North American Language and Culture Assistant Program (NALCAP)

November 20, 2023

This Consulate General of Spain has outsourced the NALCAP visa applications to: BLS International Houston

You can apply for the visa in person by making an appointment on the website: https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/houston/

Or by postal mail at the following address:

BLS International Houston

Student visa application

2500 West Loop South 3rd Floor, Suite 350

Houston, Texas 77027

Processing times

NALCAP VISA APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED at least TWO MONTHS (2 MONTHS) PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE PROGRAM (refer to your placement letteçr for specific dates)

Visa process takes at least 6 weeks from submission of a complete application with all required documentation.
The Consular Section does not provide updates on the status of applications. If additional documents are required, applicants will be contacted.
Important: Do not purchase airline tickets until your visa has been granted.

General Information

Visa for stays longer than 90 days to participate in the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program – NALCAP - sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain.

The Consulate of Spain in Houston will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Required documents

Present original and photocopy of the following documents:

National visa aplication Each applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
Photograph: It has to be glued to the application form. A recent, passport-size, 2x2 inches, with white background. The face should be clare and visible.
Valid unexpired Passport: Original and a copy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a mínimum validity of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction: Notarized Photocopy of: State ID, Driver´s Licence or Student ID from one of the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-US Passport holders):

Must present one of the following documents:
Notarized photocopy of Permanent Residence Card (Green Card)
Valid US visa plus a copy of the I-20 document.
Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.

Letter of acceptance: by the Regional Education Authorities/University. This letter must provide information about the school the applicant has been appointed to (address, telephone, contact email), as well as information about his grant, the duration of his program (date of start & date of termination) and his insurance health policy.
Proof of Health insurance: Certificate in Spanish issued by an Insurance Company authorized to operate in Spain.

It must include all risks covered by the National Health System in Spain and for the entire intended period of stay in Spain
It must not have any deductible, copayment or coverage limit
it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses.
Insurance cards will not be accepted as proof of coverage.
Travel insurance will not be accepted.

Consular visa fees: Money order make out to the Consulate General of Spain in Houston.

US Passport holders visa fee $ 160
Other nationalities visa fee $ 106

For Nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity, Please check the Visa fee.
Bilingual Medical certificate: accrediting student´s good health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must have the Doctor's Stamp, or can be printed on medical center´s letterhead; it must not be older than 3 months. It is recommended to use our Medical certificate template
Acknowledgement form: Student (NALCAP) visa applications must be submitted at least two months before the start of studies (Royal Decree 1155/2024, Article 36).
You must date and sign this acknowledgement form and submit it along with the other required visa documents

For stays over 180 days:
Criminal record check certificate (valid for 6 months): Stating that applicants have no criminal records in the place where they have resided for the last five years.

Applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record check certificate issued by the FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC.
The certificates must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator: American Translators Association https://www.atanet.org/
Local State background checks and Apostilles are not valid.
The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years

The Consular office may request additional documents or data.

Procedure 

Who can apply for a visa: This Consulate is competent to accept only visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Place of submission:
You can apply for the visa in person by making an appointment on the website: https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/houston/
Or by postal mail at the following address:

BLS International Houston

Student visa application

2500 West Loop South 3rd Floor, Suite 350

Houston, Texas 77027

Please do not mail your application if you do not yet have all the necessary documents. We suggest you first double check following check list.

Rectifying the application: The Consulate could ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is up to 2 month from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
Refusal of the visa or study stay permit: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
Appeals: If a NALCAP stay permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within one month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the two-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
Validity period of the visa: For NALCAP programs no longer than 6 months, the visa will be valid for the entire program and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE Card).

For NALCAP programs longer than 6 months, students will have to present the visa before the National Police (Extranjeria office) within 1 month upon their arrival, in order to obtain the pertinent Foreigner Identity Card (TIE card).