May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
BLS Turkey has not yet updated its website for all rules introduced in May 2025. The following apply regardless: submit 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 at least 1 year from the application date; for Spanish language courses the school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit; a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available on completion.
Provinces under Istanbul Consulate General jurisdiction
You must apply through the BLS centre for your province of residence. Istanbul, Antalya and İzmir residents each have a dedicated BLS centre — all fall under the Istanbul Consulate General.
Not on this list? If your province isn't above, your application goes through the Ankara Embassy instead. You cannot apply in Istanbul if you live in an Ankara-jurisdiction province.
Document checklist (SSU / SLU)
For language courses, university degrees, master's programmes, and other full-time study lasting more than 90 days. Submit originals and photocopies of all documents in A4 format, sorted as listed on the BLS checklist, without a folder or binder.
1
National visa application form
Completed and signed. Available in Spanish or English. Download from the BLS website or collect at the centre.
2
Passport photograph
One biometric photo, white background, 3×4 cm, no glasses, recent.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of the biographical page. Must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date, have at least 2 blank pages, and be issued within the last 10 years.
4
Letter of intent
A personal letter in Spanish, Turkish, or English explaining the purpose of your trip and study plans in detail.
5
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must state the programme name, start and end dates, minimum 20 hours/week, and confirm tuition has been paid in full. Must be in Spanish or translated. A letter confirming admission or deposit only is not sufficient (RD 1155/2024).
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
6
Flight reservation
Return tickets for stays under 180 days. One-way ticket acceptable for stays over 180 days. Do not purchase tickets before the visa is issued.
7
Proof of accommodation in Spain
Hotel reservation, signed lease agreement, or a letter from the school confirming accommodation address.
8
Bank statement
BLS Turkey expects €750 per month of stay (the statutory IPREM minimum is €600/month, but BLS applies a higher threshold). Single account, signed and stamped by the bank. Not older than 3 months at submission.
9
Spanish health insurance
Must be from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer — e.g. Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, MAPFRE Salud, or Cigna Global. Full cover, no copayments, no deductibles. Standard travel insurance and Schengen health policies are not accepted. For stays over 1 year, policy must cover at least the first year.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
10
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
Must cover all countries you have lived in for the past 5 years. Each certificate requires: (1) Hague Apostille from the Governorship (Valilik) + (2) sworn translation into Spanish by a notarised translator. Not older than 3 months at submission.
11
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a fully equipped hospital. Must state the applicant does not have any disease posing a public health risk per WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Requires Hague Apostille + sworn Spanish translation. Not older than 3 months.
12
Proof of Turkish residence / address
Document proving you reside in one of the 32 provinces under Istanbul Consulate General jurisdiction.
Foreign nationals with long-term Turkish residence permits: All your documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator before submission — even documents from your home country.
Short-term residence card holders are not eligible to apply without prior written approval from the Consulate General. Contact the visa section before booking your BLS appointment.
Apostille + sworn translation — the correct sequence
For the criminal record certificate and medical certificate, follow this exact sequence:
1
Obtain the original document
Criminal record (Adli Sicil Kaydı) from the courthouse. Medical certificate from a fully equipped hospital.
2
Get the Hague Apostille stamp
Take the original to your provincial Governorship (İl Valiliği) to obtain the Hague Apostille. Allow up to 2 weeks.
3
Sworn Spanish translation
Have the apostilled document translated by a sworn notarised translator (yeminli tercüman).
4
Submit
Original + Apostille + Spanish translation, plus photocopies of each. Both document and Apostille must not be older than 3 months at submission.
BLS submission tips
- Book appointments only through the official BLS website — never pay third parties for appointment access
- Use the BLS centre for your province of residence — you cannot apply at a different centre
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment; late arrivals must rebook
- Each applicant needs a separate file and separate appointment
- If you can't find an appointment online, email info.turkey@blsinternational.net with your complete document list
- Visa fee (~106 USD) and BLS service charge (~20 USD) are both paid in USD cash. $50 bills and old-series $100 bills are not accepted. Ancillary services (courier, SMS, copies) are paid in TL
- Submit documents in A4 size, sorted in the order listed on the BLS checklist, without a folder or binder
- Your passport is returned by courier — not collected in person at BLS
Frequently asked questions
I live in Bursa — do I apply in Istanbul or Ankara? +
Bursa is under Istanbul Consulate General jurisdiction. Apply at BLS Istanbul.
Can I apply at BLS Antalya instead of BLS Istanbul if I live in Istanbul? +
No. You must use the BLS centre for the province where you are resident. Istanbul residents apply at BLS Istanbul. BLS Antalya is only for residents of Antalya province; BLS İzmir is only for residents of İzmir province.
My acceptance letter is in English. Is that OK? +
The BLS checklist states the acceptance letter must be in Spanish or translated into Spanish. An English-only letter may be queried. To be safe, ask your school for a Spanish version or have it translated by a sworn translator before submission.
Does the medical certificate need to be from a specific hospital? +
It must be issued by a "fully equipped hospital" — a GP clinic letter is not sufficient. The certificate must include the doctor's name, signature, and hospital stamp, and contain the standard WHO phrasing about public health diseases. After obtaining it, you need the Hague Apostille from the Governorship and a sworn Spanish translation.
I'm a foreign national on a long-term Turkish residence permit. Can I apply here? +
Yes — if you hold a long-term Turkish residence permit and live in one of the 32 Istanbul-jurisdiction provinces, you may apply at the relevant BLS centre. All your documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Short-term residence card holders cannot apply without prior consulate approval.
How early should I apply? +
Apply at least 3–4 months before your course start date. The Consulate has up to 2 months to decide. Add BLS processing time, Apostille stamping at the Governorship (up to 2 weeks), sworn translations, and courier return of your passport. Time-sensitive documents like medical certificates and bank statements expire within 3 months, so don't prepare them too far in advance.