12/09/2024
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What types of visas are there for entering and leaving Spain?
There are visas for both entering and leaving Spain, and it's important to know which one is right for you because it will involve different procedures and entail different rights.
There are visas for both entering and leaving Spain, and it's important to know which one is right for you because it will involve different procedures and rights.
In this article, we want to tell you everything you need to know about these visas. What types of visas are there for entering and leaving Spain?
One of the most frequent questions we receive is what visa I need to travel to Spain from abroad; however, it's more a question of "which one" than "what one." There are two key points to consider:
What do you want to do in the country? It could be to work, study, live, or simply visit.
How long do you intend to stay? This is important because the tourist visa expires after 3 months. It's important to decide whether you will stay longer or shorter than this.
Combining these two keys will determine the type of visa you will need. Generally speaking, there are three main groups of visas. Keep in mind that long-stay visas, although often called visas, are residence permits with all their associated characteristics, so understanding them in detail will be essential.
Tourist or short-stay visa (Schengen visa)
This is the visa you'll need to apply for whenever you plan to visit Spain for less than 90 days per semester. It's the document they'll ask for at airport border control. But there's an important distinction.
While it is true that staying less than 3 months in Spanish territory will grant you tourist status, you may not need to request any physical document (visa) to enter the country.
Well, Spain (and the European Union in general) have many agreements with third countries to facilitate the entry and exit of their nationals.
With a tourist visa, you can only be in Spain as a tourist; you cannot work or engage in any economic activity. However, you can participate in any type of training activity lasting less than 3 months, as well as non-work placements.
Student visa
Students from all over the world want to come to Spain to study any type of training.
If the studies will last less than 3 months, a tourist visa will be sufficient and it is not necessary to apply for a student visa.
If the duration is between 3 and 6 months, then you will need to obtain a short-term student visa.
If the course lasts between 6 and 12 months, a long-term student visa (in this case the foreigner would also obtain a physical card or TIE)
If they finish their studies but want to stay in Spain to continue studying, they must request an extension during that period.
Long-term visa
Regardless of the activity, if you're staying in Spain for more than 90 days, you'll need this type of visa. However, it's not required for all countries: if you're from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, you won't need it and will only require your EU registration certificate.
This long-term visa is the step prior to obtaining a residence permit. In other words, it is the document that allows a foreigner to enter Spain once their residence application has been approved at the Spanish consulate in their country of origin.
There are several types of visas that you should be aware of, and we will discuss them in another article. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us, and we will advise and assist you.
