Important — Congolese nationals need a visa for all Spain trips
Congolese passport holders — from both the DRC and the Republic of Congo — are not visa-exempt for Spain. Unlike nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays, Congolese nationals require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any visit — including tourist trips under 90 days. For language courses lasting more than 90 days, you need a separate national student visa (Category D). Both are processed through the Embassy of Spain in Kinshasa.
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Spain's student visa rules changed significantly on 20 May 2025. Key requirements now in force: apply before your course start date (the Kinshasa Embassy accepts applications from 6 months to 15 days before travel); your acceptance letter must confirm tuition has been paid in full; your passport must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay and not older than 10 years; for Spanish language courses the school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: student visa holders can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit (higher-education students only; language-school students need a separate work authorisation); a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available to university graduates on completion.
Jurisdiction — one embassy for both Congos
The Embassy of Spain in Kinshasa is accredited to two countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Whichever Congo you live in, your student visa application is lodged in person in Kinshasa.
Congo-Brazzaville residents must apply in Kinshasa. There is no visa-issuing Spanish embassy in Brazzaville. The Brazzaville honorary consulate has limited powers and does not process visas — its own official notice asks people not to phone it about visa questions. You must cross the Congo River to Kinshasa (an international border) and follow the Kinshasa Embassy's appointment procedure. Kinshasa and Brazzaville face each other across the river, so the crossing is short, but plan for DRC entry to attend your appointment.
The Kinshasa Embassy covers the DRC and the Republic of Congo only. It does not cover Gabon or the Central African Republic, which are handled by other Spanish missions.
How to get an appointment — a two-step direct process
There is no BLS and no VFS centre in either Congo. You book directly with the Embassy in two steps: first register by email, then book your slot on the official appointment widget once the Embassy replies.
1
Register by email
Send an email to emb.kinshasa.citasvis@maec.es with the exact subject line RENDEZ-VOUS VISA EST. Attach: a clear photo of yourself next to your passport, the completed application form (with photo affixed), your flight booking, and your health insurance. In the body, write a single line in Latin capitals with no accents, using semicolons:
SURNAME NAME;PASSPORT-NO;DDMMYYYY;EST
(Example: ANGEL PEREZ LOPEZ;P123456;27122022;EST.) Use one email per applicant, keep attachments under about 1 MB, and note this mailbox only processes registrations — it does not answer questions.
SURNAME NAME;PASSPORT-NO;DDMMYYYY;EST
(Example: ANGEL PEREZ LOPEZ;P123456;27122022;EST.) Use one email per applicant, keep attachments under about 1 MB, and note this mailbox only processes registrations — it does not answer questions.
The "EST" code sits in the visa-type slot and denotes the study/estancia track. Confirm the correct code for your study visa when you register.
2
Book your slot on citaconsular.es
Once the Embassy replies with your booking credentials, reserve your appointment on the official citaconsular.es appointment widget. You then attend the Embassy in person to submit your file. Restrictions apply: one registration per applicant (no third-party bookings), a limit of about 5 cancellations per year, and roughly a 4-month window to complete the application after your first booking.
Track your case afterwards at sutramiteconsular.maec.es.
The Embassy is at Boulevard Colonel Tshatshi 37, Gombe, Kinshasa (DRC). Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30am–2:00pm. Apply between 6 months and 15 days before your intended travel date.
Document checklist
Submit originals and photocopies of all documents. All documents must be in Spanish or accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
1
National visa application form
Download from the Embassy website. Complete every section and sign it. A recent passport photo must be affixed. If a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photographs. Light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of all pages containing biometric data, previous visas, and migration stamps. Must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay and have at least 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must state the programme name, start and end dates, total cost, and confirm that tuition has been paid in full. Must be in Spanish or with a sworn Spanish translation.
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600 per month for the full duration of your stay (100% IPREM 2025), plus 75% IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional one. Options:
Self-funded: Original bank statements showing a sufficient balance, signed and stamped by the bank.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship signed by the sponsor + copy of the sponsor's ID + proof of the sponsor's funds and relationship to you.
If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
Self-funded: Original bank statements showing a sufficient balance, signed and stamped by the bank.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship signed by the sponsor + copy of the sponsor's ID + proof of the sponsor's funds and relationship to you.
If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
6
Spanish health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Must cover all risks of Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles, and a minimum cover of €30,000. Travel or Schengen insurance is not accepted. Must cover the full duration of your stay. A copy is also attached to your appointment registration email.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Criminal record certificate (casier judiciaire) Stays over 180 days
Casier judiciaire from your country of nationality (and any country where you have resided in the last 5 years), issued within the last 3 months. Because neither Congo is a Hague member, it must be legalized through the consular chain (see below) and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a registered medical practitioner within the last 3 months. Must certify the applicant does not suffer from any disease with serious public health implications per the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Must be legalized through the consular chain and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
9
Flight booking
A flight reservation for your intended travel to Spain. This is one of the attachments required with your appointment-registration email as well.
Legalization — neither Congo is a Hague member
Neither the Democratic Republic of the Congo nor the Republic of the Congo is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. That means no apostille exists for Congolese documents — instead you must use the full consular legalization chain before your criminal record certificate and medical certificate will be accepted.
1
Legalize domestically at the Congolese MFA
Have the Congolese public document legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country (the Congolese MFA for Congolese documents).
2
Legalize at the Spanish Embassy in Kinshasa
Then present the document for legalization at the Spanish Embassy in Kinshasa, the Spanish consular office with jurisdiction over both Congos.
3
Sworn Spanish translation
Finally, have the legalized document translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor-intérprete jurado) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4
Submit
Original document + consular legalization + sworn Spanish translation, plus a photocopy of each. Confirm the exact domestic legalization steps and office with the Embassy when you lodge your file, as administrative practice can vary.
Frequently asked questions
I live in Brazzaville — where do I apply? +
In Kinshasa. There is no visa-issuing Spanish embassy in Brazzaville. The Brazzaville honorary consulate has limited powers and does not process visas — its official notice even asks people not to phone it about visa questions. Residents of the Republic of Congo must cross the Congo River to the Embassy of Spain in Kinshasa (an international border) and follow the Kinshasa appointment procedure.
Do I apply through BLS or VFS? +
No. There is no BLS or VFS Spain visa centre in either Congo. You apply directly at the Embassy in Kinshasa through a two-step process: first register by email at emb.kinshasa.citasvis@maec.es with the subject "RENDEZ-VOUS VISA EST" and the required attachments, then book your appointment on the official citaconsular.es widget once the Embassy replies.
Do I need a visa just to visit Spain as a tourist? +
Yes. Congolese nationals — of both the DRC and the Republic of Congo — require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any trip to Spain, even for stays under 90 days. This is different from nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays. For a course over 90 days you need a national student visa (Category D).
How much is the visa fee? +
There is no published fee figure for this route. The fee is collected locally by the Embassy in Kinshasa and is likely paid in US dollars or Congolese francs (CDF) rather than the Central-African CFA franc used in Brazzaville. Confirm the exact amount when you book your appointment — do not rely on figures quoted for other consulates.
Do my documents need an apostille? +
No — and one is not available. Neither Congo is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille for Congolese documents. Instead you use the consular legalization chain: legalize at the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then at the Spanish Embassy in Kinshasa, then have a sworn Spanish translation made. This applies to your criminal record certificate and medical certificate for stays over 180 days.
How early should I apply? +
The Kinshasa Embassy accepts applications from 6 months to 15 days before your intended travel date. Because the legalization chain (Congolese MFA → Spanish Embassy → sworn translation) and the two-step appointment both take time, start preparing several months ahead. The legal decision time is 15 days, extendable to 45. Do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is in hand.
Can I work in Spain on a student visa? +
Yes — since the May 2025 reform (RD 1155/2024), university / higher-education students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit (students at language schools still need a work authorisation). You still need to demonstrate sufficient financial means at the application stage — work rights don't replace the financial proof requirement.