Fighting Bureaucracy – Home
My Journey to Residency

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• Important Dates and Deadlines
• Background Check and Apostille + Timeline
• Visa Application Form
• Photograph
• Passport
• Carta de Nombramiento + Insurance
• Medical Certificate
• Proof of Residence in the Consular District
• Visa Application Payment
• Visa Application Process
• Collecting the Visa

In general, Spanish bureaucracy requires extra copies. When in doubt, bring extras.

Before submitting!!! (Check List)

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During the wait times throughout this process, you can complete the other requirements. These additional requirements are single step parts and not too involved.

Have you considered supporting this resource? It only costs a few dollars to help immensely. I hope these free guides have helped you better navigate the NALCAP processes and related bureaucracy. Other programs that guide you through the same processes can cost more than $2,000! By contributing pocket change, you can allow this resource to continue to exist.

https://residency2spain.com/support-the-page/#Donate
(This is just a link to a page with different donation options.)

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Visa Application Form

Form link (here) – Bring the original and a copy

BLS auto generates an application form when creating an appointment profile, but I insist you fill out your own form to avoid any issues.

“Fill correctly your date of birth (and other dates): DAY/MONTH/YEAR (Spanish way) and do not forget to write your email address and to sign the form.“

Foto/Photo – Attach your recent, professionally done visa photo onto the space provided in the Visa Application Form. “Do not staple or use anything other than glue to attach the photo to the form.”

Sections 1-9 – Fill in your personal information. All questions are given in Spanish and in English

Section 10 – If you’re not a minor, write N/A

Section 11 – N/A (You do not have a Spanish National ID Number)

Section 12 – Type of travel document – Ordinary Passport

Section 13 – Passport number

Section 14 – Date issued

Section 15 – Expiration date (make sure it is valid for the entirety of your stay in Spain.)

Section 16 – “US Department of State”

Section 17-19 – Fill in your personal information.

Section 20 – “Studies”

Section 21 – When you intend to arrive in Spain. You can put an earlier date than when the program begins, giving you time to get situated in Spain.

(If you instead list the program’s official start date (October 1), you may not need to purchase additional insurance in advance. This is the guidance I received from the Washington, D.C. consulate. U.S. citizens may also enter Spain as tourists before the visa start date.

In the unlikely worst-case scenario, when applying for the TIE you could be asked to show an entry stamp dated after the visa start date. If that happens, the solution is simply a short round-trip flight outside the Schengen area (for example, to Gibraltar).)

Section 22 – “Multi” or “more than 2”

Section 23 – Address of school or regional education office

Section 24 – If you lived in Spain previously and have a NIE, put it in. If not, leave it N/A. (At your visa appointment, they may want to see the passport that contains the old Spanish visa.)

Section 25 – If you lived in Spain previously and have a NIE, write the date of issuance. If not, leave it N/A.

Section 26-27 – N/A

Section 28 – Information from your Carta de Nombramiento

Section 29 – N/A

DONT FORGET TO COMPLETE SECTION 30 AND 31 – Section 30 – Place (town/city where you signed the document) and Date Section 31 – Signature.

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Photograph

The consulate requests a recently taken passport stye photo (2″x2″).

“Una fotografía reciente, tamaño carné, a color, con fondo claro, tomada de frente, sin gafas oscuras, ni reflejos, ni prendas que oculten el óvalo de la cara.”

I recommend getting extra copies in case the original is damaged.

Many retailers offer official passport photos. I recommend CVS.

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Valid, Unexpired Passport

“Valid and current passport with at least 2 blank pages in the visa section and valid for at least the entire duration of the intended stay. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.”

You must also include a copy of the page where your data and photos appear.

NALCAP recommends that your passport is valid for at least 6 months past the end date of your visa, but it is not a requirement. You only need validity for the entire duration of your intended stay. The program (and visa) is typically from October – end of May or June.

Getting a Passport (U.S.)
Renewing Your Passport (U.S.)

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Carta de Nombramiento + Insurance

The Carta de Nombramiento is the school placement letter you receive stating what specific school you are assigned to. You are typically sent an email when you finally receive the Carta de Nombramiento. This file can be accessed in your communidad’s web portal: Auxmadrid, Auxand@, and many others. Provide the original and a copy of the document. (You will not receive a “true original” in the mail. Just print 2 copies).

If you haven’t received this letter yet and are curious about the process/wait, check out (Checking on Your Application)

This letter should provide information on the school the applicant has been appointed to (address, phone number, contact email). It should also contain information about the grant, the duration of the program and the insurance policy.

NOTE: The carta de nombramiento covers any financial means. You do NOT need to provide any additional documents for this requirement.

It also covers your health insurance requirement during the program. Unfortunately, a new law (Law RD 1155/2024) which came into affect May 20th, 2025 has confused things.

“Health insurance must be valid from at least one month before the start of studies until 15 days after the end of the studies, or for one year if the duration of the studies is longer than one year.”

In past years, health insurance has not been a requirement for NALCAP participants, and many regions of the NALCAP program continue to insist that it shouldn’t be a requirement.

“Good morning: We have forwarded this information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Affairs (MEFPD) so they can inform the consulate. Language assistants do not need to extend their health insurance.”

-Response from Andalucia.

This does not change the fact that if you get denied at a BLS office, you won’t be able to submit your visa application to begin with. Depending on your BLS office, the employee who processes your application, and their mood that day, they can and will deny your application without additional insurance.

You will have 2 options to approach this issue. I will provide all the details I have so you can make an informed choice.

Option 1: Buy the additional insurance (starting 1 month before the program starts)

Pros: It’ll avoid any potential bureaucratic headaches. Since collectively, auxes have found a cheap and flexible insurance provider that fulfills all the visa requirements, it won’t be that expensive either.

Cons: It’ll cost you about 45 euros.

Feather Insurance

You will be covered by the program’s health insurance during the school year. You just need to get the additional coverage for the visa (starting 1 month prior to the start of the program), and this is the only flexible option I found that meets all the visa requirements, which are quite strict. It’s only around 45 euros a month, and they have a generous cancellation policy that allows you to cancel at any time (more info below on cancelling). That means you can avoid paying for coverage you don’t need.

Warning: When you open the link above, make sure to change your country to Spain (there should be a flag in the top right corner).

After getting insured, print out your proof of insurance (and a copy) in Spanish and English. Make sure it includes a start and end date of your insurance coverage. Bring these documents to your appointment.

When should I cancel my insurance policy?

Since you anticipate cancelling after 1 month, to be safe, you can fill out the vigencia form to opt out of the required extra 15 days of insurance after your visa. (If you are renewing your stay in Spain, those 15 days don’t matter, and if you aren’t, when your visa expires, you’ll be able to stay for a few months as a tourist anyway.)

Option 2: Duke it out with BLS.

Bring an additional form waiving your rights to an extended visa period (1 month prior to the program start date and 15 days afterwards). Set your visa entry date to October 1st (the start date of the program), and be prepared to argue with BLS if they push back.

In an email from the region of Murcia, we were provided a form to hopefully avoid being required to purchase additional insurance. From what I’ve seen, it usually works, but some people get rejected anyway at BLS.

Here is a PDF of the full email from Murcia:

The purpose of the mentioned form (when filled out the way I have it below) is to authorize your visa to only include the exact duration of the “activity” or “study” (Make sure your intended arrival date matches that on your application form!).

The annexed model form example and download can be found below:

Bring your filled out form as well as a copy to your appointment (Spain loves copies).

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Medical Certificate

The Medical Form is (typically) only valid for 90 days, so plan accordingly

Medical form template Original and a copy of a “recent medical certificate, issued in the last three months before the application date, on the letterhead of the doctor or medical center, duly signed, sealed and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator, stating: ‘This medical certificate certifies that Mr./Ms. (…) does not suffer from any disease that could have serious implications for public health in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 International Health Regulations’. In the case of using the model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary.”

Book a check-up with your doctor (not nurse, nurse practitioner, or anything other than an MD), and have the template filled out. Please, make sure that all the requirements of the form are completed. If your doctor does not fill out the Spanish section, you need to have the form translated by a certified translator. Follow the instructions carefully.

Instructions on page 2:

Written on letterhead paper from hospital´s/doctor’s office:
See a doctor (MD) and they will determine if you are of good health according to the International Health Regulation (2005). This PDF file can be sent electronically in order to be printed out on letterhead paper. The doctor may also use this sample as a guide to write his or her own certificate. Remember that it must specifically mention the International Health Regulations (2005). The doctor should then print out, sign, date and stamp the Medical Certificate.

Written on Template:
This template can also be signed and filled out by the doctor, with doctor’s stamp; without the stamp, the template is not valid. Therefore, if your doctor does not have a stamp, in order to be accepted, the doctor must write the information from the template to a letter with a letterhead of the hospital or doctor’s office, so it can be accepted at the Consulate.

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Proof of Residence in the Consular District

The Puerto Rican consulate only services the Islands of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the U.S. Virgin Islands, so show proof that you live there.

“Prueba de la residencia en la demarcación consular: se acreditará mediante original y fotocopia de documento que acredite la residencia en la demarcación de esta Oficina Consular.”

“What if I don’t have a Driver’s license?”

Bring official ID that proves your legal residence in the consular district.

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Payment of the Visa Fee

“Abono de la tasa de visado” – Spanish consulate of PR. They do not mention payment methods. Be prepared with exact cash and/or a debit card.

The American citizen fee is $160.

You are applying for the long term student visa EE.UU (USA).

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Visa Application Process

Consult the consulate’s address and schedule here. For a student visa application, an appointment is not necessary. The office will run on a first come, first serve basis. Organize your documentation carefully, dress business-casual, and be respectful when you are being attended.

Dirección

Edificio Mercantil Plaza, piso 11, oficina 1101. Av. Ponce de León s/n Hato Rey.- Puerto Rico 00918

Take your appointment reservation to the visa application. Bring everything in the check list/all the necessary documents to this appointment. It’s also a good idea to wear something business casual. It’s not a job interview, but your first impression can be impactful, especially if you made a small mistake.

At your visa appointment, officials will check and collect all the necessary documents. They will keep your passport while the visa is being processed. This could take between a few weeks and a little over a month. This has 2 major consequences:

1. You won’t be able to fly internationally while your visa is being processed.
2. You will need to apply for a Real ID before your visa appointment in order to fly domestically. The Real ID requirement for domestic flights began on May 7, 2025.

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Collecting the Visa

You will be informed of the pickup procedure during your appointment. 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.

Make sure to frequently check your status after receiving your application receipt. Look for status, Visa: resuelto.

https://usa.blsspainglobal.com/Global/bls/VisaApplicationStatus

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Check List

Before sending your application, go through the entire check list (here)

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