If in the summer period to get a visa to Germany you need to line up for an interview a few months before the planned trip, then in any Spanish visa center you can apply for a visa to Spain in just a few days. Moreover, the absence of Schengen visas in the passport or their excessive number does not affect the fact of obtaining a Spanish visa.
Such a benevolent attitude of the Spaniards towards residents of Russia traveling abroad may have been influenced by the past 2011, which was declared the Year of Spain in Russia or the flow of tourists that had been reduced earlier due to the crisis. It was at that time that the country's authorities declared the tourism market of Russia “number 1 destination” and significantly increased the number of multivisa issued to Russians.
To date, a visa to the country not only gives the right to relax in the Spanish resorts, but also allows you to freely travel around Europe. Spain’s hospitality, friendliness and thoughtful policy in visa matters affects its financial condition, since a significant part of the country's budget is formed from the money of tourists, and not only Russians.
Spain has facilitated the visa regime for residents of Russia as much as possible and puts forward a proposal for a visa-free regime between the countries if the Russian state also meets it.
Spanish consulates are considered the most loyal to Russians. According to statistical information, usually 60% of requests are approved. Even if the traveler has never traveled to the Schengen countries, he can easily obtain a multiple visa to the country. And if there are no violations on the part of those leaving, it will be noticed that upon repeated application, a Spanish visa can be given for a year.
There are two ways to apply for a visa to Spain - quickly and slowly.
If there is still plenty of time before a trip to your planned vacation, then you can do it yourself. A visa to Spain is self-issued quickly and is not difficult at all. To do this, you just need to contact the Consulate General in Moscow or the Honorary Consulate of Spain in St. Petersburg. You must have a package of necessary documents with you, namely:
- completed application form and 2 personal photos;
- passport and passport and their copies;
- copies of the hotel reservation, if any, or invitations from relatives;
- copy or printout of airline tickets;
- certificate of employment or sponsorship letter ;
- original with copy of marriage certificate;
- an extract from the bank about the currency exchange (the required amount is 57 euros per person per day);
- health insurance.
After that, a visa fee of 35 euros is paid directly at the consulate, and in just a few days you can get a visa.
To apply for a visa to Spain, you must fill out a form. How to fill it out in English can be found on the Internet. On the website of the Spanish Visa Application Center you can find a complete list of all the documents required for presentation, and comments on it.
If minor children go on the road with you, the list of documents will change slightly. A copy of the birth certificate is added to the application for the minor. You also need the permission of the second parent to travel, certified by a notary, or a document that indicates the reason for the absence of parents if the minor went on a trip alone or with only one of the parents.
You can speed up the registration process by contacting accredited travel agencies. In this case, a tourist visa to Spain will cost 30 euros more.
The consulate has the right to require additional other documents, but this happens very rarely. There may be cases when a visa may be refused and not explained to you, even if all documents have been submitted.
You can also apply for a multi-trip visa to Spain. It is issued on the condition that the person applying is sure to visit Spain, stay in the country for almost the entire duration of the visa and during this time will not violate local laws.
As you can see, getting into the Kingdom of Spain is quite simple. The main thing is to be law-abiding.