General Information on a SHORT STAY Visa
You can lodge your application for a visa to travel to Spain only by appointment. Please, note that at busy periods we have waiting lists for appointments of several weeks.
Spain is a Member State of the Schengen Agreement which came into effect on March 26, 1995. The current members of the agreement ("Schengen States") are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovac Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
EU countries non members of the Schengen area:
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- United Kingdon
In order to visit one or more of the above-mentioned states you have to obtain a so-called “Schengen visa”. This visa is generally valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six months period for tourism, visit or business but not for employment purposes.
Link to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Spain, an official source of information about Spain visa policy and procedures:
http://www.maec.es/en/MenuPpal/Consulares/ServiciosConsulares/InformacionaExtranjeros
Where to Apply For a Short Stay Schengen Visa
If you want to visit only one Schengen State, you have to apply at the Embassy of that State. If you want to visit two or more Schengen States, please apply at the Embassy of the country which is your main destination (defined by the length of stay). If you intend to visit two or more Schengen States but you have no main destination, you need to apply for your visa at the Embassy of the country which you intend to visit first.
Apart from this so called short stay visa there are 2 other types of Schengen visa: the AIPORT TRANSIT VISA which allows holders to pass through the international transit zone of an airport of a Schengen member state without giving access to the national territory of that state and the TRANSIT VISA, which enables applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country. Please note that the documents required for both the airport transit visa and the transit visa may differ from those required for the short stay visa.
How to Apply for a Short Stay Schengen Visa with the Spanish Embassy in Dublin
- You can lodge your apllication for a visa to travel to Spain only by appointment.
- You are required to lodge your application IN PERSON
- You have to be RESIDENT IN IRELAND
Visa appointment.
In order to get your appointment you can do the following:
1- Send an email to: visaspaindublin@yahoo.es
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This email only deals with appointments.
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Please quote as SUBJECT of your message: “APPOINTMENT – Visa”
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Please provide in your e-mail the following information:
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You will receive a confirmation e-mail with the appointment date, application form and requirements.
2- Telephone us: 01 2608066, Monday to Thursday, 10:00h to 12:00 a.m.
- We kindly encourage you the use of email for a better service.
Notes
- If you visit the Embassy without previous appointment our staff will take your personal details and will contact you by email confirming the date to lodge your application.
- If you cannot come to the Embassy on the agreed appointment day, you will need to request a new appointment following the procedure stated above.
Processing time
- It is strongly recommended that you request your appointment well in advance. At busy periods we have waiting lists for appointments of up to 4 weeks.
- Processing time will start once your application has been completed WITH ALL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Minimum processing time is 10 working days. It is strongly recommended that you lodge your application WELL IN ADVANCE.
- Please be advised that applications for certain nationalities may take longer.
- The maximum time periods to notify a resolution pertaining to a visa is of three months for transit, short term and non working residence visas. For the rest of visas the period is one month. Once the maximum period to adopt a resolution has elapsed, the visa request may be deemed as rejected.
- Please note that any purchase of tickets or commitment towards travel expenses before the visa has been granted will be at the risk and cost of the applicant. The Embassy is not liable for any expenses incurred by the applicants!
- On application you will be given a collection date.
- For more detailed information and for enquiries about the status of your application please contact the Embassy SOLELY by e-mail at: emb.dublin.vis@maec.es
Visa Handling Fee
- € 60 Euros (No other fees apply)
- For Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Moldovan, Montenegran, Russian, Serbian and Ukranian nationals, the fee is € 35
- Visa handling is FREE of charge for:
- Children under 6 years of age
- Students (primary school, secondary school, college, post-graduate) and teachers traveling with them when for an educational trip or training.
- If you are married to an EU citizen or one or both of your parents are EU citizens but you are not in possesion of a valid EU Fam residence card the visa is FREE OF CHARGE PROVIDING YOU ACCOMPANY OR JOIN THE EU CITIZEN. Otherwise you have to pay for the visa. Please provide the Embassy with your marriage or birth certificate and your spouse´s passport or your parent(s) passport(s) as proof.
- The visa handling fee is due upon application it is not refundable and is only payable by postal order, cheque or cash.
FAMILY MEMBERS OF EU CITIZENS
Holders of 4EUFam residence card will be exempt of the visa requirement providing they acompany or join the EU-EEA citizen
If they do not hold a 4EUFam residence card they do require a visa. EU citizens family members’ applications will be processed with due priority and free of charge. Providing they accompany or join them, they will only have to provide the Embassy with:
- Residence card and re-entry visa to Ireland - valid for a minimum of 3 months after the expiry date of the visa applied for. (original and copy)
- Certificate of marriage (original and copy)
- Spouse passport (original and copy)
- Proof they are travelling together or joining the EU relative.
- Application form (Spanish, PDF, 38 Kb), (English, PDF, 37 Kb),
- 2 recent photographs
Notice for minors
Minors can only apply for a visa themselves, if they are at least 16 years old. For younger applicants, at least one parent must be present when the visa application is made. In all cases of minor applicants the following documents are required:
- Birth certificate (also stating the names of parents)
- Parent’s passports and Irish “Certificates of Registration”, if parents are Non-EU nationals
- Written consent of legal guardian(s) for the journey intended (signatures must be certified)
Important Information:
The Embassy can ask for additional documents as applications are dealt with on a case by case basis, and this information leaflet cannot cover all eventualities.
A visa cannot be issued unless all required documents are provided.
Please note that the acceptance/processing of your application does not guarantee that your visa will be approved and issued. There is no legal right to a visa.
Holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration controls and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries.
False statements or attempts to provide the Embassy with fraudulent documents result in the rejection of the visa application, i.e. the visa will not be issued. You may also be liable to prosecution under the law of the Schengen States!
Please note that changes to your travel itinerary and/ or accommodation after submission of your application are not possible. In such an event a new application has to be made.
Please note that applications without ALL THE DOCUMENTS required
will not be admitted for processing.
Documents to be submitted (Both Originals and Copies):
- Application form, completed and signed by the applicant; 2 recent passport photographs, sized Photograph specifications(.pdf).Download application form for Schengen visa ((Spanish, PDF, 38 Kb), (English, PDF, 37 Kb)
- Passport or Travel Document
Valid for at least three months after the date of expiry of the visa applied for. The visa sticker takes up one whole page in your passport or travel document. Therefore, please ensure that your passport has at least one blank visa page!
- Irish re-entry visa
Valid (for at least three months after the date of expiry of the visa applied for).
- Irish Certificate of Registration (GNIB card)
(also known as Garda/ Green Card), valid for at least three months after the date of expiry of the visa applied for.
- Proof of current address in Ireland
(ESB bill, telephone bill, gas bill, bank statement, rent book, lease agreement etc.)
- Proof of current occupation in Ireland:
- If you are employed: Your work permit and most recent pay slip. If you do not require a work permit: a letter from your employer or copy of work contract and your last pay slip. P60 if applicable.
- If you are self-employed: your company's registration certificate and a recent business print out available from the Companies Registration Office
- If you are a student:recent letter from your university/ college/school confirming your attendance/status, number of hours of tuition per week and duration of the course. The college/school must be approved by the relevant authority. Photocopy of I.D. of the person signing the letter is also required. Proof of part-time employment or information on sponsorship if applicable.
- If you are retired: your pension booklet.
- lf you are a dependent: proof of your spouse's occupation and their passport, as well as your marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Evidence that you have sufficient financial means
To support yourself during your journey (most recent bank statement stating your name and address and showing transactions for the last three months).
- Proof of Medical Insurance Cover
.
- The Embassy only accepts an individual or group travel insurance covering the costs for emergency treatment by a doctor or in a hospital and repatriation to your country of residence The insurance must be valid in all Schengen states for the duration of your stay and must have a minimum cover of 30,000 Euro per person.
- Please provide the insurance certificate and policy as proof. Please note that the European Health Insurance Card issued by the Irish authorities does not cover costs for repatriation and is therefore not accepted without additional travel insurance cover.
- If you are visiting relatives or friends:
Official Letter of invitation available at Police Station in Spain and signed by the host. This document is only a proof of your accomodation in Spain and does not exempt the applicant from providing all the other requirements.
- If you are travelling as a tourist:
Upon application: confirmed hotel/hostel/B&B reservation(s) covering the whole duration of your stay in Spain and, if applicable, in other Schengen countries.
When collecting your visa: Confirmation of full payment or credit card guarantee.
- If you are travelling on business
Letter from your employer in Ireland explaining in detail the nature and duration of your stay in Spain and, if applicable, in other Schengen states, and whether it concerns single, double or multiple entry; proof of board, lodging and other travel expenses including health insurance, if covered by your employer.
If the company in Spain is a different company than your employer in Ireland, an official letter of invitation from your business partner is required. This letter must state and confirm the details given in the letter from your employer in Ireland and indicate cover of your travel expenses, if applicable. Your counterpart and/ or the organiser of your trip in Spain must be named and contact details given.
- Return ticket
Upon application: itinerary/reservation print out /flight/ferry/rail/bus tickets.
When collecting your visa: confirmed and non-transferable return ticket.
Who needs a Schengen visa?
If you are a national of the following countries and you intend to visit a Schengen countries:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belice
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia Herzegovina
- Bostwana
- Burkina Faso
- Burma (Myammar)
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Centroafrican Republic
- Chad
- China
- Colombia
- Comoras
- Congo
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- East Timor
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopía
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Granada
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Guinea Ecuatorial
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstán
- Kenya
- Kirguistan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macedonia (1)
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldivas
- Mali
- Marianas Islands
- Morocco
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro (1)
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua Nueva Guinea
- Perú
- Philippines
- Qatar
- República Dominicana
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
- Santo Tome and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia (2)
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Tayikistan
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistán
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- West Samoa
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
(1) Macedonia and Montenegro: Holders of biometric passports will be exempt of the visa requirement
(2) Serbia: Holders of biometric passports will be exempt of the visa requirement unless passport is issued by Koordinaciona Uprava.
Contact Details
Spanish Embassy VISA SECTION
17A Merlyn Park , Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
OFFICE OPENNING TIMES
- For applications: Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am (by appointment only)
- Collections and Enquiries: Monday to Friday from 12.00pm to 1.00pm
The Embassy will be closed on weekends as well as on Irish and Spanish public holidays 2010 (1 January, 17 March, 1 April, 2 April, 5 April, 1 May, 3 May, 7 June, 2 Agust, 12 October, 25 October, 6 December, 25 December, 27 December).