SpainVisits and short stays
Spain visa for visiting family and friends
Schengen visa for visiting family or friends (carta de invitación)
In short
To visit relatives or friends in Spain you need an official invitation letter (carta de invitación) that your host obtains from the Spanish police, plus proof of the relationship and the usual Schengen documents. A simple private letter is not enough.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90From age 12 EUR 90; ages 6–12 EUR 45; under 6 free. The consulate states the currency and method of payment; an external service provider, where used, charges its own service fee.
- Funds required
- €122.10 per day10 % of the gross minimum wage per person per day, with a minimum of EUR 1,098.90 per person regardless of the length of stay (Order PRE/1282/2007, as notified to the European Commission).
- Processing time
- 15 calendar days from submission, extendable up to 45 days if documents or an interview are requested.
- Work
- No.
- Where to apply
- Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence, or its external service provider.
The police invitation letter
Your host applies at the police in Spain for the carta de invitación, an official document with the host's details and address, the purpose and the dates of your stay. Add a copy of the host's Spanish ID or residence card and proof of the family relationship, such as the family book or an official certificate.
Required documents
Identity
- Schengen application form (Spanish-English), signed
- Recent colour photo with light background
- Passport issued less than 10 years ago, valid three months after leaving Schengen, two blank pages; copy of data page and of pages with visas and stamps
- Proof of legal residence in the consular district; non-nationals: residence permit valid at least three months beyond the return
Travel
- Flight reservation and hotel booking or travel plan
Money
- Bank statement of the last three months issued within the last 15 days, plus payslips or pension income
Work
- Employer letter with position, salary and approved leave, plus proof of social security registration; business owners: company registration and tax returns; students: enrolment certificate
Family
- Original carta de invitación issued by the police in Spain
- Copy of the host's Spanish ID or residence card
- Proof of the family relationship
Insurance
- Travel medical insurance for the whole Schengen area, minimum EUR 30,000
Funds
The same minimum amounts apply as for tourism: EUR 122.10 per day and at least EUR 1,098.90 per person. If you have no income, a spouse or first-degree relative can sponsor you with their own documents.
Fees
EUR 90 (EUR 45 for ages 6–12, free under 6), paid in the currency the consulate indicates, plus any external provider fee.
Refusal and appeal
A refusal can be challenged with an optional administrative appeal (recurso de reposición) to the consulate within one month, or directly before the High Court of Justice of Madrid within two months.
How to apply, step by step
- Check which Spanish consulate covers your place of residence and that Spain is your main destination.
- Book an appointment with the consulate, or with the external service provider it uses where there is one.
- Prepare the documents on the consulate's list for your purpose; bank statements must be no older than 15 days.
- Lodge the file in person, give fingerprints and pay the visa fee in the currency the consulate indicates, plus any provider fee.
- Track the application online with the code on your receipt; the decision normally comes within 15 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is a handwritten invitation enough?
No. Spain requires the official carta de invitación issued by the police.
Who applies for the carta de invitación?
Your host, at a police station in Spain.
Does my host's invitation replace my funds?
You must still show the minimum funds or a sponsor.
Official sources
- Consulate General of Spain in Istanbul – Schengen visa (visado de estancia)
- European Commission – reference amounts for crossing external borders (Spain, Order PRE/1282/2007)
- European Commission – Applying for a Schengen visa
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Spain
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Validity: Visa one year; residence authorisation for entrepreneurs three years, renewable for two.
Study and training
- Student visa Processing time: Apply at least two months before studies start; once the stay authorisation is favourable, the visa is decided within one month.
- Researcher visa Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.
Work
- Work visa Validity: Up to 180 days for authorisations of up to six months, otherwise 365 days; seasonal contracts up to 270 days.
- EU Blue Card Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.
- Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.
- Digital nomad visa Validity: Visa up to one year; then a residence authorisation of up to three years, renewable for two.
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Visa valid 365 days; TIE within one month of entry.
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Visa valid 365 days.
Residence
- Retirement visa Validity: Visa valid for 365 days; apply for the TIE within one month of arrival; renewals are filed in the two months before expiry.
- Permanent residence Validity: The status is indefinite; the TIE card is first renewed after five years, then every five years until age 30 and every ten years after that.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Validity: Visa: one year or the authorisation's length if shorter. Highly qualified, entrepreneur and teleworker authorisations: up to three years, renewable for two.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: Border: admission decision within four days; inside Spain: within one month; regular procedure: six months, after which silence counts as refusal.