Visit Visa, Student Visa, Family Visa & Other Info: Applying for a UK visa in Spain

This page explains how you can apply for a visa to come to the UK if you are currently in Spain, Balearic Islands, Andorra, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla or the Azores.

If you currently have temporary permission to stay in Spain, Balearic Islands, Andorra, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla or the Azores (for example, as a student or a visitor), you can only apply for some types of UK visa - see 'More information' below.

When to apply

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. We strongly advise you not to confirm your travel arrangements until you have received your visa. To find out how long we usually take to process your type of visa, see the Visa processing times page.

Before you apply

Before you apply, you must:

prepare the supporting documents that you will need;
be ready to enrol your fingerprints and photograph (known as biometric information) at the visa application centre; and
be able to pay the visa application fee. The Visa application fees and guides page explains how much your visa application will cost.

If you do not know which supporting documents to provide, the Visa application fees and guides page will help you to find guidance for your visa category.

If you are applying under the points-based system, you should provide all the documents specified in the guidance for your visa category. For each document, you should also provide any information or explanation that may help us to make our decision.

If you are applying for any other type of visa, you should provide documents that:

support the statements that you make in your visa application; and
show that the information in your application is true.

We will only consider documents submitted with your application. You cannot submit documents after you have completed your application at the visa application centre, unless our staff ask you for them.

For every document that you provide, you must include the original documentand a photocopy. This includes a copy of your passport bio-data page (the page containing your photograph). Please ensure that the photocopies are of good quality and can be read easily. If you do not provide a photocopy of each document, we might not return your original documents to you.

If you do not have a document, or your documents are not written in English or Welsh, or you are not paying for your trip, you can find out what to do under 'More information' below.

Please note that there are additional requirements for applicants in Spain and Andora. You will need your original valid Spanish or Andorran residence permit. If it is out of date and being renewed, an Autorización de Regreso or 'Comprovativo de pedido de Autorização de Residência' or 'Comprovativo de prorrogação de Autorização de Residência' for those nationalities that need it.

How to apply

To apply for a visa, you must:

complete and submit a visa application form online;
make an online appointment; and
pay for for your visa application and courier fee online.

Applying online

After you apply online, you will need to print out and sign your completed form. If you do not have access to a printer when you apply, you will be able to log in and print out the form later.

You can find the online application form under 'Do it online' on the right side of this page.

As part of your online application, you can use the appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application centre. You can find more information on the Booking an appointment page.

When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number (also known as a 'GWF reference'). Please make a note of this number.

Paying your visa application fee

You must pay your visa application and courier fee (14 euros) online using a MasterCard, Visa or Visa Electron credit or debit cards. Maestro cards are not accepted.

To complete the application process (even if you are applying online), you must attend your appointment at our visa application centre at the British Consulate-General in Madrid. You can find more information on the visa application centre page.

The visa application fee will be refunded only if your visa application is withdrawn in writing within 3 months and 7 days of the original date of your application and before you submit your biometric information or if any processing of your application has taken place.