Applying for a Schengen visa from Spain is giving me anxiety

[u/theCOLLECTOR7250]

I've been living in Spain for two years and I need to apply for a Schengen visa soon for a family trip later this year. I thought it would be straightforward since I'm already here, but the process has been a mess. Half the pages on the official site are in Spanish only, the other half link to PDFs that haven't been updated since 2019.

I've got all the basic documents: passport, empadronamiento, work contract, health insurance, but I keep reading conflicting things about financial requirements. Some say I need 100% of IPREM, others say 150%. And the appointment system? Don't even get me started. I've been refreshing the page for days.

Spent a few hours googling last night and ended up on a site called iVisa. I remembered them from a trip a couple years ago, they helped me sort out a visa then and it was pretty smooth. Looked at their Spain page this time too, and it confirmed the basics I needed to know for the application. Still not 100% sure I've got everything, but at least it was clearer than the official site.

Has anyone here applied for a Schengen visa while already living in Spain? Did they check your bank statements? And how strict are they about the paperwork being perfectly translated?"

[u/Equivalent_Ideal1636]

I thought that if you have a spanish resident permit, you can freely travel the schengen zone

[u/Fast_Honey_4127 → u/Equivalent_Ideal1636]

A Spanish permit grants Schengen travel, not a visa exemption.

[u/Exciting-Fix-5965 → u/Fast_Honey_4127]

Schengen access, not a visa. Spain still expects paperwork.

[u/No-Yellow-5187 → u/Fast_Honey_4127]

Spain permits Schengen roaming, not a golden ticket.

[u/Signal_Aardvark_2736 → u/Equivalent_Ideal1636]

A resident permit isn’t a Schengen visa—shocking, I know.

[u/shezofrene → u/Signal_Aardvark_2736]

you can use it to travel.

[u/Equivalent_Ideal1636 → u/Signal_Aardvark_2736]

Obviously genius!

[u/Popular_Avocado_4809 → u/Signal_Aardvark_2736]

Most resident permits in a Schengen country let you travel to other Schengen countries without a VISA for up to 90 days.

[u/saintmsent]

You don’t need a visa. As long as you hold a valid residence permit of a Schengen country and have a valid passport, you can travel the Schengen zone freely, only being mindful of not staying in any country for over 90 days within a 180 day period, which is easy if your coming in vacation

[u/No_Seaworthiness_393]

I assume you are living in Spain with a valid residence permit / visa? Are you sure you need an extra Schengen visa?

[u/Fast_Honey_4127 → u/No_Seaworthiness_393]

Assuming residency, the extra visa is delightfully redundant.

[u/OverlappingChatter]

Another person asking why you need this? Do you have legal residency in spain?

[u/Recent_Maize5108]

...what for?

If you are a legal resident, you don't need a visa to travel anywhere else in the EU/EEA.

Or are you on a refugee permit or other national-only type of residency?

[u/Insufficient_Injury]

Aren't you living in Spain as a resident after two years? If not, why?

[u/Gullible_Sweet1302]

Living in Spain as what?

[u/reverevee]

Which residency/visa do you currently have? And where are you from? I'm assuming you have "estancia" from a student/research visa and not "residencia."

[u/biluinaim]

If you are in Spain legally (visa/estancia) you don’t need a Schengen visa to travel. If you are in Spain illegally don’t apply or that’s when you’re gonna be handed an expulsion letter.

[u/Popular_Avocado_4809]

You don’t need Schengen visa if you already legally live in Spain.