Spain Schengen Visa Interview

If you are applying for a Schengen visa for Spain, you will likely be invited to attend an interview. Read on for frequently asked Spain Schengen visa interview questions, and for basic information about Spain visas requirements. 

Spain Schengen Visa Requirements

• Applicants seeking Schengen visas for Spain will have to provide the following: 
  • Completed Schengen visa application
  • Required and supplement documents and materials
  • Biometric information (fingerprints and photos)
  • Visa fee (€80 for most applicants).
• Additionally, many applicants for Schengen visas for Spain are asked to attend an in-person Spain embassy interview (or interview at the Spanish Consulate or visa application center) they are applying from. 

Spain Schengen Visa Interview

• The Schengen visa interview is where you will answer basic questions about yourself and your upcoming trip to Spain. 
• The purpose of these questions is to determine if you are a good candidate for a visa. You will be considered a good candidate for a Spanish Schengen visa if you are judged to: 
  • Present zero security or criminal risk to Spain (or the general Schengen area).
  • Intend to leave Spain (and the Schengen area) within your visa validity period.
  • Can financially afford your trip.
• Your interviewer will therefore ask you basic questions about your background, criminal history, employment/financial status, and upcoming trip. 
• Because Schengen visas are only valid for 90 days within a 180-day period, they will specifically want to determine that you plan on leaving Spain (or the Schengen area) prior to your visa expiration date. 
• While all Spanish Schengen visa applicants will be asked certain basic questions, the questions should vary slightly depending on what kind of visa you are applying for (Spain tourist visa interview questions vs. medical visa questions). 

Spain Schengen Visa Interview Questions

In general, your Spanish Schengen visa interview questions should fall into seven main categories: 

1. Purpose of Travel
2. Biographical
3. Financial
4. Security
5. Schengen Visa Knowledge
6. Stay
7. Entry/Exit

1. Purpose of Travel to Spain

• “What is your purpose of travel to Spain?”. This is perhaps the most basic and important interview question.  
• In asking this, your interviewer wants to make sure that your reason for travel is legitimate and matches the reason you gave on your written application. 
• Be sure to respond to this question honestly and comprehensively. For example, if you are answering Spain tourist visa interview questions, talk about your love of Spanish culture and cuisine, and explain that you always wanted to visit the Prado Museum. 
• Following the above question, you may be asked “Why do you need to spend so much time in Spain? Why don’t you apply for a visa of shorter duration?”. This is a commonly asked question many travelers have trouble answering. Therefore, talk about how your reason for travel necessitates you spending up to 90 days in Spain.  

2. Biographical

• These questions are universal to all Schengen visa applicants. Be prepared to answer basic questions about yourself, including the following: 
  • When and where were you born?
  • Do you have a job? 
  • Are you married?
  • Do you have children?
  • Where do your parents live and what do they do?
  • Are you or were you a university student? 
• The purpose of asking these basic biographical questions is to determine that a) you are who you say you are and b) that you have reasons to return home. 
• For example, applicants who have family, a good job, and own property in their home country are considered more likely to want to return there (i.e. not overstay their visa). 
• In answering the above biographical questions, you should therefore emphasize that you have a rich life, full of personal, financial, and academic (if applicable) responsibilities that you must return to once your visa is up. 

3. Financial

• Your interviewer wants to make sure that you have enough money to afford your trip to Spain. 
• Your interviewer is aware of basic Spanish living/travel costs and will expect your finances to meet or exceed your upcoming expenses in the country (as well as any potential unexpected costs, such as those relating to medical emergencies). 
• Research the average costs of basic goods and services in Spain so you have an awareness of what things cost in the country. For example, if you plan on travelling from Madrid to Barcelona, try to find out the general price of a ticket.
• Be prepared to answer financial questions like the following: 
  • How will you fund your trip to Spain?
  • Where do you work and what is your current monthly salary?
  • Are you paying for your housing in Spain?
  • Did you get travel medical insurance?

4. Security

• Above all, the purpose of your Spain Schengen visa interview is to determine that you present zero security risk to the Schengen area. You should therefore not be offended if you are asked the following questions: 
  • Have you ever been part of a terrorist organization?
  • Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?

5. Schengen Visa Knowledge

• Interviewers want to determine that you understand the terms of you Schengen visa. 
• Make sure you demonstrate your awareness of where you can go and how long you can remain in Spain on your visa, as well as the penalties for overstaying. 
• Be prepared to fluidly answer the following questions: 
  • How long will you be staying in Spain?
  • Do you know the validity period of your Spanish Schengen visa?
  • Do you know how long you are allowed to stay in Spain?
  • Do you know what will happen if you overstay your Spanish Schengen visa?
  • Do you know where else you can travel on your Spanish Schengen visa?
  • Have you ever travelled to Europe before?

6. Stay

• Once you arrive in Spain, your interviewer will need to know additional information about your stay including, 
  • Where will you stay? With a friend or relative? In a hotel?
  • Do you have any friends or family in Spain? In the Schengen area?

7. Entry/Exit

• Your interviewer is interested in your arrival and departure from Spain.
• It is particularly essential that you convince your interviewer of your intent to leave Spain before your visa expires.
• You can cover all these topics by talking in detail about your travel dates and plans in response to the following questions:
  • Is Spain your first point of entry to the Schengen area? How are you arriving to the country?
  • How do we know you will leave Spain before your visa expires?