This guide is specifically designed for Profex applicants, but the information is useful for applicants of the auxiliary program through many other organizations.
Make sure to double check everything with the official Houston Consulate website. Small changes can be made to the requirements, and it’s important to get the information straight from the source before sending anything.
To check when this information was last updated click HERE
Houston Consulate Official List of Requirements
BLS Webpage List of Requirements
Houston Consulate Contact Page
National Visa Application Form (Original and copy)
Recent color photographs (Following BLS guidelines). Photograph must be attached to the National Visa Application Form (Original).
Valid, unexpired passport and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data must be submitted. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
Carta de Nombramiento (School placement letter original and copy) + Insurance
FBI Background Check (Original and copy of FBI background check. It must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.) If you have lived in another country for over 180 days within the last 5 years (Spain is usually exempted), you are required to provide a background check through that country as well. (I stayed in Germany for a year, and even though I applied for a German background check, it never came. My application was accepted anyway). I got lucky. I don’t recommend it.
Medical Certificate (use the template) Send the original and a photocopy of the medical form.
Proof of residence in the consular district Provide a notarized copy of US Driver’s license. Additionally bring the original to your appointment. If you do not have a US Driver’s License, provide valid State ID or student ID proving your residence in the consular district.
Payment of the visa fee ($160 + BLS fees)
Evidence of Immigration Status in the US, for non US passport holders only
In general, paperwork in Spain requires the original along with a copy, so it’s a good idea to always check if you need a copy.
Scan everything and have all of your visa documents you collected stored on a flash drive and the cloud, google drive, or whatever you use. You will need these documents in the future.
You can safely save and encrypt your documents with your own private cloud service: NordLocker (ad)
Once you have triple checked everything, make sure to carefully and in an organized fashion, place all your documents in a folder to bring with you to your appointment.
(If your consulate allows mail in applications, do the same, but with tracked postage.)
2500 West Loop South 3rd Floor, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77027
Wear something business casual to make a good impression. An in person appointment is similar to spending an afternoon at the DMV. Just make sure you are polite and organized.
This is true for all bureaucratic processes in Spain. Depending on your bureaucrat, time of day, weather, and any other uncontrollable circumstances, you may or may not be asked to provide all the stated requirements. This does not mean it wasn’t a requirement.
Collecting the visa:
You will be informed of the pickup procedure during your appointment. For those of you going in person, inquiry and collection time is from 15:00 to 16:00 hrs (Monday to Friday) at the BLS office, so plan your visit accordingly when picking up your visa.
Upon entry to Spain and within the first thirty days, applicants must apply* for a Foreigner Identity Card or TIE where the applicant is located. The TIE will be valid for as long as the auxiliary is enrolled in the program in Spain.
*You only need to start the TIE process within the first 30 days. Do not worry about receiving the TIE within 30 days of arriving.
After Collecting the Visa:
When you receive your visa, it should look like the following picture. Included in the visa page is your personal information, visa type, entry date, visa duration, and sometimes your NIE. In the past, when you received your visa, it would state that it is only valid for 90 days, but this has changed as of 2025. Your visa should be valid for your entire stay. Regardless, once you arrive in Spain, you will need to complete more paperwork to receive the foreign residency card (TIE). The NIE is an identification number, similar to a social security number, that comes with your TIE.
I highly recommend you enter Spain after your entry date on the visa. Although rare, some bureaucrats will deny your application for a TIE if your passport was stamped before your visa´s stated entry date. You would be required to leave the country and re-enter.
Once you are approved for your visa, you will be assigned a NIE. Some consulates will include your NIE in the visa itself, but others will not. If you received your NIE in the visa, great! The NIE is useful for getting an appointment with the foreign immigration office, renting an apartment, opening a bank account, and getting a phone plan with a Spanish phone number. If you didn’t receive your NIE in the visa, you will have to request it to be able to get a TIE appointment.
Before leaving for Spain, check out the NALCAP Webinar for 2025. It includes important information for all NALCAP participants, new and returning. Also, make sure you aren’t missing anything before your flight!
Last minute preparations. What to bring and what to do before you get on that plane.
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