Is this the right consulate for you?
The Spanish consulate in Chicago covers 13 states — the widest jurisdiction of any Spanish consulate in the US. If you're in the Midwest, this is almost certainly your consulate.
In-person appointment required for individual applications. Unlike most other US consulates, Individual student visa applications must be submitted in person by appointment at BLS — you must attend in person — there is no individual mail-in option. That said, in-person submission is still recommended if practical, as staff can flag minor errors on the spot. University batch programs may operate differently — check with your university's international office.
The Chicago consulate only accepts applications for students whose permanent address — or school address — is within its jurisdiction. If your permanent address is in Chicago but your university is in another consulate's jurisdiction, you may need to apply at that consulate instead. Verify on the BLS website if in doubt.
Visa fees
Individual applications are paid by cash or debit card at BLS. Batch/university group submissions are paid by money order or cashier's check. All fees are non-refundable.
| Nationality | Consulate fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| United States citizens | $160 |
| UK nationals — stays over 180 days | $462 |
| UK nationals — stays under 180 days | $106 |
| Australia | $472 |
| All other nationalities | $106 |
| BLS service fee (all nationalities) | ~$20 |
✓ Individual applicants pay by cash or debit card at BLS — no money order needed (unlike San Francisco where money order is required for all). Batch/group applications pay by money order or cashier's check payable to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Services Inc".
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Documents not in English or Spanish must be translated by a certified sworn translator. The consulate recommends the American Translators Association for sworn translations.
1
National visa application form (Modelo EX-01)
Download from the BLS Chicago website only — do not use a version downloaded from elsewhere. Complete every section. Include your email address clearly — the consulate will contact you through this if documents are missing. Sign and date on the day of your appointment. All dates on the form must be written in Spanish format: day/month/year.
⚠️ Date format matters. Write 15/09/1995, not 09/15/1995. This is specifically called out by the Chicago consulate — an American-format date will be read incorrectly.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance on completing the form.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photo, taken within the last 6 months. Plain white or light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings. Professionally taken — not a selfie or digital edit.
⚠️ BLS Chicago's own pages are internally inconsistent on the photo: one section says glue it to the form, another says submit it loose. To be safe, glue the photo to the form — and verify the current guidance on the BLS Chicago Download Forms page before your appointment.
3
Valid passport
Original and copy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for at least 1 year from your application date and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted even if still within expiry. Your passport will be held by BLS for the entire processing period.
⚠️ Passports over 10 years old are rejected. Renew before applying if yours is approaching that age.
4
Disclaimer form
Chicago requires a signed disclaimer form — download from the BLS Chicago website. Also required at Boston, LA, and Miami. Print, sign, and include with your application. Required for individual applications.
Download from the BLS Chicago Download Forms section. Easy to miss if you're following a generic guide.
5
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
A valid driver's licence, state ID, or student ID proving your legal residence or study location within the Chicago consulate's 13-state jurisdiction. Non-US citizens must also provide a notarised copy of their US immigration status (green card, student visa with I-20, work permit, etc.).
6
School acceptance letter in Spanish
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must be in Spanish and detail: name of the programme, start and end dates, full-time attendance (minimum 20 hours/week), address, telephone, and name of the person in charge. Must confirm fees have been paid (post May 2025 requirement). Must be signed by a school representative.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited and issue acceptance letters meeting Chicago consulate requirements.
7
Proof of financial means
Minimum $700/month for the duration of your stay. Chicago accepts any of the following: a declaration from your Spanish school or US programme assuming full financial responsibility (stamped, signed, translated into Spanish); proof of financial aid or scholarship of at least $700/month; a notarised letter from parents or guardians committing to $700/month plus their last 3 bank statements and your birth certificate; or your own last 3 personal bank statements showing at least $700/month.
For family members accompanying the student: $480/month for the first family member and $320/month for each additional family member.
8
Health insurance
From a Spanish DGSFP-authorised insurer. Must cover all risks insured by Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles, no waiting periods. Minimum €30,000 coverage. Must be valid from at least one month before your course starts through 15 days after it ends (or one full year if course is over one year). Travel insurance is not accepted.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer. Get a quote →
9
Medical certificate Bilingual template available
Required for all applicants. Must be issued within 3 months of your application date. Must include letterhead, doctor's signature, seal, and licence number. Must state you do not suffer from diseases that may have serious public health implications under the International Health Regulations of 2005.
✓ Chicago provides a bilingual English/Spanish template — download from the BLS Chicago Download Forms section. Using it eliminates the need for a separate sworn translation.
10
FBI background check Stays over 180 days
Required for applicants over 18 whose total stay (including the 30 days before course start and 15 days after) exceeds 180 days. Must be the federal FBI Identity History Summary check — state and local checks are not accepted. Must be apostilled by the US Department of State and translated by a certified sworn translator. Must be issued within 6 months of your application date.
⚠️ Note the total stay calculation: the visa covers 30 days before your course and 15 days after. A 5-month course could result in a total visa period exceeding 180 days, triggering the FBI check requirement. Calculate your total visa days, not just your course dates.
11
Visa fee payment
Individual applications: cash or debit card at BLS on the day of your appointment. Batch/group applications: money order or cashier's check payable to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Services Inc". The BLS service fee (~$20) is also debit card or cash. All fees are non-refundable.
Step-by-step process
1
Start your FBI background check immediately
If your total visa period (course + 30 days before + 15 days after) will exceed 180 days, this is your longest lead-time item. Use an FBI-approved channeler for faster turnaround (3–5 weeks vs 8–12 direct). Then apostille and translate — budget 3–4 months total.
⏰ Start immediately if stay will exceed 180 days
2
Enrol at an accredited school and get your acceptance letter
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited. The acceptance letter must be in Spanish, confirm unconditional enrolment, and confirm fees have been paid.
⏰ As soon as you decide to go
3
Buy health insurance
Purchase from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Coverage must start at least 1 month before your course and run 15 days after it ends. Certificate must show €30,000 minimum coverage, no copayments or deductibles.
⏰ 6–8 weeks before your BLS appointment
4
Get your medical certificate
Download the bilingual template from BLS Chicago's Download Forms section. Book with a licensed physician. Must be dated within 3 months of your application date. No separate translation needed if using the official template.
⏰ Within 3 months of your planned BLS submission
5
Download and sign the disclaimer form
Download from BLS Chicago's Download Forms section. Sign it and include it with your application. Don't forget this — it's a Chicago-specific requirement that's easy to miss.
⏰ Before your appointment or mail submission
6
Book your BLS appointment (or prepare mail submission)
Book at usa.blsspainvisa.com/chicago. You can apply up to 6 months before your course start date — and no later than 2 months before. If submitting by mail, verify the current mailing procedure on the BLS Chicago website before sending anything.
⏰ Book early — up to 6 months in advance
7
Complete the application form
Download from BLS Chicago only. Fill in every field. Write all dates in day/month/year format. Include your email address clearly. Glue your passport photo to the form. Sign and date on the day of your appointment.
⏰ 1–2 days before your appointment
8
Submit your application
In person at 121 W Wacker Dr, Suite 1307, Chicago IL 60601, or by mail if submitting remotely. Bring originals and copies of everything. Pay the consulate fee (cash or debit) and the BLS service fee at the centre.
⏰ Day of appointment
9
Collect your visa
BLS will notify you when your passport is ready. You must collect in person. The collection window is typically 1 month from approval — don't delay as uncollected visas are archived. Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.
⏰ After approval notification
Chicago-specific quirks
In-person appointment required for individual applications. Chicago is one of the few US consulates that allows postal submissions — useful if travelling to Chicago is inconvenient. Verify the current mailing address and procedure on the BLS Chicago website before sending, as this policy can change. In-person is still recommended where possible so staff can flag any minor errors on the spot.
6-month application window. Chicago accepts applications up to 6 months before your course start date — one of the most generous windows of any US consulate. Combined with the mail-in option, this gives Midwest applicants a lot of flexibility in planning their timeline.
Disclaimer form required. Like Boston, LA, and Miami, Chicago requires a signed disclaimer form. Download from the BLS Chicago website, sign it, and include it with your application. This is a consulate-specific requirement that many generic guides omit.
Photo must be attached to the form. Chicago requires the passport photograph to be glued or attached to the application form — not submitted loose as at San Francisco. Use glue stick, not staples.
Date format: day/month/year. All dates on the application must be in Spanish format. Write 15/09/1995, not 09/15/1995. An American-format date is a common error that can delay your application.
FBI check triggers on total visa days, not course days. The visa is issued to cover 30 days before your course and 15 days after. A 5-month course results in a ~196-day visa — which exceeds the 180-day threshold and triggers the FBI check requirement. Calculate your total visa period before deciding whether you need to start the FBI process.
Bilingual medical certificate template available. Download from BLS Chicago's Download Forms section and take it to your doctor. Using the official template eliminates the need for a separate sworn translation — saving time and around $100–150.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really mail in my application instead of going in person? +
Yes — Chicago currently accepts mail-in applications, which makes it more accessible for applicants across the 13-state jurisdiction. However, this policy can change, so verify the current mailing address and procedure on the BLS Chicago website before sending anything. If mailing, use tracked delivery and keep all receipts. Note that you must still collect your visa in person once approved.
I live in Illinois but my university is in Indiana — which consulate do I use? +
Both Illinois and Indiana fall under the Chicago consulate's jurisdiction, so either way you'd apply in Chicago. In general, if both your permanent address and university are within the same consulate's jurisdiction, the decision is straightforward. If they're in different consulate territories, check the BLS website for the specific rules — Chicago's policy is that you apply based on where your school is if your permanent address isn't in the jurisdiction.
Do I need the FBI check if my course is 5 months long? +
Possibly. The FBI check is required when the total visa period exceeds 180 days. A 5-month (roughly 150-day) course results in a visa covering about 30 days before + 150 days + 15 days after = 195 days total. This exceeds 180 days, so the FBI check would be required. Count carefully using your actual course start and end dates.
What does "gluing the photo to the form" mean exactly? +
Use a glue stick to physically attach your passport photo to the designated space on the visa application form before your appointment. Don't use staples (which can damage the photo), tape (which can peel), or paperclip. Having it loose in the envelope is not acceptable at Chicago — it should be firmly fixed to the form when you submit.
How far in advance should I apply? +
Chicago accepts applications up to 6 months before your course start date, with a minimum of 2 months before. The optimal window is 3–4 months before, which gives you enough time to collect your FBI check (if needed) without applying so early that documents like your medical certificate expire before your course starts. The medical certificate is only valid for 3 months, so time it accordingly.
I'm not a US citizen — can I still apply at Chicago? +
Yes, if you have legal residence in one of the 13 states. You'll need to provide a notarised copy of your US immigration status — green card, US student visa with I-20, work permit stamp, or parole documentation. B-1/B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US and must go to a Spanish consulate in their home country.