Barcelona, the jewel of the Catalan region of Spain, is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. However, this city is not only famous for its beautiful architecture, cultural heritage and attractive Mediterranean coastline, but also has a great position in the world of sports. In particular, for football fans, Barcelona is of particular importance as it is home to the Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe. This stadium attracts visitors not only as a sports complex, but also as a place where football history and legends live.
Camp Nou, inaugurated in 1957, is one of the largest stadiums in Europe and one of the most famous in the world, with a capacity of approximately 99,000 spectators. This stadium is the home of FC Barcelona, one of the giants of world football. FC Barcelona is not only a football club, but also a symbol of Catalan culture and identity. The club's motto "Més que un club" (More than a club) indicates that it is not limited to sport, but also represents social and cultural values.
Visiting the Camp Nou stadium during your trip to Barcelona is a unique experience for any football fan. During the stadium tour, visitors can see the players' locker rooms, training areas, the press center and even enjoy amazing views from the highest points of the stadium. Also, the FC Barcelona Museum reflects the rich history of the club, the championships it has won and the memories of football legends. The items, trophies and historical moments of football stars such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta are the main focus of the museum.
Camp Nou is used not only for football matches, but also for major concerts and events. The atmosphere of the stadium, especially during big matches like El Clásico, is electrifying for spectators. If you time your trip to Barcelona to coincide with a football match, it could be one of the most memorable moments of your life.
Barcelona is not only famous for Camp Nou, but also for its other attractions. La Rambla, located in the city center, attracts visitors with its lively atmosphere, cafes, street artists and colorful shops. Antoni Gaudí's works, such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and La Pedrera, demonstrate the architectural richness of the city. Also, Barceloneta beach, located on the Mediterranean coast, is an ideal place for relaxation and entertainment.
A trip to Barcelona is a unique experience for both sports and culture lovers. Visiting the Camp Nou stadium is an invaluable opportunity to experience the history of FC Barcelona and the magic of football up close. This city offers its own special charm to every visitor and invites you to a world where football, history and culture live in harmony. Traveling to this city to see the largest stadium in Europe and feel the spirit of Barcelona will become one of the most exciting trips of your life.
One of the most important issues for those planning a trip to Barcelona is visa requirements. Since Spain is part of the Schengen zone, Azerbaijani citizens are required to present a Spain Schengen visa to travel to this city. A Schengen visa allows free travel to 26 European countries, including Spain. This is an indispensable document not only for Barcelona, but also for short-term trips to other Schengen countries.
Spain Visa Types
Since Spain is a Schengen country, you can apply for a Spain Schengen visa for temporary travel. The reasons for applying for this type of visa include tourism, visiting family or friends, business travel, medical examination or treatment, short-term studies, exchange programs and other temporary situations. If you wish to study in Spain for a long period of more than 90 days (such as bachelor's, master's, doctoral, etc.) or work permanently in an institution located here, you can apply for a Spanish national visa based on an official invitation or acceptance letter from the relevant education and employment authorities. At this time, we are providing you with general information about the Spain Schengen visa.
Spain Schengen Visa
The Spain Schengen visa is issued in both single-entry and multiple-entry variants. In addition, you can apply for visas with a validity of three months, six months, one year, two years or five years. Once you have obtained a Spain Schengen visa, you can freely enter all Schengen countries during your trip. However, we always recommend that you make your first step into the travel area from the country where you obtained the visa, i.e. Spain. Otherwise, if you do not take this into account when applying and try to enter the Schengen area from another country with a Spanish visa, the border service of that country may, although rarely, turn you back and refuse to allow you to enter the country. This situation has already been observed on several occasions and we recommend that you avoid this risk.
If you are applying for a Spain Schengen visa, you must show that you will spend the majority of your time in Spain during your trip. Often, travel plans include France, Portugal, Italy and other European countries in addition to Spain. Such situations do not hinder your application process; simply showing Spain as the main country of stay during your total trip is sufficient to obtain a visa.
Documents Required for Spain Schengen Visa Application
The documents you need to submit when applying for a Spain Schengen visa are as follows:
- Original and copy of the first page of your passport
- Copies of your previous visas and entry-exit stamps, if applicable
- Copy of your ID card
- Certificate from your place of employment* and, if applicable, salary slip (certificate from the relevant educational institution for those studying)
- Certificate and extract from your bank account in your name (detailed information on the amount is listed below)
- Copy of property extracts* and your car registration certificate in your name, if applicable
- Proof of your civil status* (if married, your marriage certificate; if you have children under 18, their birth certificates or, if your marriage has been dissolved, a copy of the document on the dissolution of the marriage)
- 2 biometric photos of you, 3.5x4.5 in size, with a white background
- Airline tickets you have booked for your trip
- Hotel reservations you have made for your trip
- Travel insurance in accordance with Schengen rules that will fully cover your trip
- English A completed application form in English
- A printed version of the document issued by the system confirming the appointment
- If you are applying for a visa for a business trip, not for tourist purposes, an official invitation letter for that work, event or meeting
Documents marked with an “*” must be submitted to the embassy in English. If the original language of the documents is not English, they must be translated into English and notarized.
Once your documents have been accepted, the embassy may call you during your visa procedure to request additional documents. In some cases, the French embassy has requested applicants for a Spanish visa to purchase their hotel reservations or provide a confirmation letter regarding their reservations.
The amount in your bank account will vary depending on your travel dates – i.e. the length of your stay in Schengen, the prices of your flight tickets and hotels, and other factors. In general, it is recommended that you have a minimum of 3,000–5,000 AZN (or equivalent in euros or US dollars) in your bank account for a week of travel. This amount should fully cover your travel plans. When calculating, it is recommended to plan for a slightly higher amount than the figure you get, taking into account the prices of your flight and hotel reservations and the average daily expenses of 70–80 euros for each day you will stay in Schengen.
If you are an entrepreneur, you can submit documents that will replace the certificate from your workplace (a copy of your TIN, a certificate of your turnover from the Ministry of Taxes, an extract from the register of your company). If you are unemployed, studying, or sponsoring another person to cover your travel expenses, in this case, a copy of that person's ID card, a certificate from your workplace (if the sponsor is an entrepreneur, the documents listed above), a certificate and extract from a bank account (this account can be in both your and the sponsor's name), if you have a family relationship, a document confirming this (for example, if you are a parent, your own birth certificate; if you have a brother or sister, both birth certificates) and a sponsorship letter must be submitted. If the applicant is under 18 years old, traveling alone, traveling with both parents or one of their parents, a copy of the exit permit from the other parent must also be submitted.
It is important to note that each of the documents you submit, such as your TIN, a certificate of turnover from the Ministry of Taxes, your company's extract from the registry, or a sponsorship letter or permission letter, must be notarized and translated into English.
Visa Procedure
The application for a Spanish Schengen visa is made at the Capago visa application center of the French Embassy, due to the lack of a Spanish consulate in our country. The decision on the visa is made by the French Embassy
Individuals Exempt from Fingerprinting Are Divided Into The Following Groups:
- Persons who have obtained a Schengen visa in the last 3 years and have their fingerprints in the system (except for Czech visas)
- Children under 12 years of age
- Persons who are physically unable to provide fingerprints
- Holders of diplomatic or special passports and accredited to diplomatic or consular posts in Spain
- Diplomatic or consular personnel who will be assigned to an international organization with headquarters or representation in Spain and their family members (spouses and dependent children)
The Spain Schengen visa procedure is usually completed within 3-5 working days from the date of application. Our experience shows that the French Embassy plans the duration of the visa procedure according to the start date of the trip; applicants with a closer travel date also receive a visa response faster. However, the duration of the visa procedure may be affected not only by this factor, but also by the complexity of the application.
The visa fee is 35 euros. This amount can be paid in the national currency, that is, in manats in cash or by card in any currency. An additional 26 euros visa center service fee is paid when submitting documents. This payment can be made in cash only in manats or by card in any currency. The manat equivalent of the visa fee is regulated by the embassy based on the daily exchange rate.
Probability of Getting a Spain Schengen Visa
As with any visa application for any country, your chances of obtaining a visa in Spain depend on the status of your personal profile. Your job and position are normal, your monthly income is in the standard salary range or higher (in practice, visas have been issued to people earning a monthly income of 400–500 AZN), your bank account has sufficient funds to cover all travel expenses, you have nuances that tie you to the country (property registered in your name, the presence of your family and children), and your rich travel history are among the main factors that increase your chances of obtaining a Schengen visa for Spain. Our experience shows that although the number of people who receive a Schengen visa from the French Embassy for the first time is sufficient, we note that the French Embassy is somewhat risky when applying for a first visa if your profile is not at a high level. The presence of one or more Schengen visas in the past significantly increases your chances of obtaining a Spanish visa from the French Embassy. Still, compared to other Western European and highly developed European countries (Germany, Italy, Scandinavian countries, etc.), the French embassy may be a more convenient option for the first visa application, provided there are some nuances.
Visa Support to Spain
We, as Vizam.az, are ready to provide you with full support during your Spain Schengen visa application. If you use our visa support services, our services include making an appointment on your behalf at the visa center, filling out the application form, professionally preparing and submitting your documents, booking flight tickets for your trip, booking or selecting hotels according to your wishes, creating your visa travel itinerary, consulting and monitoring your visa procedure. We can also assist you in notarizing and certifying your documents into English; the additional fee for each document is 16 AZN. In general, the fee for the Spain Schengen visa support service in our company is 79 AZN per person.
You can click here to place your order; for more information, please contact 010/50/55-3000135.
Make way for endless fun in Spain! Happy travels!
