Important — Filipino nationals need a visa for all Spain trips
Ordinary Filipino passport holders are not visa-exempt for Spain. Unlike nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays, Filipino 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 BLS International. (Only diplomatic and official passport holders are exempt.)
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Spain's student visa rules changed significantly on 20 May 2025. Key requirements now in force: apply at least 2 months before your course start date; 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.
Is Manila the right consulate for you?
The Embassy of Spain in Manila is the single Spanish visa post for the Philippines. Its consular jurisdiction covers the entire Republic of the Philippines — you apply here wherever you reside in the country. It is also accredited to three Pacific states.
The Embassy also covers the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Spain's honorary consulates in Cebu, Zamboanga, Davao, Iloilo and the Bicol Region are honorary posts — they do not process visa applications.
The consulate accepts applications from people residing in its consular district, or who are regularly in the district for study purposes. Your current place of residence — not the place of issue on your passport — determines eligibility. Submission is at the BLS International Visa Application Centre in Manila (or Cebu), never at the Embassy counter.
Document checklist
Submit originals and photocopies of all documents. All documents must be in Spanish or accompanied by an official Spanish translation (sworn / traducción jurada).
1
National visa application form
Download from the official Consulate or BLS website. Complete every section and sign it. If a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Two 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 an official 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, €7,200/year). Add 75% IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% IPREM for each additional one. Options:
Self-funded: Original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank, showing sufficient balance.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship + copy of the sponsor's ID/passport + the sponsor's original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank.
If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
Self-funded: Original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank, showing sufficient balance.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship + copy of the sponsor's ID/passport + the sponsor's original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank.
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 with no copayments, no deductibles and no coverage limits (national €30,000-minimum standard). Travel insurance is not accepted. Must cover the full duration of your stay.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
NBI Clearance (police certificate) Stays over 180 days
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance is the Philippine criminal-record certificate. Must cover all countries where you have resided for the past 5 years. Must be apostilled by the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), then accompanied by an official Spanish translation.
Obtain the NBI Clearance first, then apply the DFA apostille, then translate — allow several weeks for the full chain.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a registered medical practitioner. Must certify the applicant does not suffer from any disease with serious public health implications per the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Where not in Spanish, it must be apostilled by the DFA and accompanied by an official Spanish translation.
9
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
A recent document showing your full name and current address in the Philippines — utility bill, lease agreement, or similar official correspondence. Students regularly in the district for study purposes may qualify on that basis.
The Philippines' apostille process — NBI → DFA
The Philippines acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in May 2019. Philippine public documents going to Spain require a DFA apostille — not a chain legalisation through the Spanish Embassy.
1
Obtain the NBI Clearance
Apply for your NBI Clearance (for visa/travel abroad purposes). This is the police clearance required for stays over 180 days.
2
Get the DFA apostille
Have the NBI Clearance apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs — the competent apostille authority. Apostille processing typically takes around 3–10 working days.
3
Official Spanish translation
Have the apostilled document translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traducción jurada) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). Apply the apostille before translating, so the apostille itself is translated too.
4
Submit
Original document + DFA apostille + official Spanish translation, plus a photocopy of each, at your BLS appointment.
BLS submission tips
- Book your appointment at philippines.blsspainglobal.com — online appointment is mandatory, there are no walk-ins
- There are only two BLS centres: Manila and Cebu. The Manila centre is at 7th Floor (Dela Rosa Facing), 6780 Ayala Avenue Building, 6780 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, 1226
- Visa fee: ≈€80, quoted by BLS as around PHP 6,240 (all ages), plus a PHP 1,170 BLS service charge. The peso figure floats with the exchange rate and is subject to change — confirm the current amount at BLS before your appointment
- Fees are paid in cash at the submission window; they are non-refundable
- You must collect your passport in person after the decision
- Submission hours are typically morning; passport collection is in the afternoon — check the current schedule when booking
- Apply 2–3 months before your intended departure — the legal decision period is up to 1 month once your complete file is submitted, and you must collect the visa within 2 months of a favourable notification
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa just to visit Spain as a tourist? +
Yes. Ordinary Filipino passport holders 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 language course longer than 90 days you need a national student visa (Category D) instead.
Where do I actually submit my application? +
At the BLS International Visa Application Centre, not at the Embassy counter. The Manila centre is on the 7th Floor of the 6780 Ayala Avenue Building, 6780 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1226. There is also a BLS centre in Cebu. Book your appointment online first at philippines.blsspainglobal.com — there are no walk-ins.
What is the NBI Clearance and how do I get it apostilled? +
The NBI Clearance is the Philippine criminal-record certificate issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, required for student visa stays over 180 days. Once you have it, it must be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — the Philippines has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since May 2019, so an apostille replaces old-style legalisation. After the apostille, have the document translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
How much is the visa fee? +
The standard national student visa fee is around €80. BLS currently quotes this as approximately PHP 6,240 (all ages), plus a PHP 1,170 BLS service charge, paid in cash. The peso amount tracks the euro exchange rate and is subject to change, so confirm the current figure at the BLS centre when you book. Filipino nationals pay the standard rate — the Philippines is not among the reciprocity-surcharge nationalities.
Which consulate handles the Philippines? +
There is one Spanish visa post for the whole country — the Embassy of Spain in Manila, with submission through BLS. Its jurisdiction covers the entire Republic of the Philippines plus the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. The honorary consulates in Cebu, Zamboanga, Davao, Iloilo and the Bicol Region do not process visa applications.
How early should I apply? +
Start preparing several months ahead. The NBI Clearance + DFA apostille + sworn translation chain can take a few weeks, and BLS advises applying at least 2–3 months before departure. The legal decision period is up to 1 month once your complete file is submitted, and you must collect the visa within 2 months of a favourable notification. 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.