🇪🇸 Spain Seafarer Visa
Dear Visitor, welcome to our Spain Seafarer Visa page.
The Spain Seafarer Visa is a special visa type that allows seafarers or crew members to enter Spanish territory and stay for a short period until they join the ship on which they are employed. Individuals working on a vessel and passing through Spanish territorial waters during their journey are required to obtain a Spain Transit Seafarer Visa. This visa is particularly designed for crew members who need to enter Spain by plane in order to board the ship they are assigned to. Applications must be completed through the Spanish consulate responsible for the applicant’s region of residence, and it is mandatory to apply via the appropriate consular jurisdiction.
🏝 Required Documents for Spain Seafarer Visa – 2025
The most crucial part of the Spain Seafarer Visa application is to provide not only personal identification documents but also the official documents to be issued by the shipping company. The biometric photograph must be 3.5x4.5 cm in size, taken on a white background within the last 3 months, clearly showing facial features, and without any retouching or filters. The Schengen Visa Application Form must be completed in full, and the signature fields on the last page and Article 37 must be signed by the applicant.
The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, remain valid for at least 3 months and 15 days after the return date, and contain at least two blank visa pages. Flight reservations must be valid and active with a PNR code. Expired or inactive codes are not accepted. If entry into Spain will be by other means of transportation, documents such as vehicle license plates, rental agreements, or driver licenses for group bus transfers must be submitted. In case of charter flights, a copy of the charter agreement from the travel agency must be attached.
The application file must also include a copy of the seafarer’s book, the employment contract with the shipping company, an official company letter issued on headed paper with seal and signature specifying the ship’s arrival and departure dates at port, and, for those joining passenger ships, the invitation letter and contract provided by the Spanish ship company. Proof of residence, ID card copy, and copies of all used passport pages must also be included. Applicants working as waiters or service staff on passenger ships are required to provide the original employment contract and invitation letter from the ship operator in Spain.
📌 Application Process and Consular Procedures
Once all the required documents for the Spain Transit Seafarer Visa are prepared, the complete file may be sent by courier to Marsel Visa offices. Upon receipt, our specialists carefully review your documents, and if there are any missing or incorrect papers, you will be notified immediately. Applications are finalized only by the Spanish Consulate General and the Spanish Embassy; direct submissions are not accepted. All applications must be lodged through authorized visa centers appointed by the consulate. The biometric fingerprint registration, which is mandatory for Schengen visa applications, is also carried out at these visa centers. Marsel Visa arranges your appointment and accompanies you on the day of fingerprinting, assisting you throughout the process.
Please note that the consulate reserves the right to invite applicants for a personal interview or request additional documents when deemed necessary.
📝 Additional Services
In Spain Transit Seafarer Visa applications, it is mandatory to provide valid round-trip travel reservations and Schengen Travel Health Insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000. E-mail printouts of reservations are not accepted. Marsel Visa provides applicants with valid flight and hotel reservations within a short period of time. Furthermore, we can also issue the required travel health insurance for your trip.
🕒 How Long Does the Spain Transit Seafarer Visa Take?
The processing time for the Spain Transit Seafarer Visa depends on the consulate where the application is lodged and the workload at that time. Applications submitted in Istanbul are usually processed within 7 working days, though this may extend up to 15 days due to official holidays. Applications from Edirne, Bursa, and Izmir require at least 9 working days, while those submitted from Antalya, Bodrum, and Trabzon take at least 11 working days. For this reason, it is recommended that applications be made at least 15 days prior to the intended travel date to ensure the visa is issued on time.
It should be emphasized that even if your Spain Schengen visa is approved, this does not guarantee entry into the country. The final decision regarding entry and the length of stay lies with the Spanish border police.