Citizens of the United States can visit Spain for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism or business. Those staying longer or studying require a national visa, which can take up to 15 weeks to complete. The visa application process involves 10 steps, including obtaining fingerprint records from the FBI, which alone can take 15 weeks. Applicants must submit their completed application in person at a Spanish diplomatic mission along with application fees and criminal background check results. Most visa decisions are made within 30 days of application.