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How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Spain

First, you may not need a visa at all. Spain is in the Visa Waiver Program, so most Spanish citizens travelling to the United States for tourism or short business trips go on an ESTA authorisation rather than a visa, and never complete a DS-160.

The DS-160 and the fee do apply if you are going to study, work or take part in an exchange, if your stay exceeds what the programme allows, if an ESTA has been refused, or if you live in Spain but hold the nationality of a country outside the programme.

Spain's system is AIS. Appointments and payment run through ais.usvisa-info.com/es-es, not USTravelDocs. See which appointment site is yours.

What the fee is

| Category | 2026 MRV fee | | --- | --- | | B1/B2 visitor and business | $185 | | F and M students, J exchange | $185 | | H, L, O, P, Q and R petition-based | $205 | | E treaty trader or investor | $315 | | K fiancé(e) | $265 |

The fee is set in dollars. What you are charged in euros depends on the consular exchange rate in force, which the system shows at the time of payment. F, M and J applicants also owe the separate SEVIS fee on fmjfee.com, which the MRV fee does not cover.

For the full cost picture, including the Visa Integrity Fee created in 2025, see how much a U.S. visa costs.

The order it happens in

  1. Complete and submit the DS-160 on the Department of State's CEAC site. Keep the confirmation page with the barcode: the ten-character number beginning AA is what you will be asked for next.
  2. Create an AIS profile at ais.usvisa-info.com/es-es. It is a separate account from the DS-160, with its own email and password.
  3. Pay the fee by whichever method the system offers for Spain at the time. The available methods and their timings are shown on the site itself; do not rely on third-party lists, which go stale.
  4. Wait for the payment to activate. It is not instant, and you will not see appointment slots until it registers.
  5. Book the interview at the consulate that covers you, and choose how your passport comes back.

Important rules

  • The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued.
  • Payment is tied to the country where it was made. A fee paid in Spain cannot be used to interview elsewhere.
  • If a payment appears to fail, do not pay again. A duplicate is not refunded; contact the system's support with your reference.
  • Correcting the DS-160 after paying does not void the fee. The corrected form gets a new confirmation number, and that is the one you use when booking.

Questions commonly searched from Spain

Do I need a visa just for a holiday?

Usually not. On a Spanish passport, for a short tourist or business trip, an ESTA is the normal route. A visa and the DS-160 come into play when the purpose or the length falls outside what the programme covers.

Does Spain use USTravelDocs?

No. Spain uses AIS at ais.usvisa-info.com/es-es. USTravelDocs covers much of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. See which site is yours.

I am a foreign national living in Spain. Can I apply here?

Generally yes, if you are legally resident, though the consulate may ask you to evidence that residence. Your nationality determines whether you need a visa; your residence determines where you may apply for it.

Does the fee expire?

Yes. Once paid, you have a limited window to use it when booking. The system shows the deadline in your profile, and it is worth noting it down at the time of payment.

Official sources

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