Are you an administrative agency or a law firm?

No. Landesp coordinates your relocation process, and our partner lawyers handle the legal work when your case requires it. Procedures and documents are checked against official sources.

How much does it cost?

The Student Pack has a fixed price of €300 per person. Essential depends on your procedure and headcount: you define your case in two minutes, see the price and scope in writing, and only then decide whether to pay. No hidden costs or later charges.

I'm already in Spain. Can you help me?

Yes. Registration, bank account, digital certificate or utilities if you have just arrived; and family reunification if you have been here for a while. We handle it with you.

Can you guarantee an appointment for my procedure?

No one can honestly guarantee an appointment at a public office, whether immigration, the police, the town hall or the consulate: availability depends on each administration. What we do guarantee is our part: the file ready, official channels monitored and the request filed the moment a slot opens.

How long does the process take?

We recommend starting 8 to 12 weeks before arrival. Some procedures can be prepared from your home country; others are only possible in Spain. With early planning, many clients are operational within 15 to 30 days of arrival.

What are the 7 biggest mistakes people make when moving to Spain?

1) Paying rental deposits without verifying property ownership or reviewing lease terms; 2) Misunderstanding immigration rules (arriving as a tourist for procedures requiring a prior consular visa); 3) Delaying mandatory local municipal registration (empadronamiento); 4) Overlooking tax residency rules (such as the 183-day rule or Beckham Law deadlines); 5) Purchasing health insurance with co-payments rejected by immigration; 6) Arriving without police certificates or degrees properly apostilled and sworn-translated; and 7) Postponing TIE appointments and bank account opening without organized proof of funds.

Can you move and live in Spain?

Yes, absolutely. Spain offers well-established legal residency pathways: the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote employees and international freelancers under the Startup Act), the Student Visa (which permits working up to 30 hours per week), the Non-Lucrative Visa (for individuals with sufficient savings or passive income), highly qualified professional visas, investor visas, and residency through arraigo. The key is organizing your documentation and choosing the right legal route before travelling.

What are the do's and don'ts in Spain?

Do's: register your address (empadronamiento) immediately upon signing your lease; apply for your TIE residence card within 30 days of arrival; seek professional tax advice before your first 183 days; and verify property records before sending any money. Don'ts: never transfer rent deposits without lease verification and land registry check; do not exhaust your 90-day Schengen stay without a valid legal pathway; and do not purchase cheap insurance with co-payments.

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Paperwork

NALCAP language assistants: the visa at BLS and the timelines

Survival guide for NALCAP and language assistants applying for Spain's student visa at BLS: appointment crunches, school placement letters, and arrival TIE.

Children raise their hands in class while the teacher reads by the blackboard

You received your regional placement letter (Carta de Nombramiento) for the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) or an equivalent program (BEDA, Meddeas, ConversaSpain). The excitement is immediate—until you face the reality of booking a student visa appointment at BLS between July and September, when thousands of assistants compete for the same slots. Here is your roadmap to reach Spain before school starts on October 1st.

The Crucial Role of the 'Letter of Appointment'

For NALCAP assistants, your Carta de Nombramiento (official school regional assignment letter) is the central document of your application. Issued by the regional educational department (Consejería de Educación) of regions like Madrid, Andalusia, or Valencia, it serves two vital legal functions:

Proof of AcceptanceIt confirms your enrollment as a language assistant with your specific school placement, weekly teaching hours, and program dates (October 1 to May 31/June 30).
Proof of Solvency and Health InsuranceIt certifies your monthly stipend (typically €700 to €1,000 depending on the region) and confirms that you are provided comprehensive health insurance through a regional policy or the Spanish social security system. This exempts you from having to provide personal bank statements or private expat health insurance.

Navigating the Summer Consular Bottleneck

Because assignment letters are distributed between May and late July, the window to secure a BLS appointment, submit documents, and receive your passport back before your late September flight is tight.

Do not wait for your Carta de Nombramiento to arrive before starting your FBI background check and Department of State apostille. The background check takes 4 to 8 weeks, so begin that process in April or May so your paperwork is ready the moment your assignment letter is issued.

Keep readingSworn translations for BLS in the US: the MAEC guide

Arrival in Spain: The First 30 Days (Padrón and TIE)

Your consular student visa vignette is valid for 90 days. Because the NALCAP placement exceeds six months, you are required to obtain a physical Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) within your first month in Spain.

This requires securing long-term shared housing, obtaining a Volante de Empadronamiento from the local city council, and booking a fingerprint appointment at the National Police. Securing your TIE is essential for opening a Spanish bank account to receive your monthly regional stipend.

NALCAP Visa Exemption Framework at US BLS Centers

Standard Visa Requirement	NALCAP Student Exemption	Legal Basis / Substitute Document	BLS Counter Error to Dispute
Proof of Financial Solvency (€600/mo)	EXEMPT (Covered by grant)	Official Letter of Appointment with monthly stipend	Counters asking for bank statements despite letter
Private Health Insurance (Zero Copay)	EXEMPT (Regional health coverage)	Clause in assignment letter specifying health benefits	Counters demanding private Spanish policy
FBI Background Check + Apostille	MANDATORY (If program >180 days)	Federal apostilled FBI clearance + Sworn Translation	No exemptions; mandatory for all programs >6 mos
Medical Certificate (IHR 2005)	MANDATORY	MD letter confirming International Health Regulations	Must cite exact 2005 text
Consular Visa Fee	EXEMPT for US Language Assistants (Grantee)	Regional bilateral agreement standard	Verify fee waiver on official appointment ticket

Key Practical Tips

What the team recommends before you file anything:

Check whether your regional consulate allows NALCAP applicants to use dedicated mail-in procedures or expedited drop-off channels established in coordination with the Spanish Embassy's Education Office.
Ensure your FBI background check is not dated more than 3 to 6 months prior to your appointment (depending on regional consulate rules).

Required Documentation Checklist

Official regional Appointment Letter letter printed in full.
Valid US Passport with at least two blank visa pages and validity covering your stay.
FBI Identity History Summary with Hague Apostille and official Spanish translation.
Medical certificate confirming compliance with International Health Regulations 2005.
Prepaid trackable USPS Priority Express return envelope for passport return.

Sources: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes de España - Programa NALCAP; Consejería de Educación de la Embajada de España en Washington D.C.; Consulados Generales de España en Estados Unidos - Visados de Auxiliares de Conversación.