Tourist — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism
Tourism, sightseeing, attending events, short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling window in the Schengen Area.
- Stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Processing
- 15 calendar days standard from Embassy receipt; up to 30–45 days during peak season or where additional documentation is required. Apply max 6 months before travel; min 15 calendar days.
Business — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Business
Attending business meetings, conferences, negotiations, exhibitions, trade fairs, contract-signing — up to 90 days. Does NOT cover gainful professional activity in Spain (paid or unpaid) — that requires a long-stay work visa.
- Stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Processing
- 15 calendar days standard.
Transit — Airport Transit Visa (ATV / Type A) — Spain
Transiting through the international zone of any Spanish airport en route to a third country — Nepali ordinary passport holders are EXPLICITLY required to hold an ATV from 21 April 2025 onwards (per Spanish MFA notification).
- Stay
- Strictly within the airport international zone — no entry into Schengen territory.
- Processing
- 15 calendar days standard.
familyEU — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Family Member of EU / EEA / Swiss Citizen
Visiting Spain or another Schengen state as the spouse / civil partner / direct descendant ≤ 21 (or dependent) / dependent ascendant of an EU / EEA / Swiss citizen — short stay up to 90 days.
- Stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Processing
- 15 calendar days standard fast-track for EU family members.
Student — Spain Student Visa (Short C ≤ 90 days OR Long D > 90 days)
Pursuing studies, training, language courses, or research at a Spanish university, business school, language academy, or recognised institution.
- Stay
- Short ≤ 90 days for short courses; long-stay D for full academic programmes (1 year per visa, renewable through the Oficina de Extranjería on arrival).
- Processing
- Short: 15 calendar days. Long: 30–60 working days (after Spanish institution and consulate verification).
studentTrainee — Spain Internship Long-Stay Visa (Type D) — Tirocinio / Práctica
Internship or vocational training at a Spanish host organisation under a recognised training agreement.
- Stay
- Up to 1 year per visa.
- Processing
- 30–60 working days.
Work — Spain Work and Residence Permit Visa (Type D)
Salaried employment in Spain under a Spanish employer with a residence-and-work authorisation issued by the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. Includes the standard Employee Visa TRA (Trabajador), Fixed-Period Worker, Transnational Service Provider, and Temporary Worker variants.
- Stay
- Tied to the Spanish work authorisation — typically 1 year initial, renewable.
- Processing
- 6–12 weeks total (Spanish employer obtains the residence-and-work authorisation BEFORE the applicant submits at BLS).
selfEmployed — Spain Self-Employed Work and Residence Permit (EX-07)
Self-employed work in Spain — autónomo activity, freelancing, regulated liberal profession, or sole-proprietor business set-up.
- Stay
- Tied to the project / business — 1 year initial, renewable.
- Processing
- 8–16 weeks (after the Oficina de Extranjería approves the self-employment authorisation).
entrepreneur — Spain Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)
Innovative-business / entrepreneurial activity in Spain under the Entrepreneurial Support Act (Ley 14/2013) — for founders of companies of "general interest" (innovative, scalable, with high impact on Spanish economy).
- Stay
- 1-year visa; renewable as a 3-year residence permit on arrival.
- Processing
- 20 working days for the Ley 14/2013 fast-track (significantly shorter than standard self-employment route).
talents — Spain Highly Qualified Professional + Intra-Company Transfer (Ley 14/2013)
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) employment OR Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) at a Spanish entity belonging to an international group — fast-tracked under the Entrepreneurial Support Act (Ley 14/2013).
- Stay
- Up to 2 years per visa, extendable as a 4-year residence permit on arrival.
- Processing
- 20 working days fast-track under Ley 14/2013.
digitalNomad — Spain Digital Nomad Visa (Ley 28/2022)
Long-term residence for remote workers and freelancers earning income from outside Spain (foreign employers / clients) — under the Startup Act (Ley 28/2022). Allows up to 20 % income from Spanish clients.
- Stay
- 1-year visa; renewable as a 3-year residence permit on arrival, plus another 2-year extension. Up to 5 years total.
- Processing
- 20 working days fast-track under Ley 28/2022.
researcher — Spain Research Long-Stay Visa (Type D)
Hosted research at a Spanish university, public research organisation (OPI), or recognised research entity under EU Researcher Directive 2016/801.
- Stay
- 1 year per visa, renewable through the Oficina de Extranjería for the duration of the research project.
- Processing
- 30–60 working days.
familyReunion — Spain Family Reunion / Regrouping Visa (Reagrupación Familiar)
Joining a family member legally resident in Spain — spouse / civil partner, child under 18 (or older if dependent), and dependent ascendants (parents). Includes the General Regrouping (foreign-resident sponsor), EU National Regrouping, and Family of Spanish Citizen variants.
- Stay
- Tied to the sponsor's residence permit; converted to TIE per Motivos Familiares on arrival.
- Processing
- 60–90 working days (after the Spain-side sponsor obtains the regrouping authorisation from the Oficina de Extranjería).
nonLucrative — Spain Non-Lucrative Residence Visa (EX-01)
Long-term residence in Spain for individuals who can self-fund without working — typical pathway for retirees, those with passive income (rental / pension / investment / dividends), and high-net-worth individuals wishing to live in Spain without engaging in any work activity.
- Stay
- 1 year initial residence permit, renewable for 2-year periods (subject to continued financial sufficiency); permanent residence after 5 years.
- Processing
- 60–90 working days.
adoption — Spain Adoption Long-Stay Visa
Bringing an adopted child to Spain — both Hague Convention adoptions and other recognised adoption procedures.
- Stay
- 1 year on the long-stay visa; followed by Spanish nationality / residence permit for the adopted child after the formal adoption is recognised.
- Processing
- 60–120 working days (after the Spanish Central Authority for International Adoption approves).