Log inSign up

Para solicitar la visa, hay que llevar una copia.

Para solicitar la visa, hay que llevar una copia.
To apply for the visa, one must bring a copy.
From Lesson 145:Present subjunctive: Irregular verbs (sea, vaya, tenga)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Para solicitar la visa, hay que llevar una copia.

Since we are learning the subjunctive right now, why isn't it used in this sentence?
That is a great observation! This sentence states a general rule for everyone using hay que + infinitive (llevar). The subjunctive is usually triggered when you are directing a requirement at a specific person. If you wanted to rephrase this to tell someone specifically what to do, you could use an expression like es necesario que tengas una copia (it is necessary that you have a copy), where tengas is the irregular subjunctive form of tener.
Why does the sentence use hay que llevar instead of tienes que llevar?
Hay que means "one must" or "it is necessary to." It is used when talking about a general requirement that applies to anyone. If you used tienes que llevar, you would be telling one specific person "you have to bring," rather than stating a general rule for the visa office.
The English translation says "bring a copy," but doesn't llevar mean "to take"?
Yes, it does! This is a very common tricky spot. In Spanish, the choice between llevar (to take) and traer (to bring) depends on the direction you are moving. You use llevar when you are taking something from where you are now to a different location (like the embassy). English often uses "bring" loosely for both directions, but Spanish is strict about it.
Can I use aplicar instead of solicitar to mean "to apply for"?
No, aplicar is a "false friend" in Spanish. You use aplicar for applying a cream, a rule, or a theory. When you want to "apply for" a document, a job, or a program, you must use the verb solicitar (which literally means "to request").
Why is solicitar in its infinitive (unconjugated) form here?
In Spanish, when a verb immediately follows a preposition like para (in order to), por, de, or en, it stays in the infinitive form. You don't need to conjugate it, which is why it remains as solicitar.

Learn Para solicitar la visa, hay que llevar una copia and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →