Jurisdiction — is Shanghai your consulate?
Apply at a Shanghai jurisdiction BLS centre if your hukou or residence permit is registered in:
ShanghaiAnhuiJiangxiJiangsuZhejiang
Students: special provision. If you don't have a hukou or residence permit within the Shanghai jurisdiction but are currently enrolled at a school or university here, you may apply at the Shanghai BLS centres using a valid student ID card. Check the BLS Shanghai website for the current rules as this provision may be updated.
BLS centres — where to apply
Three BLS centres serve the Shanghai jurisdiction. Since July 23, 2025, walk-in applications are no longer accepted at any of these centres — all applicants must book in advance online.
| City | Walk-in? | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Booking required | Shanghai municipality |
| Hangzhou | Booking required | Zhejiang province |
| Nanjing | Booking required | Jiangsu + Anhui + Jiangxi |
No walk-ins at any Shanghai jurisdiction centre from July 23, 2025. You must book your appointment at spain.blscn.cn before attending. Arriving without an appointment will result in being turned away.
Required documents
All Chinese-language documents must go through: notarise (公证) → MFA legalise (外交部认证) → sworn Spanish translation. Do these in order. Documents in other foreign languages also need a sworn Spanish translation. The Shanghai consulate has additional financial documentation requirements compared to other Spanish consulates globally.
1
Visa application form
Download from the consulate website or complete through BLS. One recent passport photo — white background, full face. Complete all sections. Sign and date.
2
Passport
Valid for the entire stay in Spain. Original plus copy of biographic page. Minimum two blank pages.
3
School acceptance letter
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must state exact course dates, tuition value, minimum 20 weekly classroom hours in person, and Instituto Cervantes accreditation for language courses.
All schools on this site are Cervantes accredited. Enrol and save €500 →
4
Financial proof Shanghai-specific requirements
Minimum €600/month for your full stay. The Shanghai consulate explicitly requires comprehensive financial evidence — not just bank statements. Submit all that apply:
Bank statements (last 3 months) — notarised + MFA legalised + sworn Spanish translation
Fixed deposit certificates (定期存款证明) if applicable — same authentication chain
Property ownership certificates (房产证) if applicable — same authentication chain
⚠️ Raw financial documents from Chinese institutions are not accepted. Every financial document must go through notarise → MFA legalise → Spanish translation before submission.
If sponsored by a family member, include a notarised maintenance declaration plus their complete financial documentation.
5
Health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Full coverage — no copayments, no deductibles, no waiting periods. No travel insurance. Must cover full stay from entry date to return.
Verify at rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es. BLS China links to dedicated long-stay insurance providers for China applicants. We also partner with Atlántida — get a quote →
6
Criminal record check Stays over 180 days
For courses over 180 days. Covering the last 2 years. From your local PSB Exit-Entry Administration (公安局出入境管理部门). Must be notarised + MFA legalised + sworn Spanish translation. If you've lived outside China in the past 2 years, provide checks from those countries too.
You must have resided in China for at least 180 days for the PSB to issue this certificate.
7
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
From a licensed doctor. Certifies absence of IHR 2005 notifiable diseases. Must be notarised and authenticated appropriately. Check the current BLS Shanghai checklist for the exact format accepted.
8
Proof of residence or student status
Household registration (户口本) or residence permit (居住证) showing your address is within the Shanghai jurisdiction. Alternatively, if you are a student currently enrolled at an institution within the jurisdiction, a valid student ID card may be accepted.
The MFA legalisation process
Every Chinese official document needs this chain before submission. Do not skip steps or reverse the order.
1
Obtain original document
Bank statement, criminal record, household registration copy, medical certificate — from the issuing authority.
2
Notarise at a Chinese notary office (公证处)
The notary verifies and stamps the document.
⏰ 1–5 working days
3
MFA legalisation (外交部认证)
Submit the notarised document to the Consular Affairs Department of China's MFA. Can be done in Shanghai or Beijing, or through authorised agents.
⏰ 3–10 working days
4
Sworn Spanish translation
Have the authenticated document translated by a sworn translator on the consulate's official list. Translation must accompany the original.
⏰ 3–7 working days
5
Book BLS appointment and submit
Book at spain.blscn.cn — select Shanghai jurisdiction and your city. Bring originals and copies of all documents. Pay consular fee + BLS service fee on the day.
Frequently asked questions
I'm a student at a Shanghai university but my hukou is in Beijing — which consulate do I use? +
You may be able to apply at the Shanghai BLS centre using your student ID. The Shanghai consulate has a specific provision allowing students enrolled in the jurisdiction to apply here regardless of where their hukou is registered. Check the BLS Shanghai website for the current rules before booking — the provision has been updated over time.
Why does Shanghai require more financial documents than other consulates? +
The Shanghai consulate explicitly requires financial evidence beyond just bank statements — including fixed deposits and property ownership certificates if applicable. This reflects a more thorough assessment of financial standing. Bring all evidence of assets you can provide, properly authenticated.
Can I still walk in without an appointment? +
No. As of July 23, 2025, walk-in applications are not accepted at Shanghai, Hangzhou or Nanjing. All applicants must book an appointment in advance at spain.blscn.cn. This applies to all visa types including national study visas.
How long does processing take from Shanghai? +
Allow 3–4 months in total. The MFA legalisation chain takes 2–4 weeks; consulate processing is at least 1 month plus Madrid authorisation; appointment slots can be limited. Apply at least 3 months before your course start date.