⚠️ Apostille correction — read this first
Senegal has been a Hague Apostille country since 23 March 2023. However, the Dakar consulate's own "Documentación y trámites" page is out of date — it still states that Senegal is NOT an Apostille member and describes the old double consular-legalisation chain. That is incorrect. The Apostille regime now applies to Senegalese public documents, and because Spain never objected to Senegal's accession, the Apostille is valid for Senegal → Spain. Use the Apostille route and do not be misled by the outdated consulate page. If in doubt, confirm at the time of filing.
The Apostille is issued by Senegal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad — specifically the Director of Legal and Consular Affairs, the Head of the Chancellery Division, and the Head of the Civil Registry Office. Note that HCCH publishes no public street address for this authority, so confirm the current submission point locally before you travel to lodge documents.
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
One national legal framework applies at every Spanish consulate. Under RD 1155/2024 (Reglamento de Extranjería, in force 20 May 2025): your passport must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date and have at least 2 blank pages; you need an admission letter plus proof that tuition has been paid in full at an authorised (Instituto Cervantes / SIELE / SACIC) school; you must show funds of 100% IPREM = €600.00/month (€7,200/year), plus 75% IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional member; and health insurance from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer (minimum €30,000 cover, no copayments, no waiting periods). For stays over 180 days you also need a medical certificate (issued within the last 3 months, using the 2005 International Health Regulations wording). The Extranjería office decides within 30 days; the consulate issues the visa within 1 month of a favourable stay authorisation; and for stays over 6 months you must obtain a TIE within 30 days of arrival.
Demarcation — Senegal & Gambia
The Dakar Embassy/Consulate covers Senegal and Gambia. The legalisation route differs by where your public documents were issued:
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Senegalese public documents
Legalised by Apostille (current status — Senegal is a Hague Apostille party since 23 March 2023), then sworn Spanish translation.
🇬🇲
Gambian public documents
Not apostillable — Gambia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Gambian and other non-apostille documents follow consular legalisation instead, then sworn Spanish translation.
How to book — appointment channel
- National visas (including study): request an appointment by email to cog.dakar.vis@maec.es with the subject line "CITA". These are NOT booked through BLS.
- Schengen (short-stay) visas only go through BLS International — 133, Avenue Lamine Gueye x Jules Ferry, Immeuble Alyama, Dakar (Mon–Thu 08:00–13:30). This is not the route for a study visa.
- From 3 November 2025: national-visa applicants (including study) who arrive with an incomplete file must make a fresh email appointment — you cannot simply return with the missing papers. Prepare the full checklist before your appointment.
Document checklist (long-stay study visa)
For full-time study lasting more than 90 days. Bring originals and photocopies of every document.
1
Two national visa application forms
The Dakar demarcation requires two completed and signed national visa forms.
2
Passport photographs
Recent biometric photos, white background.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy. Must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date and have at least 2 blank pages (RD 1155/2024).
4
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an authorised, Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must confirm the programme and that tuition has been paid in full. A letter confirming admission or a deposit only is not sufficient (RD 1155/2024).
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
100% IPREM = €600.00/month (€7,200/year) for the applicant, plus 75% IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional member.
6
Spanish health insurance
Full cover from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer, minimum €30,000, with no copayments and no waiting periods. Standard travel insurance and Schengen health policies are not accepted.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by your country of origin, maximum 3 months old. Apostilled (Senegalese documents) or consular-legalised (Gambian / non-apostille documents), with sworn Spanish translation.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued within the last 3 months, stating the applicant has no disease posing a public-health risk per the 2005 International Health Regulations. Legalised (Apostille or consular) + sworn Spanish translation.
Legalisation + translation: Senegalese public documents are apostilled (current status — do not use the double-legalisation chain shown on the outdated consulate page); Gambian and other non-apostille documents are consular-legalised. In both cases, provide a sworn (jurado) Spanish translation of the final stamped document.
Legalisation + sworn translation — the correct sequence
For the criminal record certificate and medical certificate, follow this exact sequence:
1
Obtain the original document
Criminal record from your country of origin (max 3 months old). Medical certificate from a hospital (max 3 months old, 2005 IHR wording).
2
Legalise the original
Senegalese documents: obtain the Apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad (confirm the current submission point locally — no public street address is published). Gambian / non-apostille documents: obtain consular legalisation.
3
Sworn Spanish translation
Have the legalised document translated by a sworn (jurado) translator. Use a Spanish-MAEC-accredited sworn translator to avoid rejection.
4
Submit
Original + Apostille/legalisation + Spanish translation, plus photocopies of each. Bring the complete file to your email-booked appointment — an incomplete file from 3 Nov 2025 means booking a fresh appointment.
Fee
- The student visa fee is ~€80 equivalent.
- Watch out: some family-visa checklists show "tasa gratuita" (free fee) plus a BLS charge of 10,000 CFA. That is the EU-family category, NOT the study visa. Do not assume your study visa is free.
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply through BLS or by email? +
For a study visa (a national, long-stay visa) you request an appointment by email to cog.dakar.vis@maec.es with the subject line "CITA". BLS International in Dakar handles only Schengen short-stay visas, not study visas.
The consulate page says Senegal is not an Apostille country. Is that right? +
No — that page is out of date. Senegal has been a Hague Apostille country since 23 March 2023, and the Apostille is valid for Senegal → Spain because Spain never objected to Senegal's accession. Use the Apostille route for Senegalese public documents. Only Gambian and other non-apostille documents follow the older consular-legalisation chain.
I live in Gambia — do I apply in Dakar? +
Yes. The Dakar Embassy/Consulate covers both Senegal and Gambia. Note that Gambian public documents cannot be apostilled (Gambia is not a Hague party), so they must be consular-legalised, then sworn-translated into Spanish.
Where do I get the Apostille in Senegal? +
The Apostille is issued by Senegal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad (Director of Legal and Consular Affairs / Head of the Chancellery Division / Head of the Civil Registry Office). HCCH does not publish a public street address, so confirm the current submission point locally before you go.
What happens if my file is incomplete at the appointment? +
From 3 November 2025, national-visa applicants (including study) who arrive with an incomplete file must make a fresh email appointment — you cannot just return with the missing documents. Have every item ready before you attend.
Is the study visa free? +
No. The student visa fee is around €80 equivalent. Some checklists showing "tasa gratuita" plus a 10,000 CFA BLS fee refer to the EU-family category, not the study visa.
Will I need a residence card in Spain? +
Yes, if your stay is longer than 6 months. You must obtain a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) within 30 days of arriving in Spain.