Au Pair visa

• The au pair will have the same address of the family with whom she/he will live;
• ​Services or housework is only complimentary to the main purpose;
• The au pair will not receive a salary for services;
• The applicant must be between 17 and 30 years of age.​

1.- One Application form (National Visa Application form): Each applicant must complete and sign a national visa application, filling out every section. It can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.​

Please do not forget to fill out numbers 17 (your address, email and telephone number), 28 (complete information related to the university or education center in Spain) and 21 (intended date of entry) on the application form.

The intended day of entry can be, for example, 15 days before the beginning of the studies; in this case, make sure that your insurance policy covers your whole period of intended stay in Spain.

​​2.- One photo: Glued ​or clipped (not stapled) onto visa application form. Photo specifications: Passport-size, color photograph, recent (taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance), printed on matte/glossy paper, taken against a white, light, clear, uniform background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the applicant’s full oval of the face. 

3.- Valid, unexpired passport: Original and photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid for at least the requested time of stay and must contain at least two free pages for visas. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.

If the passport does not meet the requirements, it must be renewed before applying for the visa.

4.- Proof of legal residence in the United States. Non-U.S. citizens must also submit proof of legal residence in the United States: A photocopy of the valid U.S. long term Visa or a notarized copy of the U.S. Resident Card (Green card; please do not submit the original document).

F1 student visa holders must submit a photocopy of the I-20 certificate.

B1/B2 visa holders do not qualify to apply for a visa at this Consular Office. They must apply for a visa in their country of residence or country of origin. 

5.- Proof of residence or study in the consular district.  The applicant must be a legal resident or be enrolled in in-person studies in a center within our consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina).

​Residence must be proved by one of the following, valid documents: Photocopy of U.S. Driver’s license, State ID, University Student ID. Please do not submit the original document. 

If you do not have a U.S. Driver's license or State ID it is possible to prove residence in our consular district by other documents, e.g. a copy of a lease agreement or utility bill.

6.- Proof of acceptance for the study: Copy of the official letter of admission as a student at an authorized education center in Spain. 

• In case of enrolment in a Spanish language school, the center must be officially recognized by the Instituto Cervantes.
  
• The letter of admission has to be issued in Spain, must be written in Spanish, and addressed to this Consular Section. 
• It must verify enrolment at an accredited school, leading to obtain a certificate or degree. 
• This letter must mention: Name and duration of the program. The duration of the program and the au pair activity must be around the same time. The student must be registered full time and successfully complete the program
• The student must be registered full time (minimum 20 hours per week) and successfully complete the program.
  

The minimum required amount is equivalent to 100% of Spain's IPREM (Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator) for the au pair.

If the au pair is traveling to Spain alone, the minimum required amount in 2025 is 600€ (700 USD approx.). The IPREM indicator changes every year. 

If the provided documentation certifies that accommodation and pocket money are provided for the entire length of the student's stay, this amount will be deducted from the required minimum. ​

• If the applicant him/herself bears full financial responsibility: His/her three most recent monthly bank statements, including the applicant’s full name and a final balance that covers the required minimum funds. The bank statements in English do not need to be translated into Spanish.
• If the US or Spanish university or school bears full financial responsibility: If the letter of acceptance or certificate of admission certifies that the institution assumes full financial responsibility, it is not necessary to provide any additional proof of financial means. If the original documents are in English, a translation into Spanish must be submitted.
• ​If applicant is receiving financial aid, loans, scholarships or other economic aid that covers the minimum monthly required amount for room and board: Documentation proving the issuance of financial aid, loans, scholarships, or other economic aid. If the original documents are in English, a translation into Spanish must be submitted.
• If parent, legal guardian or other relative is bearing full financial responsibility: Notarized letter (original and copy) from at least one of the applicant’s parents or guardians, in which they assume full financial responsibility for the applicant’s room and board.

Suggested wording: "I hereby certify that I, [full name of parent of guardian], [mother, father, legal guardian] of [full name of applicant], assume full financial responsibility for his/her round-trip ticket between Spain and the United States, as well as his/her monthly room and board expenses while he/she is in Spain, and any addition emergency expenses that may arise during his/her stay."

The applicant must attach all of the following documentation to this notarized letter:

• Notarized copy of the parent or guardian’s ID;
• Notarized copy of the student’s birth certificate, demonstrating parental link, or the ruling or decision by which a legal guardian was determined;
  
• The parent or guardian’s three most recent monthly bank statements, showing his/her full name and a final balance that covers the required minimum funds (which must cover the student’s room and board, as well as the cost of the student’s studies or tuition). The bank statements in English do not need to be translated into Spanish.
  

9.- Health insurance: Proof of public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system and must cover the entire period of the stay. It should have no coverage limits (Spanish companies offer unlimited coverage), no grace periods for certain benefits, no co-payments, and no deductibles. Nevertheless, if the policy has a coverage limited to a specific amount, this limit must not be less than 30,000 euros.

A registry of insurance entities authorized to operate in Spain can be found at the following link: https://rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es/

Travel insurance is not accepted.

An Insurance card will not be accepted as proof of coverage.

If the applicant is participating in a volunteer program, in addition to the health insurance, he/she must also provide a copy of the organization’s civil liability insurance policy. 

WHEN LENGTH OF STAY EXCEEDS 180 DAYS (for stays of more than 180 days, points 10 and 11 must also be submitted):

10.- Medical certificate: Applicants who apply for a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a copy of the medical certificate demonstrating the applicant does not suffer from drug addiction, mental health issues or any diseases that could have serious repercussions for public health in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005.

• The certificate must be issued in the 3 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
• The certificate must include a stamp from the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s name and signature, doctor’s License Number and date of expedition.
• The certificate must be written on letterhead paper from hospital/doctor’s office or directly on the provided template. The recommended model can be found here: Medical certificate template
• The certificate must be signed by a Doctor (Physician), not by a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician assistant.​
• If the certificate does not include the text in Spanish, an official or certified translation into Spanish is required. In the case of using the bilingual model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary. ​

Please include a photocopy (not notarized) of the medical certificate with your submitted documents.

11.- Criminal record check certificate: Applicants of legal age (18 years old and older) who apply for a student visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a photocopy (not notarized) of their criminal background check(s) issued by their country or countries of residence in the past five years. The criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We do not accept State or Local Police Background Checks. 

• The background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
• Criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Hague Apostille. We do not accept background checks without the Hague Apostille. 
• The apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures. We do not accept apostilles that certify the signature of a notary that stamps a seal on the criminal background check. 
• Criminal background checks must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator. The official translation can include the translation of the Apostille as well, but it is not necessary (the translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation).
• You can find certified translators through the AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION or or Buscador de traductores jurados del MAEC.​
  
• The criminal background check will not be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damage caused by removing staples. 
  

If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 5 years in another country (outside the USA) an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague, unless it is issued by an EU member state. The criminal background check issued by an EU authority does not need to be apostilled to be accepted. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, th​e background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in this country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in Spanish or does not include the text in Spanish).

Please submit the original and a photocopy of all the documents: Background check, Apostille and official translation

12.- Disclaimer form (DISCLAIMER)

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13.- Payment of the visa fee: Payment made to BLS. Non-refundable. 

Different rates apply ​due to reciprocity. 

Fees in 2025:

• For US citizens: $160
  
• For citizens of Australia: $451
• For citizens of the UK: 
• ​For stays shorter than 180 days: $94
• For stays longer than 180 days: $437
• For citizens of Ethiopia: 
  
• For stays shorter than 180 days: $94
  
• For stays longer than 180 days: $490
  
• For citizens of Mauritania: $252
• For all other citizens: $94​
  

Visa fees are revised quarterly according to current exchange rates and can be subject to changes.

PROCEDURE