Is this the right consulate for you?
The Montréal consulate covers Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces. If you live in Gatineau (Quebec's National Capital Region side), contact the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa instead.
If you live in Gatineau, contact the Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa — not Montréal. If you live in Ontario, BC, Alberta, or the western provinces, apply at the Toronto consulate.
Visa fees
The fee is paid on the day of your appointment, preferably in cash, or by money order or certified cheque. Confirm the current amount for your nationality when booking your appointment.
Payment is made to "The Consulate General of Spain in Montreal". Confirm the current fee for your nationality when contacting the consulate for your appointment. Canadian citizens pay the standard reciprocity rate. All fees are non-refundable.
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator. Apply at least 60 days before your intended travel date.
1
National visa application form
Download from the Montréal consulate website. Complete every section and sign it. If a minor, one parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photograph taken within the last 6 months. Light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original and photocopy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter and proof of tuition payment
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must confirm: programme name, start and end dates, full-time attendance, and fees paid or exemption from payment.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited. Enrol here →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600/month (approximately CAD $897/month) for the duration of your stay. Montréal accepts:
Your own funds: your last 6 months of personal bank statements — originals, stamped by your bank.
Parent/guardian sponsorship: a notarized sponsorship letter from the parent or guardian committing to covering costs, plus their 6 months of stamped bank statements, their employer letter (specifying role, start date, and salary), their passport copy, and your birth certificate or proof of legal custody.
Scholarship/university coverage: proof of scholarship or a letter from your university covering all costs.
Your own funds: your last 6 months of personal bank statements — originals, stamped by your bank.
Parent/guardian sponsorship: a notarized sponsorship letter from the parent or guardian committing to covering costs, plus their 6 months of stamped bank statements, their employer letter (specifying role, start date, and salary), their passport copy, and your birth certificate or proof of legal custody.
Scholarship/university coverage: proof of scholarship or a letter from your university covering all costs.
⚠️ Montréal requires 6 months of bank statements — double the 3 months required by Toronto. This is the key financial difference between the two Canadian consulates. Plan ahead to have 6 months of statements available.
6
Health insurance
From a Spanish DGSFP-authorised insurer. Must cover all risks of Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles, no coverage limits below €30,000. Travel insurance is not accepted. Valid for the entire intended stay.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer. Get a quote →
7
RCMP criminal record check Stays over 6 months
For stays exceeding 6 months: only the RCMP fingerprint-based negative criminal record check is accepted. Must be apostilled by the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator. Must not be older than 6 months. Local or provincial police checks are not accepted.
⚠️ Like Toronto, Montréal requires the Hague Apostille on the RCMP certificate. If you've lived in another country for 6+ months in the past 5 years, a police check from that country is also required (apostilled and translated).
Budget 6–10 weeks total: fingerprinting → RCMP processing → apostille → translation.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 6 months · Apostilled + translated
Required for stays exceeding 6 months. Must be issued by your family doctor and state: "This medical certificate certifies that Mr./Mrs. [...] does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations of 2005." Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator.
✓ Apostille first, then translate. Notarization is not required by the official Montréal consulate page.
9
Proof of residence in the consular district
Evidence of legal residence in Quebec (outside Gatineau/NCR), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Utility bills, bank statements, or similar documents showing your name and current address. Original and copy.
10
Proof of accommodation in Spain Optional
Not listed as a mandatory requirement by the consulate. Some applicants include a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb reservation for the first week in Spain. You can cancel the reservation after your appointment if you no longer need it.
11
Visa fee payment
Paid on the day of your appointment in cash, by money order, or by certified cheque payable to "The Consulate General of Spain in Montreal". Confirm the current amount for your nationality when booking. All fees are non-refundable.
Step-by-step process
1
Start the RCMP check immediately if stay exceeds 6 months
Get fingerprinted at an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting service using the immigration/travel application form. Send prints to RCMP (2–4 weeks), then apostille (Global Affairs Canada or provincial authority), then translate. Budget 6–10 weeks total.
⏰ Start immediately if stay exceeds 6 months
2
Enrol at an accredited school and get your acceptance letter
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited. The letter must confirm admission, dates, full-time attendance, and fees paid.
⏰ As soon as you decide to go
3
Get your 6 months of stamped bank statements
Visit your bank branch to obtain 6 months of printed statements with bank stamps. Online printouts may not be sufficient. This takes longer to arrange than most applicants expect — do it early.
⏰ Several weeks before your appointment
4
Get your medical certificate — apostilled and translated (stays over 6 months)
Book a GP appointment with the required IHR 2005 wording. Once issued: apostille it (Global Affairs Canada or a provincial authority), then have it translated by a certified sworn translator. Two steps required.
⏰ Allow 2–3 weeks for the full process
5
Purchase health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. No travel insurance. Must cover full stay including 1 month before and 15 days after course.
⏰ Several weeks before your appointment
6
Book your appointment
Contact the Montréal consulate to request an appointment. Apply at least 2 months before your course start date — and leave additional time given that document preparation (bank statements, RCMP, medical cert) each take several weeks.
⏰ At least 2 months before course start
7
Attend your appointment at the consulate
At 1200 Avenue McGill College, Suite 2025, Montréal QC H3B 4G7. Bring originals and copies of everything plus your visa fee. Your passport will be held during processing.
⏰ Day of your appointment
8
Track and collect your visa
Track at sutramiteconsular.maec.es with your receipt code. Processing takes approximately 1 month. The consulate will inform you of the collection procedure when you submit. Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.
⏰ ~1 month after submission
Montréal vs Toronto — key differences
6 months of bank statements required. Montréal requires 6 months of original bank statements stamped by your bank. If a parent is sponsoring you, they also need to provide 6 months of their own stamped statements plus an employer letter. Start collecting early — visit your bank branch, as online printouts are not sufficient.
Medical cert required for stays over 6 months — apostille + translate. The official Montréal consulate page requires the medical certificate to be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Notarization is not listed as a step. The cert is only required if your total visa period (including 1 month before and 15 days after course) exceeds 6 months.
Cash accepted for fee payment. Montréal accepts cash, money order, or certified cheque on the day of your appointment. Confirm the current fee amount for your nationality before attending. All fees are non-refundable.
RCMP fingerprint check — same rule as Toronto. Only the RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check is accepted. Must be apostilled and translated. Local or provincial police checks are not accepted. Budget 6–10 weeks total.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Montréal require 6 months of bank statements? +
Each Spanish consulate sets its own procedures within the national framework. The Montréal consulate's official page explicitly requires 6 months of original bank statements stamped by the bank. Always check the requirements of your specific consulate directly rather than relying on general guides, since requirements vary by office.
I'm in Quebec City — which consulate do I use? +
Montréal. All of Quebec (except Gatineau, which is in the National Capital Region) falls under the Montréal consulate. This includes Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, and all other Quebec municipalities outside the NCR. You'll need to attend in person in Montréal for your appointment.
Do I need the RCMP check if my course is 5 months? +
Possibly yes. A 5-month course (approximately 150 days) produces a total visa period of about 150 + 30 + 15 = 195 days, which exceeds 6 months (180 days). The RCMP check would be required. A course would need to be under approximately 4.5 months to keep the total stay under 180 days. Calculate using your exact course start and end dates.
Can I get online bank statements instead of visiting my branch? +
The consulate requires original bank statements stamped by the bank. Online printouts or PDF downloads typically don't carry a bank stamp and have been reported as insufficient at Canadian consulates. Visit your bank branch and request 6 months of printed statements with an official bank stamp. Some banks need a few days' notice for this service.