Is this the right consulate for you?
The Manchester consulate covers a large swathe of England, plus all of Wales and the Isle of Man. Note that Cumbria (Lake District area) falls under Edinburgh, not Manchester.
Cumbria (including the Lake District) falls under the Edinburgh consulate, not Manchester. If you live in Cumbria, apply at Edinburgh. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, also apply at Edinburgh.
Visa fees
Fees are paid in cash or by credit/debit card at BLS on the day of your appointment. All fees are non-refundable.
| Nationality | Stay under 180 days | Stay over 180 days |
|---|---|---|
| UK citizens | £74.65 | £345 |
| USA citizens | £126.40 | £126.40 |
| Australia citizens | £356.70 | £356.70 |
| Canada citizens | £74.65 | £74.65 |
| All other nationalities | £74.65 | £74.65 |
| BLS service fee (all nationalities) | £14.85 inc VAT | |
| Passport return by Royal Mail Special Delivery | £29.99 inc VAT | |
✓ Fees subject to change due to currency fluctuations — verify current amounts on the consulate website before your appointment.
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Foreign documents must be apostilled and, where required, translated into Spanish by a registered sworn translator.
1
National visa application form
Download from the Manchester consulate website. Complete every section and sign it. If applying through a representative, include a copy of their ID and a power of attorney.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance on completing the form.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photograph, taken within the last 6 months. White background, facing forward, no glasses or face coverings. Printed on normal photographic paper.
⚠️ The photo must be glued/stuck to the visa application form — not submitted loose.
3
Valid passport
Original and photocopy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for at least 1 year and contain at least two blank pages (with no existing border stamps or visas on them). Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter and proof of tuition payment
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must confirm: programme name, start and end dates, full-time attendance (minimum 20 hours/week), fees paid. Must be in Spanish. Must bear an original hand-written signature — photocopied, digital, or scanned signatures are not accepted.
⚠️ Manchester specifically requires an original hand-signed letter. A printed or digitally signed acceptance letter will not be accepted. Request a physically signed original from your school, or a wet-ink signed letter sent by post.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited and issue acceptance letters meeting Manchester consulate requirements. Enrol here →
5
Health insurance
From a Spanish DGSFP-authorised insurer. Must cover all healthcare without limitations, no copayments, no deductibles, minimum €30,000 coverage. Travel insurance is not accepted — not even with €30,000 coverage. Must be valid for the full duration of your stay.
✓ GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) is explicitly accepted as sufficient medical insurance at Manchester. Check that yours is valid for the full duration of your stay. If not, purchase a DGSFP-authorised Spanish policy to cover any gaps. We partner with Atlántida — get a quote →
6
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600/month (approx. £510/month) for the duration of your stay. Manchester requires the last 6 months of bank statements — originals, stamped by your bank (online printouts are not accepted). Alternatively: a letter from your university covering all accommodation and meal costs, or proof of a scholarship.
If a parent or guardian is supporting you: a notarised sponsorship letter apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator, plus the parent's last 6 months of bank statements (originals, stamped), their employer letter specifying role, start date and salary, their passport, and your birth certificate or proof of legal custody (apostilled and translated).
⚠️ Bank statements must be originals stamped by your bank — online printouts or screenshots will not be accepted. Visit your bank branch to obtain stamped statements before your appointment.
7
ACRO background check Stays of 135 days or more
Required for applicants over 18 whose stay will be 135 days or more. Must be the ACRO Police Certificate — other UK checks (DBS, Disclosure Scotland) are not accepted. Must be apostilled with the Hague Apostille and translated by a registered sworn translator into Spanish. Must be issued within 6 months of your application date.
⚠️ The 135-day threshold is unique to Manchester — lower than London and Edinburgh, which both use 180 days. Most language courses run for 3–6 months (90–180 days). A 5-month course (150 days) would not trigger the check at London or Edinburgh but would at Manchester. Calculate your total visa period carefully.
✓ For language assistants (NALCAP): the ACRO International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) is also accepted. Apply for ACRO at acro.police.uk — allow 4–6 weeks, then further time for apostille and translation. Budget 8–10 weeks total.
8
Medical certificate Apostille + translation required
Required for all applicants. Must be signed and stamped by a registered GP. Must state specifically: "This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005." Valid for 3 months from date of issue.
⚠️ Manchester does not provide a template — unlike London. You must obtain the certificate from your GP containing the exact required wording, then have it apostilled (certifying the GP's signature) and translated by a sworn translator. Certificates issued in countries other than the UK or Spain are not accepted.
✓ Legalise/apostille first, then translate. The apostille itself does not need translating, and the translation does not need apostilling. Bring a printed copy of the required wording to your GP appointment.
9
Proof of residence in the consular district
Proof of legal residence in the Manchester consulate's jurisdiction — utility bills, bank statements, or similar documents showing your name and address. You can also apply if you are enrolled in a local educational institution within the jurisdiction even if you don't live there.
10
Visa fee payment
Cash or credit/debit card at BLS. The BLS service fee (£14.85) and passport return fee (£29.99 by Royal Mail Special Delivery) are also payable at BLS. All fees are non-refundable.
Step-by-step process
1
Calculate your total visa period and check the 135-day threshold
Your visa covers 1 month before your course start date and 15 days after it ends. A 4-month (120-day) course results in a ~165-day visa — which exceeds Manchester's 135-day ACRO threshold. Work out your total visa days before anything else. If it's 135+, start the ACRO process immediately.
⏰ Do this first — it determines your whole timeline
2
Order your ACRO certificate if needed
Apply at acro.police.uk. Allow 4–6 weeks for processing, then further time for the Hague apostille (certifying the GP's signature) and sworn translation. Budget 8–10 weeks total. DBS and Disclosure Scotland are not accepted.
⏰ Start immediately if stay is 135+ days
3
Enrol at an accredited school and request a hand-signed letter
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited. When requesting your acceptance letter, specify that it must bear an original hand-written (wet ink) signature — photocopied or digital signatures are not accepted at Manchester.
⏰ As soon as you decide to go
4
Sort your health insurance
If you have a GHIC, check it's valid for the full duration of your planned stay. Otherwise, purchase from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Travel insurance is not accepted even with €30,000 coverage.
⏰ Before booking your BLS appointment
5
Get your bank statements stamped
You need the last 6 months of personal bank statements, with originals stamped by your bank. Visit your bank branch — online printouts are not accepted at Manchester. This takes more time than most applicants expect.
⏰ Several weeks before your appointment
6
Get your medical certificate from your GP
Book with your GP and bring the exact required wording from the Manchester consulate checklist. Once issued, apostille it (certifying the GP's signature) then have it translated by a registered sworn translator. Valid for 3 months.
⏰ Within 3 months of your planned appointment
7
Book your BLS appointment
Book at uk.blsspainvisa.com/manchester. Apply at least 2 months before your course start date — and given Manchester's 30–60 working day processing time, aim for 3–4 months before. Alternatively, use BLS's Apply At Home doorstep service if travelling to Salford is inconvenient.
⏰ As early as possible — 3–4 months before course start
8
Attend your BLS appointment
At Unit 1, 205 Chapel Street, Salford M3 5PF. Submission hours: 08:30–13:30 Monday to Friday. Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Pay fees by cash or card. Your passport will be returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery (£29.99) once the visa is issued.
⏰ Day of appointment — 08:30–13:30
9
Track your application and receive your passport
Track at sutramiteconsular.maec.es with the reference code BLS gives you. The consulate will not provide updates by phone or email — use the tracker only. Processing takes 30–60 working days. Your passport will be returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery once the visa is issued.
⏰ After submission — allow 30–60 working days
Manchester-specific quirks
ACRO threshold is 135 days — not 180. This is Manchester's most important and most frequently missed rule. London and Edinburgh require ACRO for stays over 180 days. Manchester requires it from 135 days. Since the visa covers 1 month before your course and 15 days after, a 3-month (90-day) course produces a total visa period of around 135 days — right at the threshold. A 4-month course almost certainly triggers it. Calculate your total visa days carefully before assuming you don't need one.
Acceptance letter must have an original hand-written signature. Manchester explicitly requires original (wet ink) signatures on the school acceptance letter. Photocopied, digitally signed, or scanned signatures are not accepted. When requesting your letter, tell the school it must be physically signed and sent by post as an original document.
Bank statements must be originals, stamped by your bank. Online printouts, PDFs, or digital bank statements are not accepted. You need to visit your bank branch and request 6 months of statements printed and stamped by the bank. Some banks require a few days' notice for this, so factor it in to your timeline.
No medical certificate template. Unlike London, Manchester does not provide a bilingual template. You must get your GP to issue a certificate with the exact required wording, then apostille and translate it. Bring a printed copy of the required phrase from the consulate checklist to your GP appointment.
GHIC explicitly accepted. The Global Health Insurance Card is confirmed as valid medical insurance for student visas at Manchester. If yours covers the full duration of your planned stay (including the month before your course and 15 days after), you don't need to buy a separate Spanish policy.
Processing time is stated in working days. Manchester is the only UK consulate to state processing time as working days (30–60) rather than calendar weeks. 30 working days is approximately 6 calendar weeks; 60 working days is approximately 12 calendar weeks. Apply 3–4 months before your course start to be safe.
Apply At Home doorstep service available. BLS Manchester offers a doorstep collection service — a BLS agent comes to your home or workplace to collect your documents, eliminating the need to travel to Salford. Book via uk.blsspainglobal.com/Global/bls/doorstepservice. Useful for applicants across the wide jurisdiction, particularly those in Wales, Yorkshire, or the Midlands.
Frequently asked questions
My course is 4 months — do I need an ACRO check? +
Almost certainly yes. A 4-month course (approximately 120 days) results in a visa period of about 120 + 30 (before) + 15 (after) = 165 days. That exceeds Manchester's 135-day threshold, so the ACRO check is required. Start the process immediately — it takes 8–10 weeks to complete including apostille and translation. Apply at acro.police.uk.
My course is 3 months — am I right at the threshold? +
Yes, right at the edge. A 3-month course (90 days) produces a total visa period of 90 + 30 + 15 = 135 days — exactly at the threshold. Whether this triggers the requirement depends on whether your exact course dates result in a total visa period of 135 days or more. Count carefully using your actual start and end dates. If you're right at 135 days, it's safest to order the ACRO anyway to avoid any risk of rejection.
I live in Wales — why am I applying in Manchester and not London? +
Because Wales falls under the Manchester consulate's jurisdiction — not London. The Spanish consulate network divides the UK into three geographic areas: London covers most of England (south, east, and central), Manchester covers Wales, the Isle of Man, and central/northern England, and Edinburgh covers Scotland, Northern Ireland, and specific NE England counties. Applying at the wrong consulate will result in your application being rejected.
Can I use a DBS check instead of ACRO? +
No — the Manchester consulate only accepts the ACRO Police Certificate for UK criminal records. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are not accepted. For Scottish residents, Disclosure Scotland is also not accepted — you must use ACRO regardless of where in the UK you live. Apply at acro.police.uk.
Why does Manchester use 135 days when London and Edinburgh use 180? +
Each Spanish consulate sets its own procedures within the framework of national immigration law. The 135-day threshold is the Manchester consulate's own policy, stated clearly on their official requirements page. There's no official explanation for why it differs, but it's been consistent for several years. Always check your specific consulate's requirements rather than relying on guidance written for another consulate.
How long does Manchester take to process visas? +
Manchester states a minimum of 30 working days and up to 60 working days. In calendar terms, that's approximately 6–12 weeks. This is the widest processing window of any Spanish consulate in the UK and makes Manchester the slowest. The consulate will not provide status updates by phone or email — use the sutramiteconsular.maec.es tracker with your reference code. Apply at least 3–4 months before your course start to leave adequate buffer.