Hi, Someone told me that I have to get my Spanish visa from my home country. Can anyone verify this?

I am a US citizen but I will be in Thailand, so I want to apply for my Spain visa at the consulate in Thailand.

Can I do that? Or do I have to go back home and apply in the USA?

lost_jose - 06 April 2012 11:45 AM

Hi, Someone told me that I have to get my Spanish visa from my home country. Can anyone verify this?

I am a US citizen but I will be in Thailand, so I want to apply for my Spain visa at the consulate in Thailand.

Can I do that? Or do I have to go back home and apply in the USA?

visas are issued from someone’s citizenship country or residence country. in any case what kind of visa do yo planning to apply for?

I will likely start with a student visa, a non-lucrative or self-employment visa. Does the type of visa make a difference as to where I can obtain the visa?

My question is whether I can get a visa from any Spanish consulate? Or do I have to visit a Spanish consulate in my home country, the USA?

Other countries I travel allow me to go to any consulate in any country. So, I can get a Thai visa in Malaysia or wherever.

But Spain you have to get the visa in you home country? Is anyone sure about this?

For example, can I get a visa from the Spanish consulate in Thailand even though I’m a US citizen?

I’m not planning to go back to the USA - it’s an extra international flight if I need to go home first so I need to be sure about this one!

I will likely start with a student visa, a non-lucrative or self-employment visa. Does the type of visa make a difference as to where I can obtain the visa?

these visas require you to submit documents that you can only produce in your home country or country of residence.

My question is whether I can get a visa from any Spanish consulate? Or do I have to visit a Spanish consulate in my home country, the USA?

since your country of residence is also the country of your citizenship, you will have to apply for the above mentioned visas at the spanish consulates in the usa.

Other countries I travel allow me to go to any consulate in any country. So, I can get a Thai visa in Malaysia or wherever.

well, each country has its own rules, just like the usa. the usa do not issue visas anywhere to anyone.

But Spain you have to get the visa in you home country? Is anyone sure about this?
For example, can I get a visa from the Spanish consulate in Thailand even though I’m a US citizen?

you can only apply for the visas you mentioned earlier on, if you are a legal resident in thailand.

I’m not planning to go back to the USA - it’s an extra international flight if I need to go home first so I need to be sure about this one!

call the consulate to get first hand information.

I’d just add that if you’re going to be in Thailand for a very extended period (as a resident) you *can* apply there. If, however, you’re just spending a couple months vacationing or studying out there, then you will have to wait until you return to the US. Part of the reason is because the application process could take months anyhow, and if you’re just in a place temporarily, you might not be there when they finally finish the process. Again though, if you’re going to be in Thailand for a while as a resident, you just need to provide corresponding documents from Thailand (proof of legal residency, police reports there, etc.) in addition to your US stuff (state police report or FBI background check, proof of citizenship, etc.).