The Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan in Spain is in Madrid, but it does not handle every procedure for every resident in the country. The official territorial division assigns Spain to Madrid except for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and the Valencian Community. The Consulate-General in Barcelona covers Catalonia, the Balearics and Valencia; the Consulate in Las Palmas serves the Canaries. For visas, the Embassy states that applicants must use the mission responsible for their place of residence and that jurisdictional exceptions are not accepted.
Madrid handles passports, certificates, family-register and nationality matters, residence registration, overseas voting and Japanese visa applications, along with other consular enquiries. Appointment rules depend on the service. The visa procedure requires an appointment for in-person applications; when no slots are available, the Embassy describes postal or courier alternatives for procedures that permit them, with Working Holiday applications as an in-person exception. Spanish nationals do not need a visa for qualifying short visits under Japan’s exemption arrangement, subject to the published conditions.
How visa applications work
The current page, updated in August 2026, advises submitting an application between three months and three weeks before travel: three months is the earliest filing point, while the recommended minimum margin helps avoid an application arriving too late. In-person attendance uses the Embassy’s appointment system. Incomplete files may be rejected; complete applications usually take at least three to five working days, and circumstances can extend processing.
Ordinary collection of a passport with a visa is a walk-in afternoon service from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m.; visitors must enter before 4:00. The Embassy also allows collection by an authorized person or courier under specific identification and authorization rules. Working Holiday has its own calendar and checklist: the 2026 quota is closed, and applications for 2027 may begin on 1 December 2026. Because announcements change, check current status before preparing a file.
Address, transport and hours
The address is Calle Serrano 109, 28006 Madrid. The Consular Section’s direct telephone is +34 91 590 76 14. Its counter is open Monday to Friday, 9:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m. and 2:15–4:15 p.m., except Embassy holidays. Official access information lists Gregorio Marañón metro station on line 10 and República Argentina on line 6, as well as bus routes 9, 12, 16, 19 and 51. The Embassy publishes a closure calendar combining Spanish and Japanese holidays.
Nationality matters as much as address: a foreign national living in Spain may need a visa and must follow the territorial district, while a Japanese resident may need a passport, registration or certificate. The general menu does not replace the service-specific checklist. Before visiting, locate the exact procedure, check whether an appointment is required and gather the originals listed. If you live in a community assigned to Barcelona or the Canary Islands, contact that office first rather than assuming Madrid can accept the file.
A route that avoids unnecessary travel
Start by confirming your autonomous community of residence, selecting the assigned office and then opening the relevant passport, certificate or visa procedure. Visa applicants should check whether postal submission is available when no appointment is open and which original documents must be sent. Collections may follow different hours from applications. This guide distinguishes the Embassy’s role from its other Spanish posts so readers can choose the right counter; the Japanese authorities make the final decision and may request additional documents.
Sources consulted
- Embassy access, hours and public transport — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Embassy and Consular Section directory — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Visa application procedure and territorial jurisdiction — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Working Holiday 2026/2027 — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Embassy homepage and Ambassador — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Japanese diplomatic missions in Spain — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
- Consular service hours and address — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Visa procedure and territorial division — Embassy of Japan in Spain.
- Google Maps location — Google Maps.
Information checked on 19 October 2026. Confirm jurisdiction, documents, appointments and hours on the official procedure page before travelling.
Before travelling, confirm your autonomous community: Madrid does not cover Catalonia, the Balearics, the Canaries or Valencia.
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Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in Spain
Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in Spain, Calle Serrano 109, 28006 Madrid, Spain
In-person consular visits require an appointment; visa applications are submitted by appointment, while ordinary collection is a walk-in afternoon service before 4:00 p.m.
In-person consular visits require an appointment; visa applications are submitted by appointment, while ordinary collection is a walk-in afternoon service before 4:00 p.m.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Embassy access, hours and public transport ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Address, hours, phone, transport and 2026 closure calendar.
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Embassy and Consular Section directory ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Consular contacts and official service locations.
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Visa application procedure and territorial jurisdiction ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
2026 visa appointment, deadlines, collection, postal alternative and district assignments.
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Working Holiday 2026/2027 ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Current programme status, application opening and jurisdiction for Madrid/Barcelona/Las Palmas.
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Embassy homepage and Ambassador ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Names Hiroshi Yamauchi as Ambassador and confirms Madrid seat.
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Japanese diplomatic missions in Spain ↗
Primary source
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Accessed October 19, 2026
Official European mission directory.
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Consular service hours and address ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Official location and counter schedule.
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Visa procedure and territorial division ↗
Primary source
Embassy of Japan in Spain · Accessed October 19, 2026
Current instructions for applications and Spanish jurisdiction.
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Google Maps listing for Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in Spain ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 19, 2026
Direct check of rating, review count, operating status, and address; variable data.