); the higher of daily x days or this floor applies
Notes
Order PRE/1282/2007 (10 May 2007). Per day = 10% of gross national minimum wage (SMI) = EUR 122.10, multiplied by number of days AND by number of accompanying dependents. Fixed minimum = 90% of gross SMI = EUR 1,098.90 per person. IMPORTANT: short-stay ENTRY amounts are tied to the SMI (Salario Minimo Interprofesional), NOT IPREM; IPREM is the benchmark for long-stay/residence visas, a separate regime. Amounts revise with the SMI.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- B1/B2 US visitor-visa holdersMust apply in their country of habitual residence, not in the US.
- Sponsored by immediate family without joint accountProvide marriage certificate (couples) or birth certificate plus sponsor's passport and financial-responsibility letter.
- Visa-facilitation nationalitiesReduced visa fee (about USD 41; free for children under 6).