To help you with the entire visa application process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain has authorized BLS International as their official outsourced service provider in India. This means BLS is your first point of contact - they collect your documents, record your biometrics, and forward your application to the Embassy of Spain in India. The Embassy, however, makes the final call on whether your visa is approved or rejected.

India is divided into two jurisdictions - the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi and the Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai. You must apply at the BLS center that falls under your current area of residence.

One thing worth knowing is that your jurisdiction is decided by where you have been living for the past 6 months. So even if your passport was issued in Chennai but you've been living in Delhi, you apply through New Delhi.

Also, if you are not currently residing in India, say you live abroad and are just visiting, you cannot apply for your Spanish visa from India. You will need to apply through the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.

We have narrowed down the exact process of applying for a Spain visa from India here!

Step 1: Confirm Your Visa Type

The first step is figuring out which visa you actually need. Spain offers different visas depending on the purpose of your visit. Make sure you're applying for the right category before you do anything else, because the documents required will differ based on this.

Obtaining Initial Residence and Work Permit​​ for Spain (not applicable for all visas)

Some of the Spain visas, like the self-employed work visa, require you to apply for an initial residence and work permit before applying for the visa. This is the process to follow in that case:

• You must submit an application for the Initial Residence and Self-Employed Work Permit (Form EX-07) through the Spanish Consulate in India.
• After receiving your complete dossier, the concerned office in Spain has 3 months to reach a decision.
• Once you receive a favorable decision on your permit by the Consulate, you have one month to apply for the actual National Visa through BLS International.

In case of the Employee Visa, this exact process will be done by your employer in Spain on your behalf. After the initial residence permit is approved by the Spanish authorities and signed by your employer, you have to apply for the Long-Stay Visa from India following the usual process.

Step 2: Book an Appointment

You must schedule an appointment at a BLS Spain Visa Application Centre (VAC)* through their official website. Make sure you book at the center corresponding to your state of residence. You can apply up to 6 months before your trip. But we recommend you to apply at least 3-4 weeks in advance, especially during peak summer seasons.

*If you are applying under the “Family Member of EEA/EU Citizens” category, you can also submit your visa application directly at the Consular Section in Delhi. To do this, you must first book an appointment by sending an email to emb.nuevadelhi.vis@maec.es

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Gather all the mandatory documents specific to your visa type. It's also a good habit to carry one or two photocopies of each document along with the originals. Consulates sometimes ask for them, and it saves you a last-minute run to the photocopy shop.

Step 4: Attend the Appointment

On your appointment day, arrive 15 minutes early at the VAC. There, you have to submit your physical application and documents. If you haven't provided fingerprints for a Schengen visa in the last 5 years, you will need to provide them during this visit.

The consulate may ask you for additional documents or information if anything is missing from your application. In some cases, they might also call you in for a personal interview.

Step 5: Pay the Visa Fee

Once your documents are ready, you'll need to pay the visa fee.

Spain visa from India fees current as of 2026, verify on the official BLS website before applying.

Step 6: Track Your Application

You can use the reference number on your receipt to track your status on the BLS website.

Step 7: Collect Your Passport

You'll receive an SMS/email when the passport is ready. Once processed, you can collect your passport from the center or have it couriered to your home for an additional fee.

Step 8: If Visa is Rejected

You will receive a rejection letter with reasons and you can appeal within 1 month or reapply with stronger documentation. The further steps you can take after your Spain visa application gets rejected are discussed in the next section of this guide!

The most recurring complaint among Indians is how difficult it is to get a Spanish visa appointment through BLS International. Because demand is incredibly high, mostly year-round, slots disappear within seconds of being released. June and July are the worst months by far,  the summer surge from students and holiday travellers means some applicants in Delhi wait 6-8 weeks for a slot!

If you’re struggling to find an appointment, these tips may help:

• Book Individually, Not as a Group: The BLS portal tends to glitch or shows "no slots available" if you try to book for a family or group at once. Your highest statistical chance of securing a slot is to book individual appointments for each person back-to-back.
• Keep Your Phone Handy: You will need to complete an OTP verification via phone or email to seal the booking. Even a 10-second delay waiting for your phone can cost you the slot.
• Check late at night or early morning: BLS typically refreshes its server and releases system cancellations or new blocks of dates late at night (around midnight) or very early in the morning (between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM).
• Check Daily: Don’t check only once a week. People cancel appointments regularly, and those slots can reappear anytime during the day.
• Prime Time Appointments: BLS offers slots outside regular working hours (usually 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM) for an additional fee. If you're time-pressed, this is the most reliable route.
• Premium Lounge Option: Opting for the Premium Lounge will not improve your visa approval chances, but it may show extra appointment slots that are not visible on the regular booking page.
• Check Neighboring Centers: Depending on where you live, you might fall under either the Delhi Jurisdiction or the Mumbai Jurisdiction. While you have to stick to your overall consular jurisdiction, check if you can book at a less-congested center within that same jurisdiction.
• Try less-popular BLS centers: If you're flexible, check centers in smaller cities instead of Mumbai or Delhi. Centres in cities like Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, or Hyderabad sometimes have better availability than the busy metro cities.

What to do if you still can't find a slot from India?

If your travel dates are fixed and Spain appointments are completely unavailable, your only realistic backup plan is to change your main travel destination to another Schengen country, so it becomes your primary destination (where you spend the most nights), and book your visa slot through that country's respective portal instead.

Although not mandatory for all applicants, consulates in Delhi and Mumbai can call you for interviews, especially if you’re a first time applicant or they suspect any mismatches and need further clarifications. The interview questions for Indians travelling to Spain revolve mainly around their travel plans, purpose, itinerary, finances/sponsorship, stay details, etc, depending on their specific visa type.

Some of the most common questions are listed below, along with tips to how to answer them correctly:

At the end of the day, you just have to be completely honest. The words out of your mouth and your intentions should clearly match the submitted documents. An actual face-to-face interview is relatively rare and is mostly reserved for complex cases, but being well-prepared regardless is always smart.

If you're planning a trip to Spain from India in 2026, the general rule of thumb for visa processing is 15 to 25 calendar days, but this can get extended to 45 days and vary significantly based on your visa type and the current season.

Tip for Indian Applicants: The "processing time" is not the only variable. In reality there are at least five sequential timelines stacked on top of each other: document gathering → apostille → translation → BLS appointment availability → consulate processing. During peak season, these can add up to 3-4 months from start to finish.

While applying for the Spain visa from India, you have to be very careful of websites or individuals promising guaranteed appointments or visas for an extra payment. BLS International does not allow any third party to sell appointments on their behalf. If someone is offering that, it's a scam. Always use the official BLS website to book appointments and make payments.

You may also come across Indian travel agents offering visa assistance. However, they are simply the middleman who helps you prepare your paperwork. Even if you hire an agent, you must still appear in person at a BLS center to provide your biometrics.