When planning a trip to Spain from Dubai, you ought to know if you are required to obtain Spain visa to be allowed to enter the country or you can enter the country visa-free!
Spain is among those countries that constitute the Schengen area. All countries in this area have common visa rules. Therefore, the visa you need to enter Spain is the Schengen Visa.
With the Schengen visa for Spain from Dubai, you can also enter other countries within the Schengen zone for tourism, business purposes, or to pay a visit to friends.
In this guide, we will enlighten you about how to apply for a Schengen visa for Spain from Dubai by highlighting the type of visa to apply, the requirements, process to follow, the costs involved, and the list of best things to do in Spain.
The Spain visa is an official document or authorization issued by the Spain government to foreign nationals who want to enter Spain for a specific purpose and duration.
When you are issued with the Spain visa, it means you meet the set requirements and you are allowed to enter the country.
Whether you are required to obtain a Spain visa or not in order to be allowed to enter the country depends on:
Dubai or UAE citizens are not required to obtain a Spain visa to travel to Spain. However, they must present some essential documents such as the UAE passport, proof of finances, and accommodation, at the point of entry to Spain before they are allowed to enter the country.
In case you are not a passport holder of a country which is a part of the Schengen visa-exempted countries and you are a Dubai resident, you are required to apply for Spain visa from Dubai in advance.
Furthermore, even if you are a passport holder of a country which is visa-exempted, but your planned duration of stay in the Spain exceeds 90 days, you are required to apply for a Spain visa because it will be considered a long-term stay.
The types of Spain visa are categorized into two:
When you apply for a short term visa, you are allowed to enter and stay in Spain for up to 90 days within 180 days. With the long term visa, you are allowed to stay there for longer than 90 days.
You should apply for Spain tourist visa if your purpose for visiting Spain from Dubai is holiday, leisure stay, sightseeing, vacationing, or to visit family or friends.
You are required to apply for this visa if your purpose of visiting Spain is to engage in unpaid business-related activities like attending meetings, conferences, trainings, internal audits, and negotiations.
You should apply for this visa if you are on a transit to another country outside the Schengen area and you have to change your flight in Spain.
You are not allowed to leave Spain's international airport area and enter the country using this visa. Below is a list of countries whose nationals should apply for this transit visa:
| Western Sahara | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Guinea |
| Bangladesh | Djibouti | Syria |
| Cameroon | Eritrea | Guinea-Bissau |
| Republic of the Congo | Ethiopia | Haiti |
| Ivory Coast | Gambia | India |
| Cuba | Ghana | Iran |
| Mali | Sierra Leone | Iraq |
| Nigeria | Somalia | Liberia |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Togo |
| Palestine | Sri Lanka | Yemen |
If you want to travel to Spain for a medical treatment, this is the visa you should apply for. You are allowed to stay in the country for up to 3 months with this visa category.
The first document you should submit when applying for a Spain visa is a dully filled and signed application form. You should ensure you fill it with correct details as any mistake can result in your Spain visa application being denied.
The passport you submit should:
UAE residents applying for the Spain visa must produce their residence permit which should be valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen zone.
The photographs should be:
Curate a cover letter clearly stating the purpose of your visit to Spain and mention the details of your travel itinerary.
It is mandatory to have travel health insurance that covers medical emergencies for up to 30,000 Euros within Spain and other Schengen countries.
You need to present proof of booked roundtrip flight tickets showing the exact entry and departure dates from the Schengen zone.
Some of documents you can submit as a proof that you have arranged an accommodation in Spain includes:
You need to provide documents such as three months’ bank statements to prove that you can afford your stay in Spain and the Schengen zone.
You can submit documents such as birth certificate, a marriage license, ration card, or a death certificate of a spouse to verify your civil status.
Below is a step-by-step guide about how to apply for Spain visa from Dubai:
Contact Arooha visa consultant through Whatsapp
Gather all required documents and send them to the visa expert
Pay the visa and consultation fee /p>
The visa expert will fill in your application form and review if your documents meet the required standards
The visa expert will book an appointment date for you with the Spain consulate in Dubai to submit your application
You will be given a date to attend the interview where you will submit your biometric and attend the interview
The embassy will start processing your visa
The embassy will start processing your visa
After that, your visa will be processed. You will receive a SMS when your visa is ready.
Lastly, you will get your passport and a Spain visa stamped onto your passport.
| Spain Visa Application | Visa Fee in Euro |
|---|---|
| Spain Visa for adult travelers | 80 |
| Spain Visa for children (6 – 12 years) | 40 |
| Spain Visa for children (under six years) | Free |
Note: The Spain visa fee is non-refundable whether your visa application gets accepted or rejected.
The processing time for Spain visa from Dubai is between 10 to 15 working days after submitting your application.
The processing may sometimes take longer if the embassy is processing several applications, especially during peak tourist seasons or if your case is unique.
You should contact the embassy if you don’t get any notification from the embassy after a maximum of 60 days. Better yet, you can keep a track of your visa processing by tracking your visa application.
Spain is one of the European countries which tops the list of pristine holiday destinations. During your visit in Spain, you will have a variety of touring options.
You can choose to go sightseeing of the historical architecture, go hiking at the mountains, relax at the beach, walk around the cities, and do so much more!
Here are our suggestions of the best things to do in Spain for a lifetime worth of memorable experiences:
There are several beaches along the Spain’s coastline which is 3,000 miles (4,964 kilometers) that you can explore. They range from long stretches of sand, short rocky coves, to stunning bays with striking rock formations.
There are several beaches along the Spain’s coastline which is 3,000 miles (4,964 kilometers) that you can explore. They range from long stretches of sand, short rocky coves, to stunning bays with striking rock formations.
You can also explore other beaches located in Mediterranean such as Platja de Granadella and Playa Arenal-Bol. They offer more natural views.
Barcelona is one of the top tourist destinations in Spain. Tourists love to visit Barcelona because of its stunning beaches, wonderful nightlife, unique quality of life, beautiful landscapes and wonderful architecture.
On top of all, the city is influenced with Spanish culture and traditional Catalan values. This has led to a display of a distinct culture and makes it the best city to tour in Spain.
If you are planning for a vacation in Spain, you should include visiting Balearic Islands to your list. You will love the warm Mediterranean climate, ideal for relaxing at the beach with the sight of cerulean-blue coastline.
The Balearic Islands are comprised of 4 huge Islands — Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. There are also other small Islands, which include the Cabrera and Dragonera.
Each Island offers unqiue experience and so much to explore. If you love partying, you can choose to visit Ibiza Island. If you love visiting parks then you should definitely consider paying a visit to Mallorca Island.
If you love outdoor activities, then you can go hiking in the Picos de Europa. You will love exploring the landscapes. You will love the amazing views at the top of the mountain.
You can even make your adventure more memorable if you choose to explore the caves. However, you should know some caves are the deepest caves descending to a depth of 1589 meters.
Doñana, which stretches 543 km2 although only 135 km2 are protected is the largest national park in Spain. The park is home to unique biodiversity which you cannot see elsewhere in Europe.
When you visit this park, you can explore its landscape which include of the Guadalquivir River, marsh environments, and dunes
As you explore the park, if it your lucky day, you may get to see the Spanish endangered species such as the Spanish imperial eagle or the Iberian lynx.
When can I apply for my Spain visa?
The ideal time to apply for a Spain visa is three weeks prior to your intended travel dates. The earliest you can apply for a Spain visa from Dubai is six months prior to your intended travel dates and the latest is two weeks before your travel dates. It is wise to apply early to give room for any possible delays as the visa may not be processed within the typical 10 to 15 working days.
Can I attend a conference in Spain with my Spain Tourist Visa?
No! You can only use a tourist visa for sightseeing and other tourism related activities, but not attending a business conference. If you are attending a conference in Spain, please apply for a Spain business visa instead.
What is the minimum amount of money I should have to apply for a Spain visa from Dubai?
You need at least 15,000 AED (around 3793 Euro) to apply for a Spain visa from Dubai. Your bank statements should show this amount and also your past three months’ transactions.
Can I join my family members in Spain with a Tourist Visa?
Absolutely! You may visit your relatives living in Spain with a tourist visa. However, you cannot settle or live with them with this visa. You need to apply for the Spanish family visa to move in.
What Should I do if my visa application is rejected?
If a visa application is denied, the consulate sends you a letter stating the reasons behind the visa denial. You may challenge the decision if you believe the decision has been taken by mistake or it is unjust. Otherwise, you should correct the highlighted mistakes and reapply for the visa.
Can I work in Spain with a business visa?
No! the short stay business visa allows you to only undertake unpaid business-related activities in Spain, so you cannot use it for work. You will need a Spain work visa if you intend to work in Spain.
