Spain’s visa fees follow two separate schedules: the EU-wide Schengen short-stay fee for Type C (tourist/visitor) visas, and Spain’s own national fee order for Type D (long-stay study, work, and residence) visas. Below are the current 2026 figures from Spain’s foreign ministry fee order and consulate-published schedules, plus the extra costs that sit outside the headline number.
Schengen (Type C) short-stay visa fee
Spain applies the standard EU-wide Schengen visa fee, which increased in 2024 and remains in effect through 2026:
| Applicant | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Adult (12 and over) | €90 |
| Child (6–11 years) | €45 |
| Child under 6 | Free |
This fee covers short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
National Type D (long-stay) visa fee
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee order sets the national (Type D) long-stay visa — the category covering student, work, and family/residence routes — at the same €90 figure as the Schengen fee for most applicants, a change from an earlier €80 rate. Some consulates list a separate, smaller fee for the national study visa or specific sub-categories, and historic consulate schedules have also shown a non-EU-wide range of roughly €80–€90 depending on nationality and the fee order in force at the time. Because the Type D fee is set nationally but published consulate-by-consulate (and can carry nationality-specific reciprocity adjustments under bilateral agreements), confirm the exact figure on the specific Spanish consulate or embassy page handling your application before paying — this is the single most commonly outdated number in third-party visa guides.
Outsourcing and service-centre fees
In most countries, Spain routes visa intake through an external service provider rather than taking applications directly at the consulate:
- BLS International operates Spain’s visa application centres in many countries and charges its own service fee, commonly reported around €15–€20, collected in addition to the consular visa fee above.
- This service fee is set by the provider, not the Spanish government, and is not refundable even if your visa is refused.
- Some countries still process applications directly at the consulate, with no separate service-centre fee — check which model applies where you’re applying.
What the visa fee does not include
Budget separately for:
- Residence card (TIE) fees once you arrive — a separate administrative charge from the Spanish national police, unrelated to the consular visa fee.
- Document legalisation/apostille and sworn translation, required for degree certificates, marriage certificates, and other civil documents not already in Spanish.
- Travel/medical insurance meeting Schengen minimum coverage requirements (commonly €30,000), required for short-stay visas and generally expected for long-stay applications too.
- NIE (foreigner identification number) and social security registration steps after arrival, which carry their own minor administrative costs but are not part of the visa fee itself.
Why the fee is non-refundable
Like every Schengen state, Spain treats the visa fee as payment for processing the application, not a conditional deposit — it’s collected at submission and kept regardless of outcome. The practical implication is that a complete, well-documented file is the only lever you have over whether that fee buys you an approval; incomplete financial evidence or an inconsistent travel history are the most commonly cited refusal grounds. VisaMet’s AI-assisted document screening is built to catch exactly these gaps before you submit — join the waitlist.
FAQ
Is the Spain visa fee the same for a tourist visa and a student or work visa? No, they’re two different fee lines. The short-stay Schengen (Type C) visa, used for tourism and short visits, carries the standard EU-wide fee. The national (Type D) long-stay visa, used for study, work, and residence routes, is set by Spain’s own ministerial order and has historically matched the Schengen figure, but consulates list it separately and it can diverge. Always check the specific consulate’s fee page for the visa category you’re applying for.
Do I pay the visa fee even if my application is refused? Yes. Spain’s consular fee schedules state the fee is due when you submit the application and is not refunded if the visa is refused or you withdraw. Treat it as a cost of applying, not a deposit, and make sure your documents are complete before paying.
Is there an extra fee on top of the consulate’s visa fee? In most countries, yes. Spain outsources visa application intake to a service provider such as BLS International in many jurisdictions, and that provider charges its own service fee — commonly in the range of €15–€20 — on top of the consular visa fee itself. This outsourcing fee is set by the provider, not the Spanish government, and varies by country.
This is preparation guidance, not legal advice — confirm the exact fee for your visa category and nationality with the specific Spanish consulate, embassy, or BLS application centre handling your case before paying. See also our Spain work visa guide and Spain student visa guide for the full application process.
Sources: Schengen Visa Info — Schengen visa fee, Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs — draft ministerial order on visa fees, BLS International — Spain visa services.