How to Get Visa to Spain from Qatar: Step-by-Step Guide

Spain — the homeland of Rafael Nadal, Antonio Banderas, Salvador Dali, and many other renowned figures. It’s also where you can visit the Sagrada Familia and the Alhambra, and eat the best paella! But, this country is in the Schengen zone, and if you’re a Qatari national or legal resident, you’ll need a Spain visit visa from Qatar to enter it. 

Qatari nationals must apply for a Spanish Visa if they plan to visit, work, or live in Spain. Apart from them, the nationals of third countries who are legal residents in Qatar should also apply for a visa, unless they are citizens of a Schengen country.

Qatari residents also need to bring their residence permit along with their passports.

If you are a Qatari national or have a residency permit in Qatar, you can apply for a Spanish Visa at the BLS Application Center in Doha. 

• Working hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The passport collection time is between 3 PM and 4:30 PM, while the call center works from 9 AM until 4:30 PM (Sunday to Thursday) 

• Address: Office No.42, 10th Floor, Al Reem Tower (Opposite Intercontinental Hotel), Al Wahda Street, West Bay, Doha, Qatar

• Email: info.doh@blshelpline.com

• Phone: +974 4144 7600

Tourist visa

A tourist visa is a short-stay visa that lasts for a maximum of 90 days, and you can apply for it up to six months in advance. If you would like to spend more than 90 days in Spain, you need to get a long-stay visa. Once the tourist visa is approved, you have to travel to Spain within 90 days. 

Fees: 

• QAR 331 for adults (plus QAR 67 service charge)

• QAR 166 for children aged 6–12

• Free for children under 6 years

Processing time: From 15 to 45 days

Business visa

A business visa is a short-stay visa that allows you to attend meetings, conferences, and find new business opportunities. This visa doesn’t allow a person to actively work in Spain or search for a new job. 

Apart from the basic documents, here are additional Spain visa requirements when applying from Qatar: 

• A letter of invitation from the company, which the company can send directly to the Embassy in an original form, via fax, or by mail

• A letter from the local company that identifies you as an applicant and explains the purpose of your visit

• A proof of registration is required if you are attending a conference that requires registration

Fees: 

• QAR 331 for adults

• QAR 166 or children aged 6–12

• Free for children under 6 years

Processing time: From 15 to 45 days

Medical visa 

A medical visa is a short-term visa issued for applicants who seek medical treatment or care in Spain. When applying for a medical visa for Spain from Qatar, you will need a letter from a medical institution or a doctor in Spain. This letter should show the following:

• Contact details of the local doctor

• Nature of treatment

• Estimated recovery time

• Need for return visits

• Cost of the treatment

• Mention that the patient is accepted

• Indication that the treatment can be performed

• Indication that the doctor agrees with the payment method

Fees: 

• QAR 331 for adults

• QAR 166 for children aged 6-12

• Free for children under 6 years

Processing time: From 15 to 45 days

EEA/EU spouse visa

An EEA/EU Spouse visa is for family members of EU and EEA (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) citizens. It’s not limited to spouses, as children and parents are also eligible to apply for it. This visa is exempt from fees. 

If you want to apply for a 2-year spousal visa, you need to do so at the Embassy of Spain in Qatar. If you wish to apply for a 5-year visa, you can do that at the BLS application center in Doha. 

Here’s what you’ll need for the application, apart from the basic documents:

• A letter from the EU/EEA national that shows that the purpose of the trip is to join or travel with a family member

• Marriage certificate/birth certificate that is issued by the Spanish/EU/EEA civil registry

• Family book (Libro de Familia, a Spanish family register) containing details about the family members and their relationships, if you don’t have a marriage certificate or birth certificate issued by the Spanish/EU/EEA civil registry

Processing time: From 15 to 45 days

National residence visa

A national residence visa is a type of long-stay visa for those who intend to stay in Spain for longer than 90 days. 

To apply for it, you need to fill out this form, model 790, and prepare the following documents:

• Police clearance certificate

• Proof of accommodation/housing lease

• Medical certificate (attested and apostilled)

• This form filled in Spanish

• Health insurance (for residents, not tourists) valid for at least one year

• Proof of financial means

There are specifics for each document on the list, which you can find on the official BLS checklist. Also, before applying, you need to visit the Spanish Embassy in Doha for the legalization of the required documents. 

Fees: 

• QAR 331 

Processing time: From 20 to 45 working days

Student visa: code SSU

A student visa with an SSU code is a long-stay visa that allows you to stay in Spain between 80 and 180 days. You can apply for it if you want to attend studies or different research and training programs, and even volunteer. 

For student visas, you must apply a minimum of 30 days before the start of your studies, fill out this authorization, and prepare the documents listed in this checklist, which includes:

• National visa application form

• Proof of accommodation/housing lease

• Documents from a recognized educational institution in Spain showing the reason for the visa

• Health insurance (for residents, not tourists) valid for at least one year

• Proof of financial means 

Fees: 

• QAR 331 

Processing time: From 20 to 45 working days

Student visa: code SLU 

A student visa with an SLU code enables applicants to stay in Spain for longer than 180 days. The purpose of their stay once again has to be attending studies, or various programs where you can volunteer or do research. 

Just like with the Student visa code SSU, you need to fill out this authorization and prepare the documents listed in this checklist, which includes:

• National visa application form

• Police clearance certificate

• Medical certificate 

• Proof of accommodation/housing lease

• Documents from a recognized educational institution in Spain showing the reason for the visa

• Health insurance (for residents, not tourists) valid for at least one year

• Proof of financial means 

Fees: 

• QAR 331 

Processing time: From 20 to 45 working days

The documentation you need to submit to get a Spanish visa may differ depending on the visa type; you can check the specifics on the BLS website. 

Here’s the list of documents for a Spain tourist visa from Qatar: 

1. Determine the type of visa you need 

Based on the purpose and longevity of your planned stay in Spain, determine what type of visa you need. 

2. Prepare the documentation for your specific visa type

Carefully gather and prepare all the documents you need for your visa type. Note that outdated or missing documents are valid reasons your visa application can be rejected. 

3. Book an appointment

Once you have all the right documentation, it’s time to book a Spain visa appointment in Qatar at the BLS application center. 

4. Attend the interview

Visit the BLS application center, pay the necessary visa fees, and submit your application.

5. Track the application

As we’ve mentioned, visa applications are usually processed within 15 days. However, you can always track your application to stay informed about the current application status. 

6. Collect your passport

Once your application is processed, you can collect your passport and hopefully your approved visa. 

On the official BLS application center website, you'll find that incomplete, unclear, or unsigned applications are rejected. There are other common reasons for a visa rejection:

• Inadequate proof of finances: If you cannot prove that you will have enough money for your planned visit to Spain

• Poor travel itinerary: It’s important to have a clear travel itinerary, which will prove that you’ll be visiting Spain, especially for tourist visas

• Scant ties to the home country: If you don’t have a family or work to go back to, sometimes the visa can be rejected as the officials may deem you more likely to illegally remain in Spain

• Previous visa rejections

So, apply for your visa on time, prepare all the right documentation, and make sure that no document is outdated. Good luck!