Spain is the busiest Schengen visa of the summer in Azerbaijan: Barcelona, Madrid, the Canaries and Mallorca are asked about so often between June and August that appointment slots at the visa centre fall weeks away. The Spanish embassy itself warns of long processing times in season. So the rule for Spain is simple: start early.
This article explains where and how to apply, what it costs, which documents are needed, what the islands mean for your visa file and how to fly there from Baku.
Spain visa: the essentials
| Visa type | «C» type Schengen visa |
| Who issues it? | The Spanish embassy in Baku |
| Where documents go | The embassy’s visa centre, by appointment |
| Consular fee | 35 euros; free under 12 |
| Centre’s service charge | About 26 euros |
| Processing time | 15 days; 30–45 in summer |
| Direct flights | Seasonal; mostly via Istanbul |
How to get a Spain visa
Spain has an embassy in Baku and issues the Schengen visa itself. Documents are taken by appointment at the visa centre it works with — Capago, the same centre that handles France, Belgium and the Netherlands. You book online, hand in the file on the day, give fingerprints, and the passport goes to the embassy. Visa centres do change, so check the current arrangement on the Spanish embassy’s official page before you apply.
The fee is 35 euros under the Azerbaijan–EU agreement, with the centre’s service charge of about 26 euros paid separately. You may apply up to six months before the trip; for a July or August holiday, March or April is the sweet spot.
Documents for a Spain visa
The Spanish embassy wants documents in Spanish or English. Submit anything in Azerbaijani with a translation.
The islands: the Canaries and the Balearics on a Spain visa
The Canary Islands — Tenerife and Gran Canaria — are geographically off Africa but are Spanish territory, and a Schengen visa is valid there. The same goes for Mallorca and Ibiza. There are no direct flights from Baku, though: you connect through Madrid or Barcelona on a domestic flight, and those domestic bookings must appear in the visa application, otherwise the itinerary looks incomplete. Days spent in the Canaries count towards the Schengen limit.
Read next: France visa: the whole process, from the france-visas form to the Capago appointment
How to get from Baku to Spain
Direct flights between Baku and Spain are seasonal and change from year to year; the steadiest route is via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus to Barcelona, Madrid and Málaga, which takes 8 to 10 hours in total. Baku–Barcelona fares are among the steepest climbers of all European routes in summer, so buy the ticket as soon as the visa is in hand.
Combining Spain with Portugal is a popular route; both are in Schengen and one visa covers them. A group tour of Spain usually follows the Barcelona–Madrid–Lisbon line, and on such a trip the visa is taken from the country where you spend the most nights.
Frequently asked questions about the Spain visa
How long does a Spain visa take?
Officially 15 days, and 30 to 45 in summer. Add the appointment wait and, for a summer trip, the whole process can take two to three months.
Can a refusal be appealed?
Yes: Spain allows a written appeal to the embassy within a month, and after that an application to the courts in Madrid. In practice, fixing the reason and reapplying is faster.
I am travelling with a child — what else is needed?
The birth certificate, copies of both parents’ passports and, if the child travels with one parent, the other’s notarised consent. Spain is strict about these.
In closing
A Spain visa is an ordinary Schengen process; the difficulty lies in the season. Start in spring, show the full itinerary and keep the financial documents consistent, and there is no problem. The Viza.az team books the appointment, prepares the file and makes sure domestic flights to the islands are properly built into the itinerary.
Read more about Spain as a destination and our service fees, or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is accurate as of the publication date. The visa centre and the fees can change, so check the embassy’s page again before applying.
