The Spanish Government scrutinizes
visitors who overstay their visas or their visa-free entry per the Schengen
Agreement. Immediate deportation after spending a number of days in jail is
not uncommon. You should leave Spain promptly at the end of the 90-day
visa-free travel period or at the end of the time stated on your visa.
U.S. citizens who apply for official
residency in Spain will need to supply local authorities with a criminal
records check from the United States. Spanish officials will only take those
performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Justice
Information Services office (CJIS) This process often takes 15 weeks or more
given CJIS’ backlog.
You may obtain a copy of the
records check by submitting a
written request to the CJIS. The request
must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of identity (consisting of name,
date and place of birth, and a set of roll-inked fingerprint impressions)
and a certified check or money order for the $18 processing fee.
Beginning January 1, 2011, if
you wish to stay in Spain for three months or longer, you
must get an FBI criminal records check before you can apply for your Spanish
visa. Until December 31, 2010, you can apply for these long term
visas with either your state criminal record checks (as in the past) or an
FBI criminal record check. Both types of documents must be apostilled: by
the state authority for state criminal records and by the Department of
State for the FBI records.
The FBI will not provide copies of
arrest records to individuals other than the subject of the record. If there
is no criminal record, a report reflecting this fact is provided.
The embassy does not take
fingerprints; rather, U.S. citizens can obtain a letter from the U.S.
Embassy asking local police to take their fingerprints. Individuals need to
make an appointment for notarial services to obtain the letter.
In an effort to prevent
international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at
entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of
relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or
legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not
required, may facilitate entry/departure.
The U.S. Department of State is
unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign
residents of Spain and Andorra.
For more information concerning
entry requirements for Spain, travelers should contact the Embassy of Spain
at 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202)
452-0100 or (202) 728-2340, or the nearest Spanish Consulate in Boston,
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco,
or San Juan. Information for the Spanish Embassy and consulates can be
found at the
Embassy of Spain’s website. Additional information
can be found on the
Spanish government
website or obtained from the
Tourist Office of Spain
which has offices in
several U.S. cities.
For more information on entry
requirements to Andorra, travelers should contact the
Andorran Mission to
the UN, 2 U.N. Plaza, 25th floor, New York, NY
10018, telephone (212) 750-8064, email
Andorra@un.int.
Experience
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