Spain visa requirements for Saudi citizens
Saudi citizens need a visa for Spain and must apply for it before the trip at a consulate or embassy.
- Consular fee
- €90
- Minimum passport validity
- 3 months after departure
How to apply for this visa: the step-by-step process →
How long it takes and how far ahead to book →
If it's refused: grounds and how to appeal →
Last verified: 24 September 2026
How this visa is processed
BLS International centres in Riyadh and Jeddah, on behalf of the Embassy of Spain in Riyadh
What sets this corridor apart is the length of the visa. Under the European Commission Implementing Decision of 22 April 2024, Schengen consulates in Saudi Arabia issue Saudi nationals residing in the country a multiple-entry visa valid for five years, provided they meet the entry conditions, without first going through the shorter visas the general Visa Code rule requires. If the passport expires sooner, the visa is issued to end three months before that date, so it is worth renewing the passport before applying. The application for Spain is lodged at one of the two BLS International centres: Riyadh (Al Rashid Centre, first floor, Al Murabba) or Jeddah (Cenomi Haifa Mall, Palestine Street, Al Ruwais), and the Embassy of Spain in Riyadh decides it. The application is made in person between six months and 15 days before travel; the legal decision period is 15 calendar days, extendable to 45.
Official application site →Application details verified on 24 September 2026. Sources: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 2689 final of 22 April 2024 on issuing multiple-entry visas to Saudi nationals residing in Saudi Arabia (Article 1: five-year validity and the limit of three months before passport expiry); exteriores.gob.es, Embassy of Spain in Riyadh, the "Place of lodging of visa applications" (BLS centres in Riyadh and Jeddah) and "Schengen visa" pages (fee, lodging and decision periods). Checked 24 September 2026.
How many visas are refused in Saudi Arabia
In 2025, the consulate of Spain in Saudi Arabia received 58,670 short-stay Schengen visa applications and refused 1,601, 2.8 % of those decided. That is a rate lower than the average of all Schengen States worldwide, which was 14.6 %.
- Applications
- 58,670
- Refused
- 1,601
- Refusal rate
- 2.8 %
- Schengen average
- 14.6 %
This is European Commission data by consulate. It counts applications lodged in Saudi Arabia, of any nationality.
Source: European Commission, short-stay visa statistics 2025. If it's refused: grounds and how to appeal →
Verified practical details
You'll need to apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Here are the practical details we've verified:
Fee
€90
The €90 is the short-stay Schengen visa fee, set by Article 16 of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009) as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415, in force since 11 June 2024. It is not a fee set by Spain: the same amount is paid at any Schengen consulate. Children from the age of 6 and under 12 pay €45, and children under 6 are exempt. Travellers entering without a visa pay no fee at all.
Processing time
Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged. That period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, particularly where the application needs closer examination; in justified urgent individual cases the decision is taken immediately (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). An application may not be lodged more than six months before the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; where the consulate requires an appointment, it is normally given within two weeks of being requested (Art. 9).
Required documents
- A valid passport or travel document, issued within the previous ten years and valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a))
- Evidence of the purpose and conditions of your stay: a booking for your accommodation or, if you are staying at a private address, a letter of invitation that your host files with the Spanish National Police (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(c))
- A return or round-trip ticket, issued in your name, non-transferable and with a fixed date (Order PRE/1282/2007, Art. 2)
How much money you need to show
€122.10 per person per day, with a minimum of €1,098.90 per person even on a shorter trip
They are 10% and 90% of Spain's 2026 minimum wage (€1,221 a month, Royal Decree 126/2026), under Order PRE/1282/2007, so they change when the minimum wage goes up. The daily figure is multiplied by the days of your stay and by the people travelling as your dependants. You show it with cash, certified or traveller's cheques, or a credit card together with a bank statement or an up-to-date passbook. Statements printed from online banking are not accepted.
What each Schengen country asks for →Source: European Commission, Annex 25 to the Practical Handbook for Border Guards (reference amounts notified by each State), version of 8 June 2026, and Spain's Official State Gazette (Order PRE/1282/2007 and Royal Decree 126/2026). Checked on 1 November 2026.
Health insurance
Mandatory to apply for the Schengen visa: minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).
Which policies meet the €30,000 requirement →
Staying with a host instead of a hotel? Spain's letter of invitation →
When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓How long you can stay
Schengen rule: a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Calculate your available Schengen days →More Spain rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Spain page:
Official portal: https://www.exteriores.gob.es. Destination data verified on 13 August 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es; travel-europe.europa.eu/etias (official ETIAS portal, including the official confirmation of the €20 fee and the "not in operation" status quoted verbatim by Euronews on 12 August 2026); eeas.europa.eu; europa.eu/youreurope (cash/EU customs); eur-lex.europa.eu, Directive 2007/74/EC, Arts. 8 to 10 (alcohol and tobacco allowances, checked 27 September 2026); boe.es, Organic Law 4/2000, Arts. 53, 55, 57 and 58 (penalties for unlawful stay, checked 27 September 2026); eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/810/oj (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15: €30,000 medical insurance required for the Schengen visa application, not for visa-exempt entry) (checked 12 August 2026).
Insurance for the Schengen visa
The consulate asks for a policy with at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire stay. Check those terms in the policy before you pay.
See IATI's international site →IATI sells its policies according to the country you live in. Where do you live?
If your country isn't listed, try IATI's international site.
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Things to see and do in Spain
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Spain can get a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia. See the Spain → Saudi Arabia page.
Of the 18 passports from Western Asia that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to Spain 4 enter visa-free and 14 need a visa. Same result as Saudi Arabia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait.
With a passport from Saudi Arabia, in the rest of Southern Europe you can enter Albania and Kosovo visa-free; you need a visa for Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia and Vatican.
A passport from Saudi Arabia ranks 98 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 84 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Spain?
Yes. You must apply for the visa in advance at the relevant consulate or embassy.
How long does it take to get the entry permit?
Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged. That period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, particularly where the application needs closer examination; in justified urgent individual cases the decision is taken immediately (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). An application may not be lodged more than six months before the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; where the consulate requires an appointment, it is normally given within two weeks of being requested (Art. 9).
What minimum passport validity is required?
At least 3 months of validity beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued within the previous ten years (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a)).
Do I need travel insurance to apply for the Schengen visa?
Yes, to apply for the visa: travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay, is mandatory (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).
Is it true Saudis get a five-year Schengen visa?
Yes, Saudi nationals who reside in Saudi Arabia and apply there, if they meet the entry conditions. It is set by a European Commission Implementing Decision of 22 April 2024.
My passport expires in two years. Will I still get five years?
No. The visa ends three months before the passport expires. If you want the full five years, renew your passport before applying.
Where do I apply for Spain?
At BLS International, in Riyadh (Al Rashid Centre) or Jeddah (Cenomi Haifa Mall). The Embassy of Spain in Riyadh decides.
How much money do Saudi passport holders need to enter Spain?
The reference amount is €122.10 per person per day, with a minimum of €1,098.90 per person even on a shorter trip. They are 10% and 90% of Spain's 2026 minimum wage (€1,221 a month, Royal Decree 126/2026), under Order PRE/1282/2007, so they change when the minimum wage goes up. The daily figure is multiplied by the days of your stay and by the people travelling as your dependants. You show it with cash, certified or traveller's cheques, or a credit card together with a bank statement or an up-to-date passbook. Statements printed from online banking are not accepted.
How many Schengen visas do the consulates of Spain refuse in Saudi Arabia?
In 2025, the consulate of Spain in Saudi Arabia received 58,670 short-stay Schengen visa applications and refused 1,601, 2.8 % of those decided. That is a rate lower than the average of all Schengen States worldwide, which was 14.6 %.
What do Saudi passport holders need for the countries near Spain?
With a passport from Saudi Arabia, in the rest of Southern Europe you can enter Albania and Kosovo visa-free; you need a visa for Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia and Vatican.
Related pages
See Spain requirements for other passports →
See entry requirements to Saudi Arabia for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.