Spain has one of the most attractive educational systems in Europe. That’s why every year hundreds of foreign students decide to pursue their higher education in our country to learn and experience our culture and perfect their Spanish language skills.
When it comes to studying in Spain, accessing Spanish universities and educational institutions for foreign students is not complicated, although every educational institution in Spain generally requires a student visa.
This document, granted by the Foreigner’s Office, will allow you to have a legal stay while you are enrolled in any academic institution, public or private, in Spanish territory.
Obtaining a long-term student visa for Spain will also allow you to work up to 30 hours a week with a legal contract (which will help you finance your stay) and facilitate obtaining other visas or residencies if you wish to work, study, invest, or buy a property in Spain.
Interested in obtaining a student visa for Spain? We will tell you where and how to apply for it, all the legal requirements and everything else you need to know.
Types of student visas in Spain
The student visa is not a formal “residence” in the country. Rather, it is a “legal stay for studies.”
Currently, you have two options to obtain your student visa in Spain:
- Short-term visa. If you are going to study between 91 and 180 days in Spain, you will be given a visa inside your passport that will be valid for six months.
- Long-term visa. If the duration of your studies is more than six months, you will have to apply for a residence card, with a maximum validity of one year. You can renew it by updating your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE).
And what if I am going to be in Spain for less time? (For example, to do an intensive Spanish course in the summer).
If your training does not exceed 90 days, you do not need to process a special visa: with your tourist permit, you can enroll, study, and receive the corresponding Spanish certificates.
Where to apply for a student visa for Spain?
To apply for a student visa for Spain, you must go to the Spanish consulate in your country.
You can also do the process from Spain, if you are on a tourist visa and have been accepted in an academic institution in the country.
In this case, you only need to go to a Police Station.
The process is quite simple.
If you are in your country of origin, you must process this document 60 days before the beginning of your studies in Spain.
If you are already in Spanish territory, you must fill out and submit the student visa application form 30 days before classes start.
- You will need an admission letter from the university or academic institution, sealed and certified, to confirm your enrollment.
- Then, gather all the papers and documents, and go to the Spanish consulate in your country (Foreigners’ Office) or a Police Station to formalize the application.
The official response usually takes between 30 and 60 days.
They will inform you of its approval or denial by phone or email.
The price of this procedure is around 60€ (or the equivalent in your country’s local currency).
Requirements for obtaining a student visa for Spain
To obtain your student visa in Spain as a non-European citizen, you must meet some very basic requirements:
- Be over 18 years old.
- Study at a Spanish academic institution.
- Submit a formal application at the Spanish consulate in your country or at a Police Station within the established time frame.
- Pay the corresponding fee.
If you apply for a student visa while already in Spain, you will have to demonstrate a regular status in the country (tourist visa or other type of residence).
Regarding the documentation that you must present, we summarize it below:
- Model of application EX-00 with all your personal data.
- Valid passport with an expiration date exceeding the next 6 months.
- 3 color photos (white background, passport size).
- Certificate of criminal records.
- Medical certificate in accordance with the framework of the European Union.
- Acceptance letter from your educational institution.
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover your studies in Spain (the required amount is around €7,000 per year).
- Private medical insurance with coverage of €30,000 (approximately).
- Information about your accommodation during your stay in Spain.
Can my student visa for Spain be denied?
If the Foreigner’s Office detects irregularities in your application, it may deny your student visa in Spain.
Some of the reasons to deny this permit are:
- You have a criminal record or are considered a persona non grata in any country of the European Union.
- You do not have sufficient financial means to support yourself in the country.
- You have been in Spanish territory irregularly.
- You do not meet the requirements that have already been explained.
How to renew the student visa for Spain?
The Spanish student visa is valid for one year. If you want to extend your permit for the duration of your studies, you will have to renew it. You must always prove that you are enrolled and actively studying in our country.
You can request the renewal if your visa is about to expire and you are still studying in the same academic program, or if you have completed it and want to start a new one.
It is recommended that you apply for renewal at least one month before its expiration.
This is the documentation you must show:
- Application form EX-00
- Renewed health certificate, medical insurance, and certificate of criminal records.
- A signed and sealed letter from the institution certifying your enrollment and studies.
- Proof that you still have sufficient financial means to support yourself in the country.
