Studying abroad is an increasingly popular phenomenon with the youth of today. It is often a recommended experience for personal growth and intellectual enlightenment. With so many young people flocking to different continents to experience life in a different culture, universities around the world are creating programs to make the process easier for their students. While many programs offer assistance for applying for a Spanish student visa, we find that everyone could use some extra advice for real-life situations. Applying for a student visa is a different process in every country. But always remember that you will need to muster a lot of patience and thorough preparation.
To make sure you have a clear understanding of exactly which documents you need to apply for once you’ve arrived in Spain, make sure to check out our Spain Immigration Guide. If you have read the guide already and still have some doubts as to which documents you need, please fill out our free Immigration Support Form so we can point you in the right direction.
In this article, we have outlined all the basics of applying for a Spanish student visa. We will explain what the visa is for, who needs it, how to apply and what to expect from the application process. Take a look at our content overview to choose exactly what you want to read about, or keep reading to learn everything we have to share!
While reading this guide, please keep in mind that each consulate/embassy around the world has different requirements and processes for visa applications. Therefore this guide is a general outline intended to help you get started and should not be used as an official guideline for your application.
Content Overview
Important: The Citylife team has collected the information below via intense research in collaboration with MTS Relocation & Consulting Services and Proyecto Océano, two very known legal & relocation companies in Spain. Please keep in mind that we are not directly related to any legal or government departments. We have tried to break down the most common situations and requirements for internationals, students and expats, coming to live in Spain. We cannot speak for everyone’s specific case nor can we speak on the specifics of every autonomous region in Spain. Please remember to use this article as a compliment to your own research on official government sites.
1. What is a Visa & What Does it Allow?
A visa is a permit that gives the applicant permission to stay in a country or region with limited permissions for a specified period of time. The visa is placed inside the applicant’s passport after successful application and will have those permissions displayed on it. These visas can give a variety of permissions, from allowing someone to work, to study or to simply be present in the country as a tourist. For information on the different types of Spanish visas you can apply for, take a look at the official government website.
The Spanish student visa is arguably the most common option for those looking to move to Spain for a period longer than 3 months. However, it’s important to understand that moving to Spain with a student visa means your time in Spain will be limited to a certain set of rights and privileges. For example,student visa holders must commit to a minimum amount of hours in a classroom of a legitimate educational institution. Additionally, the Student Visa only permits applicants to work for a maximum of 30 hours a week*.
Another point to keep in mind is that most student visas are granted per semester. This means that holders must renew their documents after each semester or after each academic year if they wish to stay in Spain longer. The length of your Spanish student visa will be determined by your period of study, which is stated by the school in an official document that you must include in your application.
*Majority of Spanish student visas are granted with a “Permiso de Trabajo”, which can be found printed on the visa inside the passport. If a visa has been subjected to some limitations and this permission was not granted, applicants will need to apply for an additional “Autorización de Trabajar por Estudios” if they wish to work during their time of study in Spain.
Did you know that a Spanish student visa is only the first step to getting your legal documents sorted? Once you arrive you will also need to apply for the Empadronamiento, The TIE and possibly even a Social Security Number.
Make sure to check out our Spain Immigration Guide to learn about everything you need to apply for to make your stay in Spain legal. If you want additional support for your legal papers, check out our partner at MTS Relocation Spain, who can help you along the way!
2. How to Apply for a Spanish Student Visa
The first step to applying for your Spanish student visa is finding the closest Spanish Consulate to your home. Once you’ve found your consulate you should review their online instructions for the visa application process (you might need to call them for this information), their opening hours and if you need to make a series of appointments for your application. Once you have it clear, you can start collecting the required documents.
2.1 What Documents do you Need to Apply for the Spanish Student Visa
One of the most important things to do when starting your Spanish student visa process is to look over the list of required documents and assess the time frame you will need to collect them. This way you can ensure you will have a realistic amount of time to complete everything before your appointment. Below we’ve prepared a list of typical requirements for a visa application to give you an idea of the kind of paperwork you will need to gather. However, please remember every consulate has its own unique requirements and you will always need to confirm with them before starting!
