There are many papers and details to put together for the visa, but in general, you’re trying to show that you’re not a criminal and that you’re not going to be a drain on the Spanish economy. Specifically, it ends up being relatively easy with a couple of exceptions.
1. Two national visa application forms. I applied for the visa for non-lucrative purposes for reasons described in the previous blog post.
2. Original passport. Double-checked validity and checked this off.
3. Two passport size photographs in color, 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size. Usually I go to a CVS, take a selfie against a white background with my most serious face, and then print it from a digital photo printer ($1.50 instead of $15 if they take them for you). On this lovely New York October evening, all of the photo-printers had power and wifi, but were completely unable to my phone. So after 10 minutes of fiddling with the printer and listening to someone try to exchange a “Red Bull 16 oz can that I bought here, but don’t have the receipt” for a 12oz can. I just bit the bullet and paid $15, so much excitement for passport photos did not bode well for the rest of the process.
4. Non-US citizens: Green-card or visa. This wasn’t relevant for me...
5. Police Records Certificate. The largest head-ache - I'll devote a separate blog-post to this part of the process.
6. Original medical certificate. I asked my doctor to write his letter on his own letterhead certifying that I wasn’t: sick, crazy, or a drug-addict. It wasn’t necessary to get it translated, but your mileage may vary.
7. If you apply with your family: documents that prove your family ties. This wasn’t relevant for me...
8. Proof/s of sufficient financial means. I've heard that for one person you can show liquid assets of $1,200 per month of your intended stay (e.g., a bank statement with $15K for a year). I’m not sure what the income requirements are or how the numbers change for bringing a family.
9. Proof of having health insurance. Elena found me private insurance in Spain with Sanitas. I haven’t used it yet, but I’m paying $60 per month which is way less than the equivalent in the US.
10. Fill out forms EX01 and Modelo 790 Código 052. I filled these out at the consulate and they looked a bit different from the forms linked in the instructions, but some friendly consular staff were available to help me out on a slow day.
11. Money order from USPS to pay the non-refundable fee. You’ll be making a few trips to get money-orders from banks and post-offices, but it’s easy enough as there are post-offices near most of the stops. I did discover that USPS does not take credit cards for Money Orders AND that Citibank Debit cards don’t work in USPS CC machines. The folks at the StuyTown post office were accommodating enough to give me time to run to the ATM and bring cash to pay for the money order even though it was just at closing time.
For more on my journey to legal residency: