Everything you need to know about booking a Spain long-stay visa appointment in London — the BLS process, what to bring, processing times, and how to plan your move timeline
Book Free Consultation View PricingThe Consulate General of Spain in London is the official body responsible for issuing Spanish long-stay visas to UK nationals residing in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Its address is:
Consulate General of Spain
20 Draycott Place
London SW3 2RZ
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square (District/Circle line)
However, most applicants never attend the consulate directly. Since Spain outsourced its UK visa administration to BLS International, all long-stay visa applications are submitted at the BLS centre, not at Draycott Place. The consulate handles your application behind the scenes and returns your passport — with a visa sticker inside if approved — via BLS.
Understanding who does what will prevent confusion and wasted trips.
| Task | BLS International | Spanish Consulate |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment booking | Yes — via blsspain-uk.com | No |
| Document submission | Yes — at their centre | No (they receive from BLS) |
| Biometric collection | Yes — fingerprints & photo | No |
| Fee collection | Yes — BLS service fee | Yes — visa fee (paid via BLS) |
| Application decision | No | Yes — consulate decides |
| Passport return | Yes — collect from BLS or courier | No |
| Application tracking | Yes — online portal | No public portal |
| Queries & appeals | Limited | Yes — formal queries via email |
All Spanish long-stay visas (Type D) require an in-person appointment via BLS International. Short-stay (tourist) visits do not require a visa appointment for UK nationals visiting for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas that require a full consulate application include:
For retirees and those living on passive income, savings, pensions, or investments. Most popular visa for UK nationals moving to Spain.
For remote workers and freelancers earning from non-Spanish clients. Processing via ENISA adds time — expect 3–4 months total.
For entrepreneurs launching innovative businesses in Spain. Also processed via ENISA — 3–4 months minimum.
For those enrolled in Spanish universities or recognised educational institutions. Requires acceptance letter from the institution.
Here is the full process from start to having your visa in hand.
Gather all required documents for your visa type — passport, photos, financial evidence, health insurance, criminal record certificate (apostilled), and any visa-specific documents. All documents not in Spanish require a certified translation. Agrin UK prepares a precise document checklist tailored to your visa.
Visit blsspain-uk.com and create an account. Select your visa category, choose your preferred appointment location, and book the earliest available slot. Appointment availability changes daily — check back regularly if slots are full. Do not book an appointment before your documents are ready, as you cannot reschedule more than once without starting fresh.
Attend your appointment in person with all documents — originals and copies. The BLS officer will check your file, take your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), collect the visa fee and BLS service fee, and issue a receipt with your reference number. The appointment typically takes 20–45 minutes.
Your documents are forwarded to the Spanish Consulate General. The consulate has up to three months by law to process your application. NLV applications typically take 4–8 weeks. Digital Nomad and Startup visas that require ENISA pre-approval can take 3–4 months. During this period, your passport remains with BLS/the consulate.
Once the consulate makes a decision, BLS notifies you by email. If approved, your passport contains a Spanish visa sticker showing the visa type, duration, and number of entries. Collect in person from BLS or request courier delivery (additional fee). Once you have your visa, you have the validity period shown to enter Spain and register your residency.
| Visa Type | BLS Appointment Wait | Consulate Processing | Total Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa | 4–12 weeks | 4–8 weeks | 3–5 months |
| Digital Nomad Visa | 4–12 weeks | 8–16 weeks (inc. ENISA) | 4–6 months |
| Startup Visa | 4–12 weeks | 8–16 weeks (inc. ENISA) | 4–6 months |
| Student Visa | 2–6 weeks | 3–6 weeks | 2–3 months |
These are estimates based on 2025 experience. Individual cases vary. Apply as early as possible — the consulate's legal deadline of three months is a maximum, not a target.
The BLS appointment is a document submission and biometric collection session — not an interview. Here is what to expect and what to bring.
| Fee | Amount (approx.) | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish visa fee | €80 (approx. £70) | Paid via BLS on consulate's behalf |
| BLS service fee | £30–£50 | BLS International |
| Biometric fee | Included in BLS fee | BLS International |
| Courier return (optional) | £10–£20 | BLS International |
Once your documents are submitted at BLS, you will receive a reference number. Use this to track your application status through the BLS International online tracking portal at blsspain-uk.com/track. Status updates typically include:
The BLS portal is not always updated in real time. If your application shows "under process" for more than 8 weeks, it is reasonable to follow up with the consulate directly by email. Agrin UK clients have a dedicated point of contact who handles these follow-ups on their behalf.
The consulate does not always reject an application outright — it may return the file to BLS requesting additional documents. This adds weeks to your timeline and is entirely avoidable with proper preparation.
Criminal record certificates and birth/marriage certificates must carry an apostille stamp. A notarised copy is not sufficient.
All non-Spanish documents must be translated by a sworn/certified translator recognised in Spain. Google Translate or unofficial translations are rejected.
Bank statements covering less than 3 months, or evidence that doesn't clearly demonstrate the required monthly income level, are frequently flagged.
Health insurance must be valid for Spain with no excess/copay, cover repatriation, and meet minimum coverage thresholds. Many standard UK travel policies do not qualify.
Criminal record certificates must typically be less than 3 months old. Bank statements must be recent. Some consulates reject documents older than 90 days at point of submission.
The EX-01 or equivalent form must be fully completed, signed in ink, and dated. Unsigned or undated forms are returned immediately.
One of the most common mistakes UK nationals make is assuming they can book an appointment and be in Spain within a month. In practice, the full timeline from deciding to move to landing in Spain with your visa can be 5–7 months when you account for:
Use the waiting period productively:
The Spanish Consulate General in London handles applications for residents of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, your application goes to the Honorary Consulate of Spain in Edinburgh.
Honorary Consulate of Spain, Edinburgh. Processes long-stay visas for Scottish residents. Contact them directly — appointment systems differ from the London BLS process.
All applications go through BLS International for the Consulate General in London, regardless of where in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland you live. There is no Manchester consulate — Northern England applicants use London.
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