Whether it is some of the best beaches in Europe or the Mediterranean plazas with their bar-crammed side streets or the rich footballing heritage of the great clubs in Madrid and Catalonia, whatever your reason for beckoning, Spain is undeniably a country of incredible diversity and culture. Imagine having packed and been ready for adventure but not getting a date for a Schengen Visa appointment. Do not let this spoil the party and get in the way of an exciting vacation in Spain!
With over 1.6 million Spanish Schengen Visa applications in 2017, Spain is one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe. Unfortunately, Spain Schengen Visas also have an incredibly high rejection rate with 8.27% of all Visa applications in 2017 getting rejected. Having your itinerary all planned out only to realise that the Visa might not get issued on time is less than an ideal situation to be in.
Update : It is now mandatory to get COVID Insurance when you travel Abroad. Click the below link to get your COVID Insurance at cost price.
Fret not, we are here to put you at ease! This article will guide you through the process of getting that elusive Schengen Visa appointment and has some tips in store for when there are no appointments available.
You can find out more about how to apply for Spain Schengen Visa.
How to get a Schengen Spain Visa Appointment?
The first step to acquiring any Schengen Visa is to secure an appointment to submit your visa application. Walk-ins are strictly not entertained. You can get an appointment either:
- Directly with the consulate, Or
- Via authorised third-party Visa processing companies such as VFSGlobal
At VFSGlobal, the appointment is subject to availability. VFSGlobal can support roughly 100 applications a day and an appointment would peg you back around $25 or more depending on the nature of the Visa.
VFS Global Spain Visa from India
Booking an appointment for Spain Schengen visa from India can be done via VFS Global where you have to register and fill the form out.
The form requires your personal and travel-related details.
Note: Make sure you fill the information and type of visa required accurately.
Once done, you’ll be asked to schedule an appointment for Spain visa. Choose the preferred date (if the appointment is available).
Visiting multiple Schengen countries? Know where to start!
Spain is a Schengen country so once you get approved for this visa (short stay universal visa), you will be allowed to travel to 26 Schengen countries without any restrictions or additional visa.
When should I book Spain Schengen Visa Appointment?
When you decide on what type of type you need, you can fill the online application mentioned above and book the appointment. Make sure you book before 2-3 weeks of your expected travel date.
You may then proceed to find the nearest consulate where you can apply. You can browse our website for in-depth articles on each consulate.
Check the image below to get a better understanding.
Still, having trouble getting a Spain visa appointment?
Here are some things to check for in case you are still having trouble getting a Schengen Visa appointment.
Look for a consulate with a different jurisdiction
If you are unable to get an appointment with the consulate in your city, go ahead and look for the next closest consulate. This may not, however, be foolproof because most consulates are usually booked well in advance.
Look for a different Schengen Visa Consulate
It is not uncommon for the main Schengen countries like France, Italy, Spain and Germany to be booked out for a couple of months. Change your focus to the neighbouring countries of the likes of Malta and Slovakia instead. Without the large influx of tourists typical of the major Schengen states, these offbeat destinations offer you a greater chance of landing that coveted Schengen Visa appointment.
You will need to formulate and provide proof of tentative travel plans to the country. Travel Visa Bookings can help you get a temporary flight and hotel bookings to help secure the appointment. For example, you can tell the consulate that your main country of visit will be Slovenia but you plan to spend a few days in Spain as well. Once your Visa is approved, you are free to travel within the Schengen region as you please. Plan out your actual itinerary for the trip beforehand.
Wait for a Schengen Visa appointment cancellation
If you are running out of options, this can be your last resort. This idea is slightly risky and you could end up waiting indefinitely for an opportunity. You will need to keep multiple browser tabs open and wait and watch for someone to cancel their Spain Schengen Visa appointment. Remember to refresh the tabs regularly.
We do not recommend that you discard this option as we have had quite a few customers who were able to bag their Spain Schengen Visa appointments this way. Travel Visa Bookings has a dedicated in-house team that can help you get an appointment as soon as a slot becomes available.
If you are interested in this service, you can fill out our Schengen visa appointment form and our team will help secure the Schengen Visa appointment.
Do you want Travel Visa Bookings to get you your Schengen Visa appointment for Spain?
If are unable to book an appointment yourself, we can help you out. We can help you get a Schengen visa appointment for Spain from the following countries:
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
- India
With years of experience, Travel Visa Bookings can help secure a Schengen Visa appointment slot within the next 7 to 15 days. This option, however, is subject to availability of slots in the consulate of your choice so we request to get in touch with us as soon as possible. We will also make sure to try all the nearest consulates available.
We do not fix the price for the appointment and the fees vary depending on the region of operation. We charge a $35 fee to help you get a Schengen visa appointment for Spain. You can pay a $10 fee initially, and pay the balance amount once you have received your appointment date.
Fill in the Schengen visa appointment form and follow the steps below to get your Schengen visa appointment for Spain.
-
Fill in the form and use PayPal or direct transfer to make the initial $10 payment.
-
We will respond to you within the next 8 hours and inform you whether or not we have an appointment available for you along with the price for the appointment.
-
Once you have reviewed and approved the appointment slot, we will send you the appointment reference number.
You can read our related article to know more about booking a Spanish Schengen Visa appointment in 7 days.
You can then go ahead and attend the appointment and get your Visa approved.
FAQs on Schengen Visa appointments for Spain
Can I make one appointment for the entire family?
No, you will need to book a separate appointment for each member of your family. If you are booking from the VFSGlobal website then you can book appointments for up to 5 people with a single account, but there are chances that all the 5 appointments will not be available on the same day.
Can you book me a Schengen Visa appointment for Spain?
Yes, we can handle the appointment booking process for you and your entire family. Please fill in the Schengen visa appointment form and we will reach out to you shortly.
Will I be able to verify my appointment with a government website?
Once the appointment is booked, you can verify the information anytime on the consulate website or alternatively, on the VFSGlobal website.
How long will I have to make the rest of the payment once I get my appointment?
Our team sometimes books more than 250 appointments a day, and there are always other people in line looking forward to getting an appointment with the consulate. It is therefore, imperative that you remain on the lookout for a confirmation email from us. You will have just 1 hour to make the payment to ensure that you get the appointment that you need.
What if I fail to make the payment within 1 hour of my Schengen Visa appointment booking?
The booked appointments are placed on an auction. If you fail to make the payment of the remaining fee within the next hour, we will consider you to be uninterested in the appointment and it will be made available for someone else.
Do I have the option of paying more for special consideration?
Travel Visa Bookings works purely on a first come first serve basis. So, you will need to wait for your turn to get an appointment.
What countries do you currently provide the Schengen visa appointment bookings in?
We currently operate in India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
I need appointments for multiple applications. Can I get them on the same day?
In case you want more than 3 or 4 appointments, it will be difficult for us to find an appointment in a single consulate on the same day. We can help you get an appointment on varying dates or in different consulates.
Will I get a refund if I don’t want the appointment?
In case we are unable to book an appointment for you, you will be issued a full refund. But in case we have already booked you an appointment, we will not be able to refund the fee as it would have already been transferred to the consulate officer.
What details do you need to book my appointment?
We will need your name, your passport number, and the issue and expiry dates of your passports. Alternatively, you can send us a picture of your passport and we will take care of the rest.
In case there is any additional information required by the consulates, we will get in touch with you.
Is it necessary for me to attend the visa interview in person?
Yes, it is important that you attend the visa appointment in person. The consulate will be requiring your biometric data in order to issue your Visa.
In case you had already received a Schengen Visa within the previous 5 years, and if the visa has “VIS” written on it, then it is likely that you need not attend the interview in person. You will only need to send an email to the consulate with your complete application from the last time. We still recommend that you reach out directly to the consulate in order to determine whether your physical presence is mandatory for the appointment.
How much does booking an appointment cost?
This fee varies from one consulate to the other as the consulate officers charge a varying amount depending on where the consulate is located. The fee also depends on the date you want to get your appointment. In case you need one in the next few days, then the fee would be slightly higher than usual.
However, we charge $50 in general for this service.
How can I make the payment?
You can make the payment through PayPal, Western Union, or via direct bank transfer.
Is there a way to submit my documents before my appointment?
The very purpose of the appointment is to submit all of the required documentation to the consulate for the approval of your Schengen Visa. The appointment is essentially your stipulated time for submitting the required documentation.
I am currently visiting the US with a travel visa. Can I book an appointment with the Spanish consulate in the States for a new Schengen visa?
You will not be allowed to book an appointment with the Spanish consulate in this case. In case you are visiting another country, you will need to head back to the country of your nationality to start applying for another Schengen visa.
Are the Visas issued by third-party agencies like VFSGlobal valid?
The final decision on whether or not you get a Schengen Visa rests on the consulate. VFSGlobal or any other third-party agency will not be issuing the Visa for you. You don’t have to worry about the validity of the Visa.
How long does it take for my Spain Schengen Visa appointment to be approved?
The amount of time taken to approve your Schengen Visa depends entirely on the consulate. It usually takes the consulate 7-15 days to issue you your visa. In case there is any delay, the consulate will get in touch with you on the matter. So, make sure that you apply for your Visa and book the appointment at least a month in advance in order to avoid losing money in case of a delay.
Can I apply again in case my initial Spain Schengen Visa application gets rejected?
There is no rule stating that you cannot apply for your Schengen Visa again in case your initial application is rejected. You can go ahead and start looking for new appointment dates, but we recommend that you find out the reason for the rejection of your application.
In case you provide the same details and answers to the interviewer again, then chances are that your application might get rejected once more. You can either change your travel plans slightly or change your main destination and work on giving the interviewer different answers to the questions asked.
Is the appointment procedure the same in case I want to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen Visa?
Yes, the appointment procedure remains the same irrespective of the nature of the Schengen Visa that you want to apply for. You will need to register and book an appointment with the consulate on the official Spanish consulate website. Please bear in mind that different countries have different Spanish consulate websites. Please ensure that you visit the website for the country of your departure.
I recently changed my name but I already have a valid Spanish Schengen Visa. Will it be applicable during my travel?
Changing your name automatically implies getting a new passport with your new name on it. As the name in your old passport will not match that on your new one, your Visa will become invalid. In this case, you will need to cancel your old Visa and get a new one. You will also need to get a new Passport in case your old one has expired. In this case, you need to carry both your old and new passports along with a copy of your valid Visa for the travel.
What is the processing time for Spain Schengen Visa appointment?
It may take 3-4 weeks to book the visa appointment.
Will I need to have travel insurance?
You will be required to produce the travel insurance if you are applying for a short-term C-type visa. In this case, the insurance must cover the entire period of the proposed stay with a minimum amount of 30,000 Euros.