
Warning
The Spanish Government has signed a contract with an external company (BLS International) for processing visas for Spanish Consular Offices in the United States.
Last year, there were multiple issues from BLS. NALCAP applicants have a different set of requirements than typical student visa requirements, but some applicants were wrongly turned away or pressured into purchasing additional services at BLS despite having all the requirements necessary. If this happens to you, politely, yet firmly escalate the issue to a manager.
You will be applying for a student visa (the BLS page also has a specific section for NALCAP participants). The requirements on the BLS page and consulate page are correct. It is your responsibility to double check both webpages when completing your application.
Full Official Guide from NALCAP
This page was last updated on June 21, 2025. Small changes to visa requirements can and do occur, so please double check everything on the official website below.
San Francisco Consulate Official List of Requirements
BLS Webpage List of Requirements
San Francisco Consulate Contact Page
Fighting Bureaucracy – Home
My Journey to Residency
- Important Dates and Deadlines
- FBI Background Check Timeline
- In-depth List of Requirements
- Apostilled and Translated FBI Background Check
Step 1: Fingerprints and FBI Check
Step 2: Getting the Apostille
Step 3: Getting the Translation - Making a Notarized Copy
- Visa Application Form
- Photograph
- Passport
- Carta de Nombramiento + Insurance
- Medical Certificate
- Proof of Residence in the Consular District
- Visa Application Payment
- Disclaimer Form
- Making an Appointment
- Collecting the Visa
They are also asking for applicants to bring in a checklist of the requirements listed (It’s just a very passive aggressive way of saying “Don’t waste our time with incomplete applications”). You can find the checklist (HERE). Realistically, you would only need pages 1-3.
Before submitting!!! (MY Check List)
Important Dates and Deadlines:
Program start: October 1st
Visa Processing Time: 3-6 weeks
Acceptance letter (Carta de Nombramiento): Around June
Suggested visa application dates: Immediately after receiving acceptance letter and before August 1st (There are often backlogs at consulates, so the earlier, the better.) New regulations may limit the window in which you can apply. Check the BLS page for any potential limitations.
When should I start looking for appointment availabilities? Make a BLS application profile as soon as you can to start looking at openings. If it looks like it will be difficult to secure a spot, you can estimate when you will receive all the necessary documentation and select an appointment for after that date. Some consulates will require you to have a Carta before securing an appointment, though.
Expiration date of documents (the expiration date pertains to the date your visa application is received)
Medical form – 90 days
FBI background check – 6 months
Suggested start time: After you receive “Plaza Aceptada” status and after April 15th
In past years, the apostille has taken up to 11 weeks to process. START EARLY! (11 weeks after April 15th would be July 1st. Giving you plenty of time.)
Once you have collected all the necessary documentation, you can get an appointment to apply for your visa.
*The application method can change throughout a year. Make sure to check the sources.
Your bottleneck will be the FBI background check. The FBI background check is only valid for 6 months, so after you start, the timer starts. If the document expires, you have to apply for a new one. All of the other documents can be collected in the meantime. I will give an organized timeline for the entire process.
I received my “plaza aceptada” status mid May, but you can start your background check earlier. (This will prevent you from encountering issues getting your documents on time, but with the risk of wasting your money if you aren’t accepted into the program or receive a very late placement)
FBI Background Check Timeline
≈April 16 Complete the FBI online request and register for a fingerprinting appointment through the USPS.
≈April 16/17 Go to a participating USPS fingerprinting location and have your digital fingerprints taken and sent to the FBI.
≈April 17/18 receive your FBI background check (by email or online) the same day if you sent digital fingerprints and about a week to three weeks later if you sent a fingerprint card. You should also receive it physically through the mail about a week after you get the digital copy.

≈April 17/18 Apply for apostille. This is a way to certify state and federal documents for international use. Do not wait for your FBI background check to come through the mail. Make a high quality printout of the FBI background check PDF and send that instead.

The apostille is the attached document on your FBI background check authenticating its legitimacy. DO NOT REMOVE! ≈June 8/June 28 Receive the apostille in the mail. When you scan all your documents for safekeeping, scan each page without removing the apostille attached to the FBI background check (Just fold the ear). Send the document to be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. I recommend only getting a translation after receiving “Aceptada” status if you are concerned about not being accepted into the program.
≈June 15/July 6 Receive the sworn translation. Congratulations! You have finished the most lengthy part!
In-Depth List of Requirements
Official List of Requirements from San Francisco Consulate
San Francisco Consulate Official List of Requirements
BLS Webpage List of Requirements
Now that you have an idea of the deadlines and important dates, I will walk you through the full list of requirements for the Spanish Consulate starting with the bottleneck requirements of the Apostilled and translated FBI background check.
Apostilled and Translated FBI Background Check
Official Requirement Language:
Criminal record certificate if the applicant is not a minor: original and copy of the criminal record certificate issued by the country or countries of residence in the last 5 years (residence defined as having stayed in that country for 6+ months).
In the US the criminal record certificate must be issued by the US Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Certificates issued at the state level by the Department of Law Enforcement, nor those issued at the local level, are not accepted.
The certificate must have been issued in the 6 months prior to the visa application. It must be legalized with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish.
Any criminal record certificate that has been tampered with or damaged (including staple removal damage) will not be accepted under any pretext.
If you have lived outside the United States for the last five years, you must also submit a criminal record certificate (legalized with the Hague Apostille) and its translation into Spanish by a sworn translator (and a copy of both documents). If you have lived in countries that are not part of the 1961 Hague Convention, the certificate must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country and then by the Consulate of Spain in that country.
Getting a Spanish Background Check from Abroad
Step 1 – Fingerprints and FBI Background Check
Overview of the FBI Background Check Process
≈April 16 Request an FBI background check by submitting an online application along with your fingerprints (digital or physical). Follow the steps provided by the FBI for an online background check request.

Applying online is the fastest and most effective way to receive your FBI background check. Read steps 1 through 7 and then enter your e-mail address in the box to the right. (this process can also be done while in Spain)

After you click submit, you should receive an automated email with a PIN and a link to your request.

Click on the link and enter your PIN to continue. There you will have to agree to a privacy statement before you continue. The webpage has 5 steps to follow. I’ll walk you through them, but they are very simple. (The webpage may give you errors if you do this on mobile. When I accessed it using Google Chrome on my mobile device, it didn’t provide me all the options available.)
Step 1 – Personal Information: Enter your personal information.
Step 2 – Mailing Address: Enter your mailing address and phone number.
Step 3 – Preferences: Q1 – Yes, Q2 – Yes, Q3 – Yes, via e-mail (enter e-mail address)
Step 4 – Fingerprint Card:
Have this done electronically. It avoids the needless delay of sending an application by mail (sometimes the delays are up to 3 weeks).
Fingerprinting Locations for those of you Currently Residing in Spain (you can also always fill out a fingerprint card and mail it in)
If for whatever reason, you can not get this done electronically, click on the mail option and follow the steps there. You will need to fill out a fingerprint card and send it by mail. To get a fingerprint card properly filled out, print out the fingerprinting template and bring it to your local police station. There, you can pay a small fee and request to have fingerprinting done for an FBI background check.

After selecting Electronic submissions, a box will pop up giving Third-Party Fingerprinting Locations near you. There is also an option to expand your search radius if the options provided are not convenient for you.

In my situation, I would check all the options in the List of Participating U.S. Post Office Locations without providing my zip code.

If you choose to use one of the location options offered by the FBI, keep the electronic submission option checked and continue to step 5.
Step 5 – Payment: Confirm your information and continue with payment. The cost will be $18. Complete your payment details. Don’t forget! You will pay an additional $50 as a fingerprinting fee at a participating USPS location. Check for an email confirmation, and save the order number. This will be used to register for the fingerprinting services.
Finally – register and have your fingerprints taken: Using your order number, register for fingerprinting service through the USPS.
https://ips.usps.com/IdentityCapture/
Check the fingerprinting hours of your USPS location, and show up during that time with a printed copy of your FBI payment confirmation email.
You should receive your FBI background check within a day or two. You can check the status by using the FBI link from the original email along with the PIN provided to you. When the results are ready, you should receive an email from the FBI. The FBI background check will either be attached in the email, or you could download it at the status page. Start the Apostille of the Hague process as soon as you have a downloaded copy of the FBI background check.
Step 2 Getting the Apostille
≈April 17/18 As soon as you get the email with your FBI background check results, you can apply for Apostille of the Hague. You do not have to wait for the hard-copy through the mail. Print a high quality copy of the document, and make sure that your printed copy has the large FBI seal in the background.

Because the Federal Bureau of Investigation background check is a federal document, you need to have a federal apostille. Federal documents get federal Apostilles, and state documents get state Apostilles. Although your state department may offer Apostille services, it is not valid for the FBI background check.
If you want to speed up the Apostille process or avoid doing it yourself, you can use a paid service. Monument Visa Services isn’t a sponsor (so please consider supporting the work I do), but I arranged a discount for my viewers: $100 instead of $125 with my link. They do great work. I’ve seen 2 week turnaround times from their services. If you want to save money and do it yourself, instructions can be found below.
Requirements: (link)
- “One self-addressed, prepaid envelope for return of your document.” Use USPS. Here it is online (link). Do not purchase it online, though. For the apostille, you will need 2 USPS Pre-paid mail envelopes with a tracking a number. Go directly to a USPS post office, and purchase the 2 necessary envelopes:
Send your self-addressed prepaid envelope and the rest of your apostille documents to the following address:
Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O. Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206 - The FBI background check document. Remember, make sure the FBI seal is visible in the background.
- A $20 check or money order addressed to the U.S. Department of State. This is a per document fee for the apostille, not per page. You may see on the DS-4194 form and online that the fee is only $8, but that is outdated.
“If you are mailing your request, pay by check or money order. Make them payable to the U.S. Department of State. Do not send cash or credit card information.
Include the customer’s name and address on checks (make sure this information is preprinted) and money orders. All check numbers must be over 100.” - A completed Request of Authentications Service DS-4194 form.
Section 1 fill out your personal information.
Section 2 fill out your delivery method and tracking number (found on the self-addressed, prepaid envelope)
Section 3 leave blank – you do not have a courier or representative.
Section 4 Country of Use: Spain, Document Type: FBI Criminal Background Record, Number of Documents: 1, Processing Fee per Document: $20.
Complete Section 5 where you estimate the total cost ($20), and then finally, place your FBI background check, DS-4194 Form, $20 Check, and self-addressed prepaid priority USPS envelope (you can fold it so it fits) in your prepaid priority USPS envelope addressed to the office of authentications.
To make an inquiry about the status of your Apostille, you can call the Office of Authentications at 202-485-8000 on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Before calling, read the instructions on the “Check your Document Status” tab on the right hand side of their webpage (link here).
If you need to rush the apostille process in case of a travel emergency, you can contact your member of congress. Members of congress are authorized to give applications priority in the case of a backlog. Most representatives have a website with information about making a request (either an official request form or specific instructions.) If there is no information available, you can simply contact them with your request. Include all the necessary information for them to identify your apostille order and when you need it. Not every member of congress will help you, but some will, and it doesn’t hurt to ask.
(Make sure to wait about a week after sending your application so that it has been received before contacting your member of congress.)
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Here is an example of what you might find:



After clicking on “Services” and “Help with a Federal Agency”, I am directed to a webpage with specific instructions on how to enter my information to receive help.
*Your FBI background check is already certified by the FBI, and the apostille is a form of notarization, so getting the original documents notarized is not necessary.

Step 3 Getting the Translation
≈June 8/June 28 (and after getting “aceptada” status if you are concerned about not being accepted into the program) Send the FBI background check to be translated. You can do this by simply sending a PDF of your background check to a sworn translator (again, make sure the FBI logo is visible in your scan).
The San Francisco consulate requires a translation into Spanish by a sworn translator. A sworn translation is different from a standard translation, so USE A SWORN TRANSLATOR.
The BLS office states that you do not need to translate the Apostille, but the Spanish consulate itself does not mention such exception, so I recommend getting both the apostille and FBI background check translated.
What makes a sworn translator “official”?
A sworn translator is a translator who has been licensed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Not all translators are sworn translators. A sworn translation is required for legal purposes such as getting a visa. Here is an example of a sworn translation below:

How to get the sworn translation: Get into contact with a sworn translator. Give the relevant information such as the type of documents being translated, preferred payment method*, translation delivery method (attached in an email), and the expected turn-around-time.
*You’ll have to make a money transfer to pay for the translation. Some translators have American accounts, but regardless, you will need a designated transfer service eventually when moving to Spain. Be mindful of the fees and exchange rates.
Although many familiar services like PayPal can make domestic and international transfers, your goal is to pay the least amount of dollars possible, not more. Those services tend to have terrible exchange rates, which work like massive hidden fees on each transaction. That’s why I highly recommend Wise. It is what most auxiliaries use because it has lower fees, higher transparency on costs, and reliable, fast transfers. Feel free to investigate for yourself. You can find a guide below.
Wise
(Wise can help you make domestic and international bank transfers for cheap.)

For the 99% of you who are getting English to Spanish translations, I highly recommend working with Alba:
alba.fernandez.c.residency2sp@gmail.com
She is a sworn translator who has experience working with auxiliaries and helping individuals get through difficult bureaucratic processes in Spain which means she will be highly responsive and helpful while also providing budget-friendly pricing. When I got my translations done through Alba, I used Wise to make a domestic bank transfer directly to her American account.
What if I need a translation from a non-English language to Spanish?
You can search for sworn translators that work for other language pairs in the webpage below. It’s the same process, but you may have more difficulties finding responsive translators. Not everyone is actively looking for work.
Link to the List of Sworn Translators from the L.A. Consulate Website
During the wait times throughout this process, you can complete the other requirements. The other parts are much easier, I promise! These 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.
Making a Notarized Copy
“Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Provide a copy (not the original) of the US driver’s license, duly notarized.“
https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/sanfrancisco/national-nalcap-visa.php
What is a notarized copy, and how do I get one?
A notarized copy is a copy of your document that is stamped and signed by a notary to authenticate that it is a true, unaltered copy of the original document.
YOU DO NOT NOTARIZE YOUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS!
Not every state allows copy certification by a notary. The map below indicates which states allow copy certifications.

*California only allows copy certification for very specific purposes such as power of attorney. Californians will have to make a certified statement (option 2 below)
Depending on your state, you may complete option 1 or 2 to get a notarized copy.
Bring the following to your notary: the original document(s), an unaltered photocopy of the original document(s) (the notary may prefer that the copy is made in their presence. Please ask.), and a valid ID.
How to find a notary: your local bank is your best bet. Call ahead of time to make sure the notary will be available when you visit, and schedule an appointment.
Option 1 (state allows copy certification): State that you need a notarized copy for your visa, and request a copy certification of your unaltered copy. The notary will write ‘TRUE COPY’ and put their signature, seal and stamp on the copy itself.
Option 2 (state does not allow copy certification): State that you need a notarized copy for your visa, and bring the following statement to be completed.

You need a notarized copy of the following:
- Your proof of residence in the consular district
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 – The San Francisco consulate requests that you glue your recent, professionally done visa photo onto the space provided in the Visa Application 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. If you purchase the extra month of insurance, you can put a date in September to get yourself situated before the program starts.
(If you put the program’s official start date: October 1, you may not need to buy extra insurance beforehand. This was what D.C.’s consulate told me. Americans can also enter Spain as tourists before the visa begins. The unlikely worst-case scenario is that, when applying for the TIE, they ask for an entry stamp after the visa start date, which would mean a quick round-trip flight outside the Schengen area, like 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 and Date Section 31 – Signature
Photograph
The consulate requests a recently taken 2″x2″ passport photo.
BLS requests the following: “A recent colour photograph (US passport size)”. This corresponds with the consulate, but under “photo specifications”, you can find this image:

Anecdotally, I’ve seen that they accept the US passport style photographs.
I recommend getting extra copies in case the original is damaged.
Many retailers offer official passport photos. I recommend CVS. Additionally, a photo booth meeting these requirements is also available at the BLS centre.

Valid, Unexpired Passport
“The original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data must be submitted. The passport must be valid for at least the duration of the planned stay and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted. “
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. The program (and visa) is typically from October – end of May or June.
Getting a Passport (U.S.)
Renewing Your Passport (U.S.)
If you are a non US passport holder, you need to provide your passport and a Permanent Resident Card or US Immigrant Visa.
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.

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 insruance 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)
Medical Certificate
The Medical Form is 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.”
This template comes from the consulate of Spain in Boston, and it fulfills all the requirements for the Medical Certificate.
Book a check-up with your doctor (not nurse, nurse practicioner, 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.
Proof of Residence in the Consular District
The San Francisco consulate only services certain states/regions of states, so show proof that you live in one of those states/regions.
“Provide a copy (not the original) of the US driver’s license, duly notarized.”
Getting a notarized copy (link)
“What if I don’t have a Driver’s license?”
Bring official ID that proves your legal residence in the consular district.

Payment of the Visa Fee
Only money orders are accepted
The American citizen fee is $160. You can check their website for the most recent visa fees (here)
You are applying for the long term student visa EE.UU (USA). To get a money order, go to your bank and request a money order. Another option is having the USPS issue a money order. (link)
Amount: $160
Payable to: “Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco”
Address: 717 Market St, Suite 425, San Francisco CA 94103
Memo: Visado de Estudiante / Student Visa Fee
Additionally, BLS will charge you a service fee of $19 along with fees for any extra services you might want.
BLS Services Fees and Optional Value Added Services:
Form of payment: Debit Card only

Disclaimer Form
Print and sign the disclaimer form provided by BLS (Link)
Making an Appointment
How to find an appointment/apply:
Before you start: Triple check both the consulate page and BLS page for changes.
Small things such as being able to apply via mail or in person, the office address, and being able to have your visa sent back to you can change, so please check for yourself. If given the chance to apply via mail or in person, as long as it’s not too inconvenient, I recommend in person applications. That way, you can correct any small mistakes in your application while you are there.
San Francisco Consulate Official List of Requirements
BLS Webpage List of Requirements
Go to the following BLS NALCAP page.
https://usa.blsspainglobal.com/Global/account/login

After registering your account, log in, and select “book new appointment”.

Make sure you select the correct location when booking the appointment! It should be YOUR consulate.

If you are unable to find any appointment availabilities suitable for you, you can also pay extra for “Prime Time” appointments.


- Input your personal details.
- Add your passport details.
- Address and contact details.
- If you are resident in another country, check yes. If not, leave it blank.
- Main purpose – “Study”
Intended date of arrival – When you intend to arrive in Spain. If you purchase the extra month of insurance, you can put a date in September to get yourself situated before the program starts.
(If you put the program’s official start date: October 1, you may not need to buy extra insurance beforehand. This was what D.C.’s consulate told me. Americans can also enter Spain as tourists before the visa begins. The unlikely worst-case scenario is that, when applying for the TIE, they ask for an entry stamp after the visa start date, which would mean a quick round-trip flight outside the Schengen area, like Gibraltar.)
Number of entries requested – multiple
Intended stay duration – Do the math. How long is the program (in days)?
Applicant’s address in Spain – Put the address listed for the school found in your Carta de Nombramiento. If you are trying to make an appointment before receiving your Carta, you can use your region’s Department of Education address found on NALCAP.com or with Google. (The address is just a placeholder for now. Your official application form can carry a different address later on).
And submit!
Later on when selecting your appointment, they will ask you to upload a photo:

Once everything is correctly selected, go ahead and book your appointment.
Don’t be picky about your date! It can often be very difficult to find an available appointment.
It’s a good idea to start searching for available dates BEFORE you finish all your paperwork.
Bring your appointment reservation to the appointment.
Address:
717 Market St, Suite 425, San Francisco CA 94103
Extra help: it may be difficult to get an appointment. A good trick is to connect with other auxes from your region and find out the release schedule of new appointments.
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:
- You won’t be able to fly internationally while your visa is being processed.
- 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 begins on May 7, 2025.
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

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

“I did everything right, and I only suffered a lot. At least I have my visa.”
Jane Doe
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