What is a student visa?

The student visa is a document that will allow you to live in Spain for over 90 days and up to a maximum of one year, if you meet one or more of those requirements:

• You are conducting or extending studies in Spain

• You are undertaking research activities or education

• You are volunteering in Spain

• You are doing an unpaid internship, based on the signature of an agreement

• You are following training in Spain or in a student mobility programme.

Ensure you check the institution that you plan to study with is an officially authorised institution. You can do this by checking the Registry of Universities, Centres, and Degrees or the State Register of Non-University Educational Centres.

If you meet the requirements mentioned above, you will be able to present your application at the Spanish consular office in your region.

The process will be individual, so each family member that wants to apply for the visa will require a separate appointment. Applications can be done through a notarised representative. The student visa can be applied for up to 90 days before the desired date of entry into Spain. After obtaining the appointment, and if you comply with the requirements, you will have to provide the following documents to the consular office:

• Completed national visa form (dated and signed)
• Recent ID photograph (white background). Check guidelines here.
• Valid Passport (at least 1 full year of validity and 2 blank pages), copy of all pages.
• Visa fee. You can consult the different visa fees through this link.
• Proof of health insurance for your entire stay, including a minimum international coverage of 30,000 euros and repatriation.
• Proof of sufficient financial means, which can be any of the following:       
• 6 months of bank statements (originals and stamped by bank) showing at least 100% IPREM per month staying, unless proven that the accommodation has been paid in advance for the entire stay, or;
  • Letter from the centre covering all the costs of accommodation and meals.
  • Proof of scholarship for the specified time.
  • Notarised document of the applicant’s parents assuming all the costs associated with the stay and studies in Spain.

Specific additional documentation (depending on the type of stay):

If conducting or extending studies:

• Letter of admission/authorisation from the centre

• Proof of having paid the full tuition, specifying subjects of study and learning time (at least 20 hours/week)

If undertaking research activities or education:

• Letter of admission/authorisation of a centre within the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas or another public/private R&D institution.

If on a study mobility programme:

• Letter of admission to the centre

• Letter of admission to the mobility programme

• Document proving that the mobility organisation takes responsibility for cost of studies, living expenses and return to the country of the student.

• Document detailing the host for the student (family or institution), selected by the organisation responsible for the mobility programme.

If on an unpaid internship:

• Letter of admission into the company/training centre

• Copy of the agreement signed by the public or private entity.

If volunteering:

• Copy of the agreement signed by the organisation in charge of the volunteer programme (should include description of the activities, schedule and resources to cover the trip, board and lodging).

• Document proving civil liability insurance.

• Notarised Birth certificate.

• Notarised authorisation of the parents or legal guardians for travel to Spain.

• Proof of legal custody if the parents are not biological
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If the stay will be for more than 180 days, in addition present:

• Criminal record (only if 18+) issued by the country/es where the applicant has lived for the past 5 years. The certificate must be legalised.

• Recent medical certificate, issued in the past 3 months prior to the date of application.

Legal partners and children that wish to obtain a student family visa will also have to present the marriage or birth certificate, properly legalised with a Hague apostille. Student Family visas do not allow you to work.

Note: All official documents (birth certificate/death, marriage certificate/divorce, criminal record) must be legalised through the consular representations of the issuing country or hold the Hague Apostille, except official documents issued by a Member State of the European Union.

Resolution

Once you present all documents, the consulate will digitally submit your documents to the immigration authority, who should respond within 7 days. If you don’t get a response within 7 days, your application was likely denied. Once approved, the consulate must issue the visa within a month.

After Approval

For stays shorter than 180 days, the student will have to get a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero)

You can apply for this at your consulate or in a Spanish Police Station using form EX-15. An English guide to this form is here.

For stays longer than 180 days, after obtaining the visa, the applicant has one month from the date of entry into Spain, to process the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the Immigration Office or Police Station. Applying for the TIE To request the TIE it is necessary to make an appointment online with the Oficina de Extranjeros –cita previa-, which can be done by clicking this link. Select the province where you live and the option “ Policia-Toma de Huellas (Expedición de tarjeta) y Renovación de Tarjeta de larga duración” -Trámites Cuerpo Nacional de Policía tab-, and follow the further instructions. Completing this process will arrange an appointment at an Immigration Office or your local Police Station for a specific date and time. Once the appointment is arranged, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Filled Model EX-17 form (original and copy)

• Passport (original and copy) with the Visa attached

• Receipt of payment of the tax 790 code 012. You can complete and download the form here. Take the downloaded 790-012 form to any bank to pay the fee. Many banks prefer you to pay through the automatic teller machine. It cannot be paid online.

• Passport-size photograph 32×26 (ID photograph)

• Padrón original and copy, issued within the last 3 months.

In the case the police don’t inform you about how to pick up your new TIE, you will be able to pick up your card by booking an appointment here. Select the province where you live and the option “Policia-Recogida Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero” -Trámites Cuerpo Nacional de Policía tab-.