Which Spanish consulate do I apply to from California?
Updated · Consulates guide · Not legal advice
It depends on your county: residents of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties apply at the Spanish consulate in Los Angeles; the rest of California applies at the consulate in San Francisco.
| Consulate | California counties | Also covers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura | Arizona, Colorado, Utah |
| San Francisco | All other California counties (Northern and Central California, including the Bay Area and Sacramento) | Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, US Pacific islands |
Use where you live, not where you work
Jurisdiction follows your legal residence. If you recently moved, consulates typically ask for proof of residence in their area, such as a California driver's licence. Check the consulate's page for what it accepts.
Next steps
Go to the Los Angeles consulate guide or the San Francisco consulate guide for official links and what to bring.
Quick answers
- Which Spanish consulate do I apply to from California?
- Los Angeles for the 11 southern counties listed above; San Francisco for every other county.
- Can I choose the consulate with earlier appointments?
- Generally no. You apply where you legally reside. Check the consulate's page.
- Can I skip the consulate entirely?
- If you are legally in Spain you can apply to the UGE online instead of going through a consulate.
What to do next
Check your eligibility and get the checklist for your consulate.
Run the free eligibility checkSources
- Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles
- Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco
- Embassy of Spain in Washington: consulates and jurisdictions
Checked: . Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.