Quick answer
Indians need a Schengen visa for Spain, lodged at a BLS International centre and decided by the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai. The fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus BLS charges. Everyone attends biometrics in person, insurance is checked at the counter, and summer applications should go in six to eight weeks ahead.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) issued by Spain
- Stay allowed
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) per adult, EUR 45 (about ₹4,600) for children aged 6–11, plus a BLS International service charge
- Processing
- About 15 calendar days; plan 6–8 weeks from booking a slot for summer travel
- Validity
- As issued: trip dates on a first visa, 2-year or 5-year multiple-entry under the India cascade
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Schengen application form filled online and signed (Embassy-jurisdiction centres accept only online-filled forms)
- Passport issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond return, plus old passports
- Two 35 x 45 mm photographs on a white background
- Printed travel insurance certificate with at least EUR 30,000 cover for all Schengen states (mandatory at the counter)
- Cover letter and day-by-day itinerary showing Spain as the longest stay
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Leave letter and last 3 salary slips, or GST registration and business bank statements
- Refundable flight reservation and hotel bookings for every night, including any Portugal leg
- Copies of previous Schengen, UK or US visas
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Buying 'early appointments' from agents. BLS says slots are booked only on its own website and condemns resold slots.
- Turning up without a printed insurance certificate; BLS treats it as mandatory at submission.
- Applying under Mumbai jurisdiction less than 15 calendar days before travel; those centres won't accept the file.
- A Spain–Portugal plan with hotel bookings only in Spain, leaving nights unaccounted for.
When is Spain the right country?
Apply to Spain when it is your longest stay. Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada fill a week without effort. On a Spain–Portugal trip, count nights: 5 in Spain and 4 in Portugal is a Spanish application, and the reverse belongs to Portugal (see our Portugal visa guide). The common rules (90/180 days, cascade, EES) are on our Schengen visa guide.
Who handles Spanish visas in India?
Spain uses BLS International, not VFS. Appointments must be booked only on the official BLS Spain website, and BLS itself warns against intermediaries selling slots. Files are decided either by the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai, and each BLS centre falls under one of the two depending on where you live.
Since 22 May 2025, every applicant must come for biometrics in person at the selected centre on the appointment day.
How early should you apply?
Spain decides most tourist files in about 15 calendar days. Centres under the Mumbai consulate accept applications only when the travel date is at least 15 calendar days after submission, and the Embassy's centres accept only forms filled online. For summer, or for La Tomatina in Buñol on the last Wednesday of August, apply six to eight weeks ahead.
Spain-specific quirks
- Insurance is checked at the counter. BLS states that the travel insurance certificate is mandatory at submission. Bring the printed policy with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover for all Schengen states and dates matching your trip.
- Optional services. BLS sells add-ons such as photocopies, SMS updates and courier return. They are optional; ask for a receipt for anything you pay for at the centre.
- Holiday closures. Centres close on Indian and Spanish holidays and appointments get rescheduled, so keep a buffer before your travel date.
Documents that decide the outcome
Spanish officers look for a believable trip and stable finances. Bring three to six months of stamped bank statements, ITRs for two to three years, salary slips and a leave letter, a day-by-day itinerary, hotel bookings for every night and a refundable flight reservation. Self-employed applicants should add GST registration and business bank statements.
On a Spain and Portugal trip, book hotels in both countries. A plan showing only Spanish hotels raises questions about the other nights.
If you have been refused before, attach the refusal letter and explain what has changed. Our visa assistance team prepares BLS files end to end, and we arrange Schengen-compliant travel insurance. Plan money and season with the Spain trip cost and best time to visit Spain guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spain's visa handled by VFS or BLS in India?
Do I need travel insurance before submitting a Spain visa application?
Should I apply to Spain or Portugal for a combined trip?
How long does a Spain visa take for Indians?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
