First Year Abroad: Accepted Students

Some of your documents may need to be notarized, translated into Spanish, and/or legalized with an Apostille of the Hague. See step two for more information.

Required Documents for All Students:

• Passport (original and two copies of the photo/information page)
  Make sure your passport is signed, in good condition, and valid for at least six months after your program ends. It must have at least one empty page for the visa to be stamped inside. Scan or take a picture of your passport before submitting it with your visa application so you will have a copy for your records.
• Supplement Form (original)
  Fill out the Supplement Form. You can use the sample form as a guide. Make sure you sign and date your form!
• Application For National Visa (original)
  Fill out the Application for National Visa. You can use the sample application as a guide. Make sure you sign and date your application on the last page!
• Color Photo (original)
  You can get a “passport photo” at most drugstores including CVS and Walgreens, or at a post office. Your photo must have a white background. Write your name on the back of your photo in case it gets separated from the rest of your documents.
• Financial Support Letter (original and one copy)
  Your parent or guardian should fill out the Financial Support Letter. The letter must be notarized. If it is notarized outside the U.S., it must also be legalized. If you have trouble getting the financial support letter, email studyabroad@berklee.edu to see if there's an alternative option for you to show sufficient financial means for your stay in Spain.
• Payment for the Visa Fee (original)
  The consulate in Boston only accepts money orders and cashier's checks. Personal checks are not accepted. You can get a money order from a post office or a cashier’s check from a bank. Address the money order to "Consulate General of Spain" and write your name in the “from” section. The visa fee is non-refundable.
  Your visa fee depends on your passport country.
  --USA: $160
  --Canada: Email studyabroad@berklee.edu to request the current fee.
  --Other countries: $73
• Consulate Authorization Letter (original and one copy)
  Fill out the Consulate Authorization Letter. The letter must be notarized.
• Immigration Documents (original and one copy of each)
  Required only for Non-U.S. Citizens.
  If you are an international student, you must provide your F-1 visa and I-20, or green card. Your I-20 must be signed (by you) on the first page. Your documents must be valid for at least six months after your program end date.
• Doctor's Letter (original and one copy)
  The letter must be signed by an M.D. or D.O. and it must be on the doctor’s letterhead. It must say exactly this: “This medical certificate attests that (student’s full name) does not suffer from any illness that would pose a threat to public health following International Health Regulations of 2005.”
• Background Check (original and one copy)
  This is a criminal record certificate. You must get a background check from each country you have lived in for more than six months during the last five years. Your background check must be translated into Spanish and legalized. If you are a resident of Massachusetts, you can submit a Massachusetts background check. If you are not a resident of Massachusetts, you must submit an FBI background check.

Refer to the visa application checklist in step one to see which documents need to be notarized, translated, and/or legalized.

Getting a Document Notarized

To get a document notarized, the person signing the document must sign it in front of a notary public. The notary then adds their stamp/seal to the document. You can find a notary at many banks, law/insurance offices, and UPS stores.

Getting a Document Translated

Translations must be from a legal translator. Many students have used inlingua Boston (email inlinguaboston@inlingua.com). You can email them a scanned copy of your document and arrange payment by email or phone. They are in the same building as the Spanish consulate in Boston. A study abroad staff member can pick up your translation when we bring your visa application to the consulate.

Getting a Document Legalized (Apostille of the Hague)

If your document(s) need to be legalized, it must be done in the place it was issued (signed and/or notarized).

Legalizing documents issued in the U.S.

State-issued documents, for example a Massachusetts background check, must be legalized in the state where the documents were issued. Federally-issued documents, for example an FBI background check, must be legalized by the U.S. Department of State. See Apostille Requirements for more information.

Legalizing documents issued outside the U.S.

If your document was issued in a country that belongs to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized with an Apostille, in the country in which it was issued. Review the list of countries for instructions on how to get an Apostille in each country. If your document was issued in a country that does not belong to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized by a Spanish consulate or embassy.

Mail your complete visa application to:

Berklee Study Abroad
Attn: Tracey Mellor (MS-939-ISS)
1108 Boylston Street - Basement/Mail Center
Boston, MA 02215

Make sure to use a trackable service (e.g. USPS priority mail, UPS, FedEx) and ensure that your package will arrive by June 15.

*If you are in the Boston area and would like to submit your complete application in person, please email studyabroad@berklee.edu to schedule an appointment.

Spanish Consulates in the U.S.:
Boston: for residents of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Chicago: for residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Houston: for residents of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Los Angeles: for residents of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Southern California.
Miami: for residents of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
New York: for residents of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
San Francisco: for residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Pacific islands (Guam, American Samoa, Mariana Islands, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands), and Northern California.
Washington DC (Embassy): for residents of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and DC.

Spanish Consulates outside the U.S:
See here for a list of Spanish consulates and embassies.

• Be sure to select a student visa appointment (not business or tourist visa).
• It is important to check often for appointments since new ones may become available as other people cancel.
• Most consulates will keep your passport for the entire time your visa is being processed. Some may allow you to hold on to it if you have upcoming travel plans. If you do hold on to it, keep in mind that you will need to bring it back to the consulate so they can stamp the visa inside your passport.

*Some consulates operate on a drop-in basis and do not offer appointments.

Some of your documents may need to be notarized, translated into Spanish, and/or legalized with an Apostille of the Hague. See more information below.

• Passport: Make sure it is signed, in good condition, and valid for at least six months after your program ends. It must have at least one empty page for the visa to be stamped inside. Scan or take a picture of your passport before submitting it with your visa application so you will have a copy for your records.
• Driver's License or ID: You'll need an ID to prove that you reside in the jurisdiction of your consulate.
• Application For National Visa: This form is available on your consulate's website. You can use the sample application as a guide. Make sure you sign and date your form on the last page!
• Color Photo(s): Check with your consulate about the photo requirements. These are often the same type of photos required to get your passport.
• Proof of Financial Means: You'll need to provide evidence of sufficient funds for your entire stay in Spain. Many consulates ask for a notarized* letter from a parent and/or bank statements. You must check with your consulate to see what the letter should include and what amount is required on the bank statements.
• Payment for the Visa: Check with your consulate to see what the fee is and what forms of payment are accepted.
• Proof of Acceptance and Spanish Health Insurance: Please email studyabroad@berklee.edu to request these letters. They will be in Spanish. The acceptance letter includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia.
• Medical Certificate:
  A letter from a doctor (M.D.) stating that you do not have an illness that poses a threat to public health in accordance with international health regulations. The letter should be on the doctor's letterhead and it must be written exactly as indicated by your consulate.
• Background Check:
  This is a criminal record certificate. In the U.S. some consulates require an FBI background check, while others will accept background checks from the state police (not local police). Most consulates require a background check from each of the countries you have lived in for more than six months during the past five years.
• Immigration Documents: If you are not a citizen of the country where your consulate is, you'll need to include your immigration documents. (For example, if your consulate is in the U.S. and you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to include your student visa and I-20, green card, or other documents.)
• Other Documents : It's crucial that you include any other documents required by your consulate, as listed on their website.
• Copies : Most consulates require the originals and copies of your visa application documents. Don't forget your copies!

*Getting a Document Notarized
Check with your consulate to see which documents need to be notarized. To get a document notarized, the person signing the document must sign it in front of a notary public. The notary then adds their stamp/seal to the document. You can find a notary at many banks, law/insurance offices, and UPS stores.

**Getting a Document Translated
Check with your consulate to see which documents need to be translated into Spanish. Some consulates require translations to come from a certified/sworn translator authorized by the Spanish government.

***Getting a Document Legalized (Apostille)
Check with your consulate to see which documents need to be legalized. Documents must be legalized in the place they were issued (signed and/or notarized). Most documents must be legalized with an Apostille of the Hague.

Legalizing documents issued in the U.S.:

State-issued documents, for example a Massachusetts background check, must be legalized in the state where the documents were issued. Federally-issued documents, for example an FBI background check, must be legalized by the U.S. Department of State. See Apostille Requirements for more information. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find links to each state, for state-issued documents.

Legalizing documents issued outside the U.S.:

If your document was issued in a country that belongs to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized with an Apostille, in the country in which it was issued. Review the list of countries for instructions on how to get an Apostille in each country. If your document was issued in a country that does not belong to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized by a Spanish consulate or embassy.

• Remember, you will be asked to leave your passport at the consulate, along with the rest of your documents, while your visa is being processed.
• Be prepared to pay the visa fee. Only certain forms of payment will be accepted (see step three).
• Before you leave the consulate, ask how long it will take to process your visa, how you will know when it is ready, and how you can pick it up. (Most consulates do not require another appointment and will allow you to pick it up during their business hours.) Some consulates will mail your passport back you (if you provide a prepaid envelope). Each consulate has a different process, and you must confirm with them in advance.