Should I apply for my Schengen visa at the Spanish consulate if I visit several countries?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Apply to Spain if it is your only destination or your main one, judged by length or purpose of stay. If no main destination can be determined, apply to the country whose external border you cross first. As a rule, you apply at that country's consulate covering the place where you legally live.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Spain is your only destination	Apply to Spain	Visa Code, art. 5(1)(a)
Several destinations	Apply to the main destination, by length or purpose of stay	Visa Code, art. 5(1)(b)
No main destination	Apply to the country whose external border you cross to enter Schengen	Visa Code, art. 5(1)(c)
Which consulate	The competent country’s consulate covering where you legally live	Visa Code, art. 6(1)
Legally present but not resident	A consulate may accept you if you justify applying there	Visa Code, art. 6(2)

The rule in the Visa Code

The Visa Code decides which Schengen country examines your application (art. 5(1)):

the country that is the only destination of your visit;
if you visit several countries, the one that is the main destination because of the length or the purpose of your stay;
if no main destination can be determined, the country whose external border you plan to cross to enter the Schengen area.

The European Commission’s guidance puts it in simpler terms. Apply at the consulate of the country where you’ll spend the longest time. If the stays are equal, apply at the first country you’ll visit.

Which consulate of that country

The application is examined by the consulate of the competent country that covers the place where you legally live (art. 6(1)). A consulate can also examine an application from someone legally present, but not resident, in its district if the applicant has justified applying there (art. 6(2)).

In practice at a Spanish consulate

The Spanish Consulate General in London’s guidance asks for proof of residence in its consular district, and has applications submitted in person, by appointment, at its external visa application centre. Other Spanish consulates publish their own arrangements.

When to apply: no earlier than six months and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before the trip (Visa Code, art. 9(1) as amended).

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.