Passports and Visas

Documents Acquired by You the Student:

Refer to this Checklist of Required Documents when preparing your paperwork for the group visa application. 

• Consulate Authorization Letter (one copy) - Fill out our Consulate Authorization Letter, which gives Berklee permission to submit your visa application. The letter must be notarized (see Step 2, below) within the United States.
• Your Actual Passport - 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.
• Two color photocopies of the information page of your passport - Take your passport to an actual photocopy machine to make clear copies. 
• National Visa Application Form - Type your responses (don't hand-write) onto the National Visa Application Form before printing it out on double-sided paper. The final page must be signed by hand in blue or black pen (no pencil). Certain parts of the application form need to be filled out a certain way; some sections of the form should be blank. You can refer to this sample application form for guidance with how to fill everything out. 
• Identity Photograph (one photo) - You can get this wherever “passport photos” are available, including camera shops (i.e. Hunt's Photo), most drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, etc.), or at a post office. Your photo must have a white background and be printed in color. Paper-clip the photo (do not paste or tape it) to the first page of your National Visa Application Form. Write your name on the back of your photo in case it gets separated from the rest of your documents.

• Proof of Availability of Financial Means (two copies) - Two copies of a recent bank statement for US bank accounts in the student's own name, showing that the student holds access to a defined minimum amount of money to cover essential expenses while in Spain. 

  The amount of money which must be shown will vary depending on how long you will study abroad. As of 2024, you must show access to USD $2,800 if you will study in Spain for one semester, or $6,300 if you will study in Spain for two semesters. The bank statements could be for a checking or savings account, and you could put statements from two or more accounts together which will add up to the necessary amount. You could obtain this bank statement either by printing out two copies of the most recent monthly statement from your online banking app or by contacting your US bank to request two copies of an official account statement letter printed on bank letterhead and showing the amount of funds your account holds. These bank statements may be written in English or Spanish.

  If you do not have sufficient funds in your own bank accounts - consult with your family to ask if they are able to transfer funds into a US bank account in your name so that you can show the Spanish consulate that you have access to the required minimum amount. Be sure that your bank statement or bank letter reflects the recently added funds in the total amount held in your account. 

  If your family cannot transfer funds into your bank account - you could submit two notarized Parent/Guardian Financial Support Letters alongside two copies of your parent's US bank statements (not an account outside the US) and two photocopies of the student's birth certificate (in English or Spanish). Your family member must get the Financial Support Letter notarized within the United States in the place where they are located and they must give you the actual stamped document with the notary's signature on it (not just a scanned copy of it). See Step 2 below for more information about notarization. Your parent's bank statement or bank letter must be for accounts which are held in their name (not business accounts in the name of another entity). 

  If you are a Berklee Presidential Scholar or the recipient of another scholarship which pays the full-cost of not only tuition but also housing, meals, and insurance - please contact Berklee Study Abroad for additional information about the type of documentation you may include. 

• Payment for the Visa Fee - The consulate in Boston only accepts money orders or certified bank checks. Personal checks are not accepted. You can get a money order from any post office or a certified check (also called a "cashier's check") from a customer service employee at your bank. Address your payment to "Consulate General of Spain" and write your name in the “from” or "memo" section. The visa fee payment to the consulate is non-refundable. Your visa fee depends on your passport country and you should verify the amount on the Spanish consulate website (see item #3). As of 2024, the fee is usually USD $160 for U.S. citizens and may be higher or lower for those with different citizenship. 
• Immigration Documents (two copies of each) - Required only for non-US citizens. Acceptable documentation could include a notarized copy of your Green Card or other U.S. residency visa. International students in F-1 status should provide a notarized photocopy of both their F-1 student visa (if applicable) and their I-20 certificate (pages 1 and 2 only, printed on a single double-sided paper). See Step 2 below for more information about notarization. 
• Proof of Residence in the Consulate's Jurisdiction - For students who attend Berklee in Boston, our study abroad team will obtain a notarized Enrollment Verification Letter on your behalf; you do not need to obtain it separately. Students who do not attend Berklee in Boston will need to either submit a notarized color photocopy of their driver’s license or state ID (specifically from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont) or a notarized enrollment verification letter from the local college or university that they attend in this region, showing that they have an address in the consulate's region of jurisdiction. Consult with your study abroad office at your home institution for guidance on how to obtain this document. 

Required only for students studying abroad for a full academic year (not just one semester):

• Medical Certificate (original and one copy) Students studying abroad for just one semester do not need this item. Original and copy of a medical certificate accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations" are needed. Refer to this Sample Medical Certificate which you can forward to your doctor's office. The certificate must have been issued within 90 days prior to the visa application, and must be signed by a physician (MD or DO), not by any other kind of healthcare provider. It must include a doctor's signature, letterhead, and stamp and/or business card. It needs to include the text written in Spanish. Medical certificates do not need to be notarized or apostilled.

• FBI Background Check (original and one copy) Students studying abroad for just one semester do not need a background check. When studying in Spain for two semesters, you must obtain a Criminal Record History report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which must be obtained by applying directly with the FBI. Once the official background check certificate is received, it must be translated into Spanish and also authenticated with an Apostille.

  See step 2 below for further guidance with translations and apostilles. The Apostille for the FBI Background Check must come from the US Department of State, Office of Authentications. The translation must be completed by a “sworn translator” registered with the Spanish consulate. This is often the document which takes the longest amount of time to receive so we encourage you to begin working on it immediately.

  If you have also lived in another country during the past five years, you will also need to obtain a criminal record check from the national law enforcement agency in that country and it must be apostilled by the appropriate foreign affairs department of that country's national government. 

Documents Provided by Berklee:

Our office will add these two items to your paperwork for the group visa application. 

• Letter of Admission to Berklee Valencia - This letter, written in Spanish, will verify that you are admitted to study full-time at an accredited institution in Spain. The letter also includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia and verifies that the coursework you complete will be applied toward your degree program.
• Proof of Spanish Health Insurance - Berklee will provide a certificate, written in Spanish, showing that you will have comprehensive local health insurance coverage while in Spain. This insurance will be separate from any other kind of insurance you have anywhere else in the world. All Berklee Valencia students will be automatically registered for the Spanish insurance coverage and will have this certificate added with their Spanish student visa application materials as part of Berklee's group visa application. 

Getting a Document Notarized

When a document is "notarized," it means that a government-authorized agent known as a Notary Public has stamped the document to verify its authenticity. If you need to get a letter or form notarized, you would sign it in front of a Notary Public who would then check your identification and stamp the paper to confirm the authenticity of your signature on it. If you need to make a notarized photocopy of something, you would take the original item to the Notary Public who would photocopy it and stamp the photocopy to confirm that it is a true and authentic copy of the original document.

You can find a Notary Public at many places in your community, including local public libraries, banks, UPS or FedEx stores, and city halls or other government offices. The Boston Public Library, for example, offers free or low-fee notary services by appointment at several of its branches around the city. For a small fee, walk-in notary services are also available in the city clerk offices at Boston City Hall and Cambridge City Hall, among other places. The staff of Berklee Study Abroad can also notarize certain documents specifically for your Spanish visa application, such as the aforementioned Consulate Authorization Letter and the photocopies of I-20 certificates and F-1 visas, if necessary. 

Getting a Document Translated

If you need to get a document translated for your visa application, the translation must be completed by a "sworn translator" who is registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even if they are fluent in Spanish, students or their friends/family cannot perform the translations for a visa application. You may consult this list from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to locate a qualified translator. The site is in Spanish and you may search for translators using the Spanish language name of each country. For example, to find translators based in the United States, search for "Estados Unidos." Translations can often be completed in just a few days via email with the translator. Translations do not require notarization or apostilles (even if the original document does). 

The Spanish visa application item which most commonly needs to be translated is the criminal record check certificate for students who will study abroad for a full academic year. If you are unsure of whether or not a translation is necessary for another document, please contact Berklee Study Abroad for guidance.

Getting a Document Apostilled 

An apostille is an additional stamp that goes on the document, affirming its authenticity for international use according to certain agreed-upon standards. The United States, Spain, and many other nations around the world are members of an international treaty known as the 1961 Apostille Convention of The Hague which determines those standards. 

If your visa application document(s) need to be legalized with an apostille, it must be done in the place where it was issued (signed and/or notarized). A federally issued United States document, such as the FBI Background Check, must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. See Apostille Requirements for more information. If a document from outside the US must be legalized with an apostille, you should check with your country’s international affairs department for further information. Review the following list of countries for instructions on how to get an apostille in each country. 

The Spanish visa application item which most commonly needs to be apostilled is the criminal record check certificate for students who will study abroad for a full academic year. If you are unsure of whether or not an apostille is necessary for another document, please contact Berklee Study Abroad for guidance.

Complete visa application packets will be submitted in-person to Berklee Study Abroad on or before a specific deadline. The deadline will be published to this website and shared with students several weeks in advance. The deadline is usually early October (before a spring semester) or early May (before a fall semester). Our office is in the Student Success Center, located at 921 Boylston Street, third floor. You will be able to submit your visa application packet to us by appointment or by simply coming to one of our scheduled group visa application drop-off times, which will also be published to this website.

Applications must be fully complete (including all required photocopies) at the time of submission to Berklee Study Abroad. Our office is not able to hold incomplete applications. 

Students who are unable to personally come to our office due to distance or physical limitations should contact us at studyabroad@berklee.edu to make alternative arrangements for the submission of their completed visa application. Students who will be unable to compile the necessary visa application materials before our deadline should plan to apply individually for the Spanish visa (see below) and may contact Berklee Study Abroad if they require any guidance.

Most Spanish consulates require you to make an appointment to submit your individual student visa application. If you need to schedule an appointment, you should secure that appointment early, as appointment dates are usually booked-up many weeks in advance. You can schedule your application submission appointment for a date in the future by which time you expect to have compiled the necessary visa application materials. Sometimes your appointment will be made directly at the Spanish consulate itself, though many Spanish consulates are contracted with a third-party visa processing agency called BLS International where you would submit your visa application to a BLS office. 

A small number of Spanish consulates only accept visa applications submitted by mail, and they will post mailing instructions to their websites. Some consulates require you to include a prepaid self-addressed envelope with your application so your passport and visa can be mailed back to you, while other consulates or BLS offices require that you return to their office in-person to pick up your passport (with the visa stamped inside it) once your application is approved. 

1) National Visa Application - The consulate's application form for the student visa, available on their website. Refer to this sample application form for guidance on how to fill everything out correctly.

2) ID Photograph - You can get "passport-type ID photos" printed at most pharmacies and camera shops; be sure to write your name on the back.

3) Your Actual Passport - Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended study abroad period of time. You will need to hand over your actual passport to the Spanish consulate or visa processing office, and you will be without your passport for several weeks while your visa application is pending. Remember to make a copy or take a picture of your passport's information page so that you have it for your records.

4) Proof of Acceptance for Study - This letter, written in Spanish, will be sent to you from Berklee approximately 3 months before your departure for Spain. Contact us if you have questions about it. The acceptance letter includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia and verifies that the coursework you complete will be applied toward your degree program. 

5) Proof of Spanish Health Insurance - This document, written in Spanish, will be sent to you from Berklee approximately two to three months before your departure for Spain. Contact us if you have questions about it. Your Spanish health insurance is separate from any healthcare plan you normally get through school or anywhere else. All Berklee Valencia students are automatically enrolled in the Spanish insurance plan and will receive this certificate. 

6) Proof of Availability of Financial Means - You need to print out bank statements showing access to at least USD $2,800 (EUR €2,400) or equivalent for one semester in Spain, or USD $6,300 (EUR €5,800) or equivalent for two semesters. Some consulates only require one recent bank statement, while others may require multiple months of statements. If you don't have that money in a bank account under your own name, it could be in a parent's bank account. If submitting parents’ bank statements, also attach a copy of your birth certificate (proving the family relationship) and a notarized parent/guardian financial support letter (which should include writing in Spanish) from your parent stating that they will financially support you during your studies abroad. If you are a Berklee Presidential Scholar or the recipient of another scholarship award that covers the full-cost of not only tuition but also housing, meals, and insurance, contact Berklee Study Abroad for additional information about the type of documentation you may include.

7) Criminal Record Check Certificate (apostilled and translated to Spanish) -- Only if studying in Spain for a full academic year; students studying abroad for one semester do not need this item. If you live in the United States, this item must come from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and be obtained by applying directly with the FBI. The apostille for the FBI background check must come from the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. If you live in another country, you will obtain your criminal record check from your national law enforcement agency and it must be apostilled by the appropriate foreign affairs department of your national government. The translation must be completed by a “sworn translator” (consult this listing) who is registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is often the document which takes the longest amount of time to receive so we encourage you to begin working on it immediately.

8) Medical Certificate (original and one copy) Only if studying in Spain for a full academic year; students studying abroad for one semester do not need this item. Original and copy of a medical certificate accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations" are needed. Refer to this Sample Medical Certificate, which you can forward to your doctor's office. The certificate must have been issued within 90 days prior to the visa application, and must be signed by a physician (MD or DO), not by any other kind of healthcare provider. It must include a doctor's signature, letterhead, and stamp and/or business card. It needs to include the text written in Spanish. Medical certificates do not need to be notarized or apostilled.

9) Proof of Residence in Consular District - Make a copy of your government-issued ID or documentation proving the place where you live within the specific region of jurisdiction of the Spanish consulate where you are applying. 

10) Immigration Status Documentation - If you are not a citizen of the country in which you are submitting the Spanish visa application, include copies of documentation proving your lawful immigration status. For example, non-U.S. citizens applying for the visa at a Spanish consulate in the U.S. could include a notarized photocopy of their Green Card or other U.S. residency visa.  

11) Consulate-specific Disclaimer Form, if applicable - Some of the Spanish consulates require that you submit a "disclaimer form" acknowledging your understanding of their application process. Check your consulate's website and complete this if it is required where you will apply. 

12) Payment of the Visa Fee - The Spanish student visa fee varies depending on your country of citizenship. Check the specific consulate website and/or BLS website to verify the exact fees you must pay. The consulate or BLS website will specify how payment can be made, such as by certified check or money order, etc. 

• Remember that you will have to submit your actual passport with your complete visa application packet. 
• You will not have access to your passport for several weeks while the visa application is under review. 
• Be prepared to pay the visa fee when submitting your application.
• Before you leave the consulate or BLS office, 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 designated visa pick-up 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.

The Spanish consulate or BLS office will likely return some of your visa application materials with your passport and visa. Bring all of those returned visa application materials with you to Spain. You might not have to show them to anyone, but you should bring them along in case any Spanish immigration officer requests copies of your visa application documentation.

If you are studying abroad for an academic year, the student visa you receive will be valid for just 90 days to enable you to enter Spain with the proper international student immigration status. Thereafter, you will need to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero or TIE) within 30 days of your arrival into the Schengen Area of Europe. The on-site Berklee Valencia staff will assist you with that process of applying once you have arrived and begin the semester. Don't forget to bring along any of the visa application materials that were returned to you when you got your visa. It will take several weeks for the Spanish immigration authorities to issue this TIE card. Your TIE card will be your national identification card while in Spain and will confirm that you hold lawful immigration status for the duration of your academic year abroad. Whenever you travel, you will always keep your TIE card with your passport.