Is this the right consulate for you?
The San Francisco consulate has one of the largest and most complex jurisdictions in the US. Northern California is covered by San Francisco — not LA — which surprises many Bay Area applicants who instinctively look towards Los Angeles.
The California split is important. Northern California counties (including San Francisco, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and most of the Central Valley) fall under this consulate. Southern California counties (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, etc.) fall under the LA consulate. If you're unsure which consulate covers your address, check the full county list on the BLS San Francisco website before booking.
Students enrolled at universities within the jurisdiction can apply here even if they don't permanently reside in one of these states. Your student ID from a qualifying institution plus your enrolment letter confirms eligibility. B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US — they must apply at a Spanish consulate in their home country.
Visa fees
The consulate fee must be paid by money order — no cash, no personal checks, no credit or debit cards for the consulate portion. The BLS service fee is paid separately by debit card. Both 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 |
⚠️ Make your money order payable to "Consulate General of Spain" — not BLS. All sections of the money order must be properly completed including your first name, last name, and address. If the money order requires a signature, it must be signed by the applicant.
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Documents not in English or Spanish must be translated by a certified sworn translator — with one notable exception: personal bank statements in English do not need to be translated.
1
National visa application form (Modelo EX-01)
Download from the consulate website. Complete every field in uppercase, including your email address clearly written or typed — the consulate will contact you through this means if any documents are missing. Sign and date on the day of your appointment. If a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance on completing the form.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photo, light background, facing forward, no dark glasses. US passport dimensions (2"×2"). Taken within the last 6 months. Do not send copies of photos — copies are not accepted.
⚠️ San Francisco-specific: you must write the applicant's name on the back of the photograph. This is explicitly stated on the consulate's requirements page and is easy to miss.
3
Valid passport — colour photocopy required
Original and colour photocopy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for at least the duration of your planned stay and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. Your passport will be held by BLS for the entire processing period — you cannot travel internationally while your application is being processed.
⚠️ The photocopy must be in colour — not black and white. This is a San Francisco-specific requirement. Passports over 10 years old are rejected even if still within their expiry date.
4
School acceptance letter in Spanish
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must be written in Spanish and confirm: name of the programme, start and end dates (minimum 20 hours/week), address, contact email and telephone, student's full name, and name and contact details of the person in charge of the programme. Must confirm fees have been paid. Must be signed (handwritten or electronically) by a representative of the school.
⚠️ San Francisco is explicit: they do not accept letters that offer the possibility to enrol while indicating admission is subject to conditions. The letter must confirm unconditional enrolment.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited and issue acceptance letters meeting San Francisco consulate requirements.
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600/month (approx. $700) for the duration of your stay. San Francisco accepts any of the following: a letter from your US or Spanish university assuming full financial responsibility for room and board (stamped, signed — translation required if in English); your three most recent monthly bank statements showing sufficient funds; proof of financial aid, loans, or scholarships; or a notarised letter from a parent or guardian assuming full financial responsibility, plus their three most recent bank statements and a notarised copy of your birth certificate.
✓ San Francisco-specific advantage: personal bank statements in English do NOT need to be translated into Spanish. This saves time and cost compared to some other consulates.
6
Health insurance
Certificate in Spanish from a DGSFP-authorised insurer operating in Spain. Must show: applicant's name, start date of coverage, repatriation coverage, minimum €30,000 coverage, no deductibles, no copayments, no waiting periods. Must be valid from at least one month before your course starts through 15 days after it ends (or one year if course is longer than one year). Travel insurance is not accepted. Insurance cards are not accepted as proof.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer. Get a quote →
7
FBI background check Stays over 180 days
Required for applicants over 18 whose stay exceeds 180 days. Must be the federal FBI Identity History Summary check — 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 be issued within 6 months of your application date. If you have lived in another country for 6 months or more in the past 5 years, you also need a background check from that country, apostilled and translated.
⚠️ Start the FBI check immediately — it takes 8–12 weeks without a channeler or 3–5 weeks with an approved FBI channeler. Add apostille (2–4 weeks) and sworn translation (1–2 weeks) and the full process can take 3–4 months. The 6-month validity window applies to your application date, not your course start date.
8
Medical certificate Bilingual template available
Required for all applicants regardless of stay length. Must be issued within 3 months of your application date. Must include a stamp from the issuing medical centre, doctor's name and signature, doctor's licence number, and date. Must be written on official letterhead or the provided bilingual template. If not using the bilingual template, a certified Spanish translation is required.
⚠️ San Francisco-specific: the certificate must be signed by a licensed physician (MD). Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are not accepted — this is explicitly stated on the consulate's page. If your GP practice uses NPs, ensure a physician signs the certificate.
✓ Download the bilingual template from the consulate website. Using it eliminates the need for a separate sworn translation.
9
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
A copy (do not send the original) of one of the following: driver's licence with current address, state identity card, voter registration card, or student ID. Non-US citizens must also submit their US green card or long-term stay visa (notarised copy).
✓ Unlike Boston, San Francisco accepts voter registration cards and student IDs as valid proof of residence — giving you more options if your driver's licence shows an old address.
10
Visa fee payment
Money order only, payable to "Consulate General of Spain". No cash, personal checks, credit or debit cards accepted for the consulate fee. The $20 BLS service fee is paid separately by debit card. All fees are non-refundable. Confirm the exact fee for your nationality on the consulate website before your appointment — fees are subject to change.
⚠️ Money order payee must be "Consulate General of Spain" — not BLS. All fields on the money order must be completed, including your full name, address, and signature if required.
Step-by-step process
1
Start your FBI background check immediately
If your course will be over 180 days, this is your longest lead-time item. Submit fingerprints via an FBI-approved channeler (3–5 weeks) or directly (8–12 weeks). Once received, get the apostille from the US Department of State, then a certified sworn translation. Budget 3–4 months total.
⏰ Do this first if your course exceeds 180 days
2
Enrol at an accredited school and get your acceptance letter
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited. The letter must be in Spanish, unconditionally confirm enrolment, and confirm fees have been paid. This sets your course dates.
⏰ 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 be in Spanish showing €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 the San Francisco consulate website. Book with a licensed physician (not a nurse practitioner or PA). The certificate must be dated within 3 months of your application. Write the applicant's name on the back of your passport photo at the same time.
⏰ Within 3 months of your planned BLS appointment
5
Book your BLS appointment
Book at usa.blsspainvisa.com/sanfrancisco. The consulate notes there are no dedicated student visa appointments — check the BLS booking system regularly. Summer months (May–August) are particularly competitive for slots. Check the system multiple times daily during this period.
⏰ Book as early as possible — summer slots disappear fast
6
Get a money order for the consulate fee
Make it payable to "Consulate General of Spain" for the correct amount based on your nationality ($160 for US citizens). Available at USPS, banks, or grocery stores. Complete all fields including your full name and address. Bring debit card or cash for the $20 BLS service fee.
⏰ Before your appointment
7
Complete the application form and prepare your documents
Fill in every field in uppercase. Include your email address clearly. Write your name on the back of your passport photo. Make sure your passport photocopy is in colour. Sign and date on the day of your appointment.
⏰ 1–2 days before your appointment
8
Attend your BLS appointment in person
At 717 Market St, Suite 425, San Francisco CA 94103. Bring originals and copies of everything. You must attend in person. Your passport will be held by BLS for the processing period (5–8 weeks). Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.
⏰ Day of appointment
9
Collect your visa in person at BLS
BLS will notify you when your passport is ready. Collection is Monday to Friday, 3:00–4:00 PM at the BLS office. You must collect in person. Collection window is 2 months from approval.
⏰ After notification — 3:00–4:00 PM weekdays only
San Francisco-specific quirks
Write your name on the back of your photo. San Francisco explicitly requires the applicant's name on the back of the passport photograph. This is not required at other US consulates and is easy to miss. Do it before your appointment.
Money order only — no debit card for the consulate fee. Unlike Miami (debit card for individuals) or New York (debit card or cash), San Francisco requires a money order for the consulate fee for all applicants. Make it out to "Consulate General of Spain" — not BLS. The $20 BLS fee is debit card only.
Bank statements in English don't need translation. San Francisco specifically states that personal bank statements in English do not need to be translated into Spanish. This is a genuine advantage over some other consulates and saves time and money.
Bilingual medical certificate template. Download from the consulate website and have a licensed physician sign it. Using the template eliminates the need for a separate sworn translation. Note that the certificate must be signed by a physician — nurse practitioners and physician assistants are explicitly not accepted.
Colour photocopy of passport required. San Francisco requires a colour (not black and white) photocopy of your passport's biometric data pages. Print in colour before your appointment.
Summer appointments are very competitive. May–August is peak student visa season and BLS San Francisco slots disappear quickly. Community reports suggest checking the booking system multiple times daily, particularly around the first and last three days of each month and around 6:00–8:00 AM Pacific Time. Book as early as possible.
B-1/B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US. If you're in the US on a tourist or business visa, you must return to your home country and apply at a Spanish consulate there. This is a firm rule at San Francisco — it's not negotiable.
Application checklist requested. San Francisco's consulate page implies applicants should bring a checklist of requirements with their application. Printing and bringing the official requirements checklist from the consulate website signals a well-organised application.
Frequently asked questions
I live in Los Angeles but I'm enrolled at UC Berkeley — which consulate do I use? +
San Francisco. The consulate accepts applications from individuals who are regularly in the consular district for study purposes, even if they are not permanent residents there. Your UC Berkeley student ID and enrolment letter confirms your eligibility to apply at San Francisco. Your permanent LA address doesn't matter in this case.
Do I really need to write my name on the back of my photo? +
Yes — the San Francisco consulate explicitly states this on their requirements page. It's a simple step but one that catches applicants who've used guides written for other consulates. Use a pen and write your full name (as it appears in your passport) on the back of the photo before your appointment.
Can a nurse practitioner sign my medical certificate? +
No — San Francisco is explicit that the medical certificate must be signed by a licensed physician (MD), not a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. If your healthcare provider uses NPs as the primary point of contact, request a physician signature specifically. Getting this wrong means your application will be returned as incomplete.
How do I get a BLS appointment in summer? +
Summer slots at BLS San Francisco are genuinely hard to get. Community reports suggest the best approach is to check the BLS booking system multiple times a day, particularly around 6:00–8:00 AM Pacific Time and around the first and last three days of each month. Cancelled appointments also become available at random. Persistence is required — some applicants check for weeks before securing a slot. Start looking as early as possible.
I'm not a US citizen — what extra documents do I need? +
Non-US citizens must submit a notarised copy of their US green card or long-term stay visa as proof of legal residence. B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US at all — you must go to your home country. F-1 visa holders can apply at San Francisco if their university is in the jurisdiction.
Are my English bank statements accepted without translation? +
Yes — San Francisco specifically states that personal bank statements in English do not need to be translated into Spanish. This applies to your own bank statements. Financial documents from institutions (such as a letter from a university assuming financial responsibility) still need to be translated if they're in English.