Is this the right consulate for you?
The New York consulate covers five states. You must apply based on your permanent residence — or if you're a student, based on where your US institution is located.
Students at US universities within the jurisdiction can apply here — even if they don't permanently live in one of these five states. Your US student ID and enrollment letter from a NY/NJ/CT/PA/DE institution qualifies you to apply at this consulate.
Accepted proof of residence: valid State ID or driver's licence. Not accepted: voter ID, tax documents, lease agreements, utility bills, or bank statements. New York is stricter than Boston on this in reverse — a driver's licence IS accepted here but utility bills are NOT.
Required documents
Bring originals and copies of all documents. The passport must be notarised — not just photocopied. Everything not in English or Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator.
1
National visa application form (Modelo EX-01)
Download from the New York consulate's website — they provide a bilingual English/Spanish version. Complete every section, sign and date on the day of your appointment. If a minor, a parent or legal representative signs.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photo, light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings. US passport dimensions (2"×2"). Do not staple or paste to the form.
3
Valid passport — with notarised photocopy
Must be valid for at least 1 year from the programme start date (not the application date — this is different from some other consulates). Must have at least 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. Bring the original plus a notarised photocopy of the biometric data pages.
⚠️ New York requires a notarised photocopy of your passport — not just a regular photocopy. Have it notarised by a notary public before your appointment. This catches many applicants off guard.
4
School acceptance letter
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must confirm: programme name, start and end dates, full-time attendance (minimum 20 hours/week), address, phone, and name of the programme director. For language school students, the letter must confirm the school is officially recognised by Instituto Cervantes.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited and issue acceptance letters meeting New York consulate requirements.
5
Proof of fee payment
Separate from the acceptance letter — the NY consulate has a dedicated document section for this (post May 2025). New York accepts various forms of payment proof including: confirmation fees were paid, confirmation fees are exempt, confirmation the US university is covering fees, or confirmation of partial payment with a commitment to pay the remainder. A single acceptance letter that covers both enrollment and fee payment confirmation is also accepted.
6
Proof of financial means
Minimum equivalent to 100% of Spain's monthly IPREM (approximately $700/month of your stay). New York accepts: scholarship letters, bank statements from the last 3 months, a letter from your university covering accommodation and meals, or a notarised sponsorship letter from parents/guardians.
For a parent/guardian sponsorship letter: must be notarised, include the student's birth certificate or proof of custody, the sponsor's passport, a letter from their employer confirming position and salary, and 3 months of bank statements. Both the notarised letter and birth certificate must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
⚠️ New York only accepts bank statements from US banks for sponsorship documentation. Statements from foreign banks will not be accepted.
7
Health insurance
From a Spanish DGSFP-registered insurer. Must have no copayments, no deductibles, minimum €30,000 coverage, and must cover the full stay — from 1 month before your course starts to 15 days after it ends. If total days exceed 180, must cover 365 days. Travel insurance is not accepted.
We partner with Atlántida — DGSFP-registered. Get a quote →
8
FBI background check Stays over 180 days
Required for applicants 18+ with stays over 180 days. Federal FBI check only — state and local police certificates are not accepted. Must be apostilled by the US Department of State and translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator. Must cover all countries of residence for the past 5 years. Certificate must be dated within 6 months of your application.
⚠️ Start the FBI check immediately — it takes 8–12 weeks without a channeler or 3–5 weeks with one. Add apostille and translation time and the whole process can take 3–4 months.
9
Medical certificate
Required for all stays over 90 days. New York provides a bilingual template — download from the consulate website. Must be signed by a licensed doctor and dated within 3 months of your application. If written in English, must be accompanied by a Spanish translation. Must be apostilled.
⚠️ New York requires the medical certificate to be apostilled — unlike Boston where apostille is not needed. Use the bilingual template provided to simplify the translation requirement.
10
Proof of residence in the consular district
A notarised copy of your valid State ID or driver's licence. Non-US citizens: notarised copy of your Alien Registration Card (green card) or valid US residence visa. Note: B1/B2 visitors and EAD holders must apply at their home country consulate — they cannot use the NY consulate.
⚠️ Non-US citizens on B1/B2 visas cannot apply at New York — you must apply at a Spanish consulate in your home country. If you're on an F1 student visa, you must also present your I-20. J1 visa holders must present their DS-2019.
11
Visa fee payment
$160 for US citizens. Check the current NY consular fee schedule for other nationalities. Payment at BLS accepts debit card or cash — no money orders, no credit cards at New York. The $20 BLS service fee is also debit card or cash. All fees are non-refundable.
✓ New York accepts debit card or cash for both the consulate fee and the BLS service fee. No need to prepare a money order (unlike LA).
New York-specific quirks
Notarised passport photocopy required. New York requires a notarised copy of your passport's biometric pages — not just a regular photocopy. Get this done at a notary public before your appointment. This is one of the most commonly missed requirements at NY.
Debit card or cash for fees. Unlike LA (money order only) or Boston (cash or debit), New York accepts debit card or cash for all fees. No credit cards, no money orders accepted.
Medical certificate must be apostilled. Unlike Boston, New York requires the medical certificate to be apostilled. Use the bilingual template provided to avoid needing a separate sworn translation, then get the apostille from your state's Secretary of State office.
US banks only for financial documentation. When submitting bank statements or sponsorship documentation, only US bank statements are accepted. Statements from banks in other countries will not be accepted — even if they clearly show sufficient funds.
Apply between 2 and 6 months before your course starts. New York is specific about both ends of the window — you cannot apply more than 6 months before your programme begins, and you must apply at least 2 months before. The optimal window is 3–4 months before.
B1/B2 and EAD holders must apply from home country. Non-US citizens on B1/B2 tourist visas or Employment Authorization Documents cannot use the NY consulate. You must return to your home country and apply at the Spanish consulate there.
~3 weeks for Spain authorization. New York's consulate page notes that visas can only be issued after authorization from Spain — a process that takes approximately 3 weeks and cannot be expedited. Budget 5 weeks total from submission to collection.
Frequently asked questions
I'm from Maryland — can I apply at New York? +
No. Maryland falls under the Washington DC consulate's jurisdiction. New York covers only NY, NJ, CT, PA, and DE. The exception is if you're a student enrolled at a university in one of those five states — in that case you can apply at New York using your student ID and enrollment letter as proof.
Why does New York require a notarised passport photocopy? +
It's a New York-specific requirement to verify the photocopy is accurate. A notary public will compare your original passport to the photocopy and stamp it as a true copy. Most UPS stores, banks, and law offices can notarise documents. It typically costs $5–15 and takes a few minutes.
I'm on an F1 student visa — can I apply here? +
Yes, if your US institution is within the NY consulate's jurisdiction. You'll need to provide your I-20 alongside your residence proof. Note that B1/B2 visa holders and EAD holders cannot use the NY consulate — you need to return to your home country to apply at a Spanish consulate there.
Can my parent send a sponsorship letter without apostille? +
No — New York requires sponsorship letters and birth certificates to be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. The apostille for US documents is obtained from the Secretary of State of the state where the document was issued. Plan 2–4 weeks for this process.
Can someone else collect my visa? +
No — the applicant must collect their passport and visa in person at BLS. If the applicant is a minor, a parent or legal representative can collect. The collection window is 2 months from the approval notification date.
Is the medical certificate bilingual template available in English? +
Yes — New York provides a bilingual English/Spanish template on their consulate website. Using this template means your doctor signs it in both languages, avoiding the need for a separate sworn translation. You still need to apostille the certificate regardless of which template you use.