A student visa is permission from the Spanish government that lets you come and study in Spain. It is necessary for anyone from outside of the EU who wants to stay in Spain for longer than 90 days.

If you want to study in Spain for more than 90 days and you're not from a European Union country, you’ll need a student visa.

There are two types of student visas in Spain, and they depend on how long your studies will last:

• If your course is short, lasting between 91 to 180 days, then you'll need a Short-term student visa.
• For studies longer than 180 days (6 months), you'll need a Long-term student visa.

To apply, fill out a form on the Spanish consulate's website, gather all necessary papers, pay a fee, and then submit everything. Our step-by-step guide has detailed instructions. You should also double check with the consulate’s website, as the instructions can vary slightly from consulate to consulate. 

1. Acceptance Letter:

• You need a letter from the school or university in Spain that says they have accepted you for a course.

2. Passport:

• Make sure you have a passport, and it should be valid for the whole time you’ll be studying in Spain.

3. Application Form:

• Fill out the application form from the Spanish consulate’s website.

4. Photos:

• You will need some passport-size photos of yourself. Make sure they are clear and recent.

5. Proof You Have Money:

• You have to show that you have enough money to live on while you're studying. This means money for things like rent, food, and school. For the exact amount, see our blog post.

6. Health Insurance:

• You need to have health insurance. This is to make sure that if you get sick, you can go to the doctor. See our recommendations for the best rates available. 

7. Criminal Record Check:

• They will ask for papers that show you don’t have any serious crimes in your history. This is usually from your home country, or wherever you have lived for the past 5 years.

8. Medical Certificate:

• Some might ask for a doctor’s note that says you are healthy.

9. Accommodation:

• You need to show where you will be living in Spain. This could be a letter from a landlord or a hotel booking.

10. Paying the Fee:

• There is a cost to apply for the visa. You have to pay this, and usually, you don’t get it back even if they reject your application.

11. Going to the Appointment:

• You will probably have to go to the consulate in person for an appointment. Check if you need to do this.

Remember, each consulate might ask for different things, and rules can change. So, it’s a good idea to check with the Spanish consulate closest to you for the most accurate information.

Getting a student visa usually takes one to three months, depending on the season, so it’s a good idea to apply early. Summer applications take longer, and winter applications are quicker.

You can start your application online, but you most likely need to visit the consulate in person. Check their rules on the website.

Some consulates allow you to track the status online. Check your consulate’s website for more information.

There are no academic qualifications, you just need an acceptance letter from whichever school or university you are studying at. 

Yes, you need to show that you have enough money to support yourself during your time in Spain.. The specific amount is dictated by the IPREM, which is like a cost of living indicator. You can find up to date information on our IPREM explainer blog post.

No, you are not required to speak Spanish in order to get a student visa. You just need an acceptance letter from whichever school you are enrolled in.

Yes, health insurance is obligatory and is necessary to make sure you can get medical help if you need it while you’re in Spain. See our health insurance recommendations for more information.

Yes, you can do both part-time and full-time work while on a student visa. 

If you got your student visa after August 16, 2022, you are automatically authorised to work while you study. You are allowed to work up to 30 hours a week without needing to fill out more forms.

You can do any kind of job, and you can work anywhere in Spain. There are no rules that say you can only work in certain places.

If your visa has ‘no autorizado a trabajar’ (not authorised to work) there is still a way around this. You can do paid ‘work experience’ at a company, as long as the experience is relevant to your studies. E.g. If you are doing a teacher development course, you can work as an English teacher. If you are doing an engineering degree, you can work at an engineering firm.

See our page on working on a student visa for detailed information.

1. Visit the Local Town Hall:

• One of your first stops should be at the local town hall (ayuntamiento) of the city or town where you’ll be staying. Here, you will need to register your residence, a process known as "empadronamiento." This is proof of your address. You will need a document signed by your landlord, confirming where you live. If you need additional help, check out our Empadronamiento and TIE service.

2. Get Your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE):

• Within a month of arriving, you should apply for a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). This is an identity card that all foreign students need to have. Booking the appointments, revising the paperwork and communicating with Spanish civil servants can be tricky, so check out our Empadronamiento and TIE service if you need more help.

3. Healthcare:

• Ensure that your health insurance is active and know where the nearest healthcare facilities are located.

4. Open a Bank Account:

• While not essential, having a local account can make managing your finances easier.

Yes, in order to extend your student visa you must enroll in a course in the same field and a higher level one that you have already completed. E.g. If you have completed B1 Spanish, you should sign up to B2 Spanish. You cannot completely change your field of study to extend your visa. If you wish to do that you will need to travel home and apply for a completely new visa. 

Yes, in order to do this you need to find an employer who is willing to give you a work contract of 1 year or longer, complete some additional paperwork and pay a small fee. Your work visa will be valid as long as your work contract is valid.

The price for applying can change, so look at the consulate’s website to see how much you need to pay.

If they reject your visa, you usually can’t get your money back.

You might be able to get some money help like scholarships. Ask your school in Spain or look for information online.

If they don’t give you a visa, the consulate normally gives you a specific reason and allows you to rectify it, e.g. missing paperwork. If there is no specific reason or it is very vague, you might need the help of an immigration lawyer to appeal. Contact us for lawyer recommendations. 

Yes, you can bring your family with you while you're studying in Spain.

Who can come? You can bring your husband, wife, or registered partner, and your kids who are under 18.

How do you bring them? You can apply for them when you apply for your own student visa, all together. Or, you can also bring them later while your student visa is still valid.

What do you need to show? You'll have to prove you have enough money for them too. You need an extra 75% of the IPREM for one family member and another 50% for each extra person. You also have to show documents that prove how you're related, like marriage or birth certificates.

How long can they stay? Your family can stay in Spain as long as your student visa lasts. Their permission to stay is tied to your visa.

Can they work? No, your family can’t work while they’re in Spain on this kind of visa.

British citizens now all fall into the same category as North Americans, Australians, and every other non-EU country. If you are British and wish to stay in Spain longer than 90 days, you will need a visa. 

Yes, you can travel freely while you have a Spanish student visa. However you are not permitted to work in other Schengen countries.

If something goes wrong or you need help, you can talk to your consulate or your school. They will guide you.

For more help, you can visit the consulate’s website or ask your school in Spain. They can give you the information and support you need. You can also contact us with general enquiries, or make use of our Emapdronamiento and TIE service.