Who grants the visa for WYD?
WYD cannot grant the visa. Only the government of Spain, through its Embassies and Consulates can issue visas.
You are reminded that registration and visa are two separate documents. Registration alone does not automatically entitle you to a visa. You must fill in all required information on this page.
Who can apply for the free visa?
WYD pilgrims who are members of a group endorsed by institutions of the Catholic Church (diocese, parish, catholic university, associations of the faithful, apostolic movements, etc.), can apply for this visa. These groups can be at a local, national or international level and must be recognized by the Episcopal Conference of the country. These pilgrims must have already registered and made the corresponding payment for WYD. Therefore, those who have not yet paid do not qualify for this visa.
If registration includes housing and meals (packages A1 and B1), the organizing Committee is in a position to guarantee Spanish authorities that the pilgrim has a place of residence and meals. However, if registration does not include housing and meals the pilgrim must accredit that he has a place to stay and the means to pay for housing and meals during his stay in Spain.
For how long is the visa valid?
As a rule, this WYD visa lasts for the duration of the event (August 15/21). The visa also includes August 11th to 15th if the pilgrim intends to take part in the “Days in the Dioceses” program. If so desired, two or three days can be added before or after these dates, to allow for flight connections etc. If the visa is for these dates only, nothing else is required.
Participants wishing to arrive in Spain more than three days before, or prolonging their stay by more than three days, for cultural, tourist, academic reasons, will likewise receive their visa free of charge, but will have to accredit that they have the means to pay for housing and upkeep during their stay in Spain and that they have sufficient medical coverage for their entire stay.
WYD Volunteers arriving in Madrid before the pilgrims in order to participate in the preparation program before the event may apply for the visa to enter Spain from August 1st, and the Organizing Committee undertakes to provide housing and meals until August 22nd.
What is the geographical validity of this visa?
The visa issued by Spanish Consulates entitles the holder to enter the Schengen Space through any of the states signing the Schengen Agreement and to travel throughout the entire area for the duration of the visa.
It is possible to enter Spain with a visa issued by any other country in the Schengen Space. However, only visas issued by Spanish Consulates are free of charge: the other States in the Schengen Space have been informed of the special conditions of these visas, but have not committed to issue visas free of charge.
How to apply for the visa
Applications must be submitted to Spanish Consulates in a list drawn up by the person in charge of the group, with the guarantee of the visa coordinator of each country. This person, appointed by the Episcopal Conference of the country, confirms the catholic identity of the group and submits the list to the corresponding Consulate.
The following documentation must be submitted:
a. Photographs and application forms available at Consulates;
b. Passport valid for the minimum term required by each Consulate;
c. Round trip flight reservation;
d. Medical insurance (included with the registration);
e. For minors, the relevant legal authorization by parents or guardian;
f. Certificate of attendance at WYD and housing reservation (provided by the Organizing Committee, once the coordinator has confirmed the identity of the group)
g. Participants wishing to prolong or begin their stay before or after the WYD dates must accredit that they have housing and the financial means for their upkeep during their entire stay.
h. For pilgrims who have a job in their country of origin, labour certificates, economic means, payroll slips, etc.: the usual requirements for a Schengen visa.
Deadlines for the processing of the visas
Owing to European legal requirements, visas cannot be issued more than 3 months before the date of entry into Spain. However, there is no objection – in fact quite the contrary- to lists being submitted to Consulates much earlier than this, in order to facilitate the process and avoid delays.
Unless the Consulate expressly states otherwise, at least 15 days are required for processing the visas. Therefore, the deadline for submitting applications for the visas mentioned in this document is July 31st.
Regarding medical insurance
The government of Spain requires the applicant of a visa to have medical insurance. WYD Organizing Committee has taken out insurance for all registered participants which covers pilgrims during their stay in Spain for the Days in the Dioceses program and the actual WYD event (August 11th to 22nd).
Therefore, pilgrims wishing to visit other countries in the Schengen Space before or after WYD, or prolonging their stay in Spain, besides proving that they have housing and sufficient financial means for their entire stay, must also accredit that they have international medical insurance when they apply for the visa. Further information can be obtained at Consulates.
The insurance taken out by WYD organizers is valid only in Spain. It is highly recommended that groups take out additional travel insurance.
Information for nationals of countries that do not require visa
Most of the pilgrims from countries outside the EU come from countries that do not require a visa to enter the Schengen Space. However, please bear in mind that the fact that a visa is not required does not necessarily mean that they will be automatically admitted to Spain. The usual requirements apply: they must have a passport in force, travel with a round trip ticket, and they must accredit that they have a hotel reservation or a letter of invitation for their whole stay, sufficient medical insurance and sufficient economic means.
For full information please check the website of the Spanish Ministry of foreign Affairs and Cooperation (http://www.maec.es/es/MenuPpal/Consulares/ServiciosConsulares/InformacionaExtranjeros/requisitosdeentrada/Paginas/requisitosentradaespaña.aspx), as well as the list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Spain (http://www.maec.es/es/MenuPpal/Consulares/ServiciosConsulares/InformacionaExtranjeros/Visados/Documents/2011listadopaisessomentidosvisado.pdf).
To enable passage across the border, the Organizing Committee will provide group leaders with a letter of credentials, which accredits registration and the list of members of the group, and which must be presented on arrival in Spain.
It is highly advisable that groups travel together. If this is not possible the person in charge of the group will give the persons travelling separately a certificate stating that they are registered in a group, together with a photocopy of the Credential stating that the person certifying the registration is the head of a group recognized by WYD 2011.
Those who are officially registered for WYD in packages that do not include housing and/or meals, must bear in mind that at the border they may be required to accredit that they have the necessary means for their stay. The same applies to pilgrims who, before or after the WYD, plan to extend their stay in Spain or in other European countries in the Schengen Space: they may be required to present documents accrediting that they have housing and the necessary means for their stay.
It is not obligatory for pilgrims to enter The Schengen Space via Spain. However, it is highly recommended that, where possible, pilgrims travel on direct flights to Spain, in order to facilitate entry into the Schengen Space and to be assisted at the airport by the WYD organization.
