Spain long-stay (Type D) visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Spain long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇪🇸 Spain·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Spain
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 10
Competent authority
Consulate General of Spain with jurisdiction over the applicant's US state of residence (e.g. New York for NY, CT, NJ, PA, DE)
Application centre
BLS International (BLS Spain Visa Application Centers across the US)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
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 figures below are the short-stay (Type C) means of subsistence. A long-stay (Type D) visa sets its funds requirement nationally by purpose (study, work, family reunification, income) — check the consulate for the amount that applies to your case.
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
- US visitors on B1/B2Not eligible to apply in the US; must apply from country of residence.
- Stays over 180 days, age 18+FBI criminal record certificate mandatory, apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish; medical certificate required.
- All foreign public documentsMust be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish.