Spain NLV via the Spanish Consulate San Francisco — Your Complete Guide

The San Francisco consulate has jurisdiction over: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California (north of the Fresno/Bakersfield area), Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Wyoming, plus the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. If you are a legal resident of any of these states or territories, you must apply for your NLV through the San Francisco consulate — regardless of where you are physically located when you apply.

The dividing line between the San Francisco and Los Angeles consular jurisdictions runs roughly through the Fresno/Bakersfield area. If you live in the Bay Area, Sacramento, or anywhere in California north of that line, your application goes to San Francisco. If you live in Los Angeles, San Diego, or anywhere south of that line, your application goes to the Los Angeles consulate. If you are unsure where your specific location falls, contact our specialists before booking — applying at the wrong consulate will result in your application being rejected without a refund of your consulate fee.

Appointments are booked through the official Spanish government portal at cita.maec.es. Select the San Francisco consulate and the Non-Lucrative Visa appointment type. The portal is free — do not pay third parties for appointment booking assistance. Slots fill 4–8 weeks in advance, so access the portal regularly and book as soon as a suitable date appears. Our specialists advise on the optimal appointment timing relative to your document readiness, particularly the FBI check.

You need the FBI Identity History Summary — the federal background check, not a state-level police certificate. After receiving it from the FBI, it must be apostilled by the US Department of State for use in Spain. The full process by mail takes approximately 3–5 months. FBI-approved channellers can speed up the FBI portion. Start this process immediately when you decide to apply for your NLV — it is the single most time-sensitive document. Our specialists flag this on day one and advise on the fastest approach for your situation.

Bring originals and notarised copies of: a valid US passport with sufficient blank pages and at least 1 year beyond your intended stay, your apostilled FBI Identity History Summary translated into Spanish, a medical certificate from a licensed physician (within 90 days, translated), an NLV-compliant health insurance certificate for Spain, 6 months of bank statements and all income evidence (translated), proof of accommodation in Spain, completed Modelo EX01 and national visa application form, two recent passport photographs, and the consulate application fee. Always confirm the current, exact requirements on the official consulate website before attending — our specialists will brief you comprehensively before your appointment.

Processing typically takes 4–8 weeks after your complete dossier is submitted. This is an estimate — processing times can vary with demand and time of year. Your passport is generally held by the consulate during this period. Once approved, your NLV is stamped in your passport and returned to you. You then have 90 days to travel to Spain. Do not book non-refundable travel before your visa is confirmed.

The 2026 NLV income threshold is approximately €2,400 per month for a single applicant (400% of the Spanish IPREM), with approximately €600 per month added for each additional dependent. This must be passive income — pension, Social Security, investment income, rental income, or similar. Employment income that you earn while living in Spain is not permitted. The exact figures are reviewed annually and linked to the IPREM rate. Our specialists will confirm the precise threshold applicable when you start your application and assess whether your income documentation is sufficient.