WELCOME TO U.S. CITIZEN SERVICES
Welcome
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, the U.S. Consulate General
in Barcelona, and six
Consular Agencies located in cities around Spain provide
consular services to U.S. tourists and citizens who are residing in Spain.
Approximately 20,000 U.S. citizens reside in the consular district of the
Consulate General, which also attracts some 700,000 U.S. visitors annually. The
Department of State, through its Consulate General in Barcelona, provides a
range of routine and emergency services for U.S. citizens who live in Spain or
who are just visiting.
The U.S. Citizen Services Unit’s assistance includes but is not limited to,
Passport services, Notary services, and Consular Reports of Births Abroad. The
Consulate General also assists in emergencies, including deaths, arrests and
crisis situations. You must
make an appointment online to be allowed entry into the Consulate General
for routine (non emergency) services. If you can conduct your business by mail
or on-line, please do so.
The information on this website is designed to help you understand the services
we can offer and to provide some useful information which may help you during
your stay, be it long or short, in The Barcelona Consular District.
We urge you to register with us if you will be traveling or living in The
Barcelona Consular District so we can better serve you, especially in the case
of an emergency or disaster.
The U.S. Citizen Services Unit will not be able to answer questions about visas.
Use the links on the left for more information about our services.
Please also see our Frequently Asked Questions for information.
Contact Information
The Barcelona Consulate General provides Consular information and services.
U.S. Citizen Services
U.S. Consulate General
Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23
08034 Barcelona
España
Tel. (+34) 93 280 22 27
Fax (+34) 93 280 61 75
E-mail: consularbarcel@state.gov.
(Please note: Visa questions sent to this e-mail address will not be
acknowledged or forwarded. This e-mail address is for questions regarding
American Citizens Services only.)
Hours of Operation
The Consular Section is open to the public Monday through Friday from 09.00 to
13.00, except for local and U.S. holidays. The following services require an
appointment:
Non-Emergency Passport Services
Notary and Other Services
Report of Birth Abroad
Emergency passports are limited validity passports intended as replacements in
case of loss or theft. Emergency passports do not require appointments and can
be processed Monday through Friday from 09.00 to 13.00. You may request an
emergency passport only if you must travel internationally within the next ten
business days and can show proof of your need to travel. All other
passport services will require an appointment
Please take the time to read our
Security Notice. Thank you.
For emergency assistance after hours, U.S. citizens may call (91) 587-2200 and
ask to speak to the duty officer. No documentary or passport services are
available evenings, weekends or
holidays.
Both at the Consulate or over the phone our U.S. Citizen Services staff can only
help you with U.S. Citizen Services matters.
How to get to the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona
The Consulate is located in the Sarrià/Sant Gervasi district of Barcelona. For
up-to-date information on public transport, private transport and parking, we
would like to refer you to the official website of the city of Barcelona.
Public Transportation
Frequently asked questions on services available to U.S. citizens
How long does it take to renew or apply for a new U.S. passport?
Passports are printed in the U.S. and can take from a week to ten days to
process.
Is it necessary to make an appointment to renew my U.S. passport?
Yes, an appointment is required for regular passport renewals. You can make an
appointment by following the link above.
Can I renew my passport before it expires?
Yes, you may renew your passport at any time that is convenient for you. Please
ensure that you have enough time to receive your new passport before you need to
travel.
Does my passport need to be valid for 6 months or a year in order to travel?
Your passport may be used for travel to and from the United States within the
validity date displayed on the passport. Certain countries may demand that your
passport is valid for longer than 6 months. Please see
Travel.state.gov and
Consular Information Sheets [under International Travel] to find out each
country’s entry requirements.
My son/daughter has both Spanish and U.S. citizenship. At what age must s/he
choose which citizenship s/he wants to keep?
U.S. citizenship is for life. No child has to do anything at any age to retain,
choose, affirm, or confirm U.S. citizenship. In the 1980’s the Supreme Court
ruled that citizenship is a Constitutional right, which cannot be taken away
from a citizen who does not want to relinquish it.
I have both a Spanish and U.S. passport – can I travel to the U.S. on my
Spanish passport?
No. Section 215 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185) requires
U.S. citizens to use a valid U.S. passport when entering or leaving the United
States.
I travel frequently and my passport is always at some embassy to obtain a
visa. Can I get a second passport?
Generally, citizens are allowed to carry only one valid passport as a time. In
some cases, the issuance of a second passport is possible: frequent travel and
the delays due to visa applications, the presence of a stamp from one country
that causes problems in another country. We will ask for justification from an
employer or proof of compelling reasons for personal travel.
I am a U.S. citizen [or a dual U.S. citizen/Spanish citizen] and have lived
in Spain for years. Do I have to file taxes in the U.S.?
Yes, all U.S. citizens must report world-wide income by filing an annual U.S.
income tax return, regardless of whether they also pay taxes elsewhere. For more
information see Internal Revenue Service web page.
I am a U.S. citizen but don’t have a social security number. How can I apply
for one?
Please see our section on Social Security. It is important that every U.S.
citizen have a social security number, especially as you are unable to file your
U.S. taxes without one.
I am a U.S. citizen and want to take on Spanish citizenship – will I lose my
U.S. citizenship?
Please see our section on Dual Nationality. It is possible that the Spanish
Immigration authorities may require you to give up your U.S. citizenship as a
condition of taking on Spanish Citizenship.
I am applying for residence/or getting married in Spain and am required to
prove that I am registered and single – where do I obtain this document?
Please see our section on Marriage and Affidavit of Civil Status.
U.S. Consuls' Duties
The Consulate General makes every effort to be responsive to the needs of U.S.
citizens residing abroad. However, because of federal regulations, security
considerations and the very limited size of the consular staff, see below a list
of what U.S. Consuls can do or cannot do for you.
What U.S. Consuls Can Do for you
- Issue, renew or replace your U.S. passport;
- Provide you with information on U.S. citizenship matters;
- Register the birth abroad of your U.S. citizen children;
- Notarize your documents and signature for use in the U.S.;
- Inform you on how to legalize documents.
- Inform you on how to obtain vital records or criminal records;
- Provide income tax federal forms
- Provide information on Social Security matters
- Provide information and federal forms on voting matters;
- Help you to call your parents and them to communicate with you;
- Help you to get money from home;
- Assist you with repatriation, if you are destitute;
- Give a list of attorneys, doctors and others;
- Help you in case of death of relative in Spain;
- Visit you in jail to assure the protection of your civil and human
rights;
- Prepare travel documents for resident aliens with lost Alien
Registration Cards.
What U.S. Consuls Cannot Do for you
- Act as interpreters/translators;
- Act as travel agents, make hotel or plane reservations for you;
- Act as your attorney or give legal advice;
- Cash you Social Security, Veterans Administration, Civil Service,
personal checks or Savings
- Bonds;
- Fill out Income Tax forms for you or give you information on your income
tax problems;
- Find employment for you;
- Furnish bail;
- Get you out of jail;
- Intervene in disputes with shops, landlords, hotel managers or others;
- Obtain visas, arrange residency or work permits or driver’s licenses;
- Pay bills, telephone charges or lend you money;
- Perform a marriage ceremony;
- Receive mail or packages for you;
- Renew or replace documents issued by state authorities;
- Safeguard wills or valuables or act as a mailbox for you;
- Search for your missing luggage;
- Witness your marriage. back to top ^
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