How to Get Student Visa for Spain (Requirements)

Spain is one of the European countries which pulls in international students. Because of its historical and cultural profile, Spain remains a top country to study architecture, philosophy, theology, and history, among other courses. If you are a foreign student seeking the unique Spanish education, it is time to take the steps that will lead to the fulfillment of your goal. The first step is to select a degree program and a university. After which, you should apply for admission in this particular institution or in several universities depending on your education plan. You can find details on the process in our How to Apply for a University in Spain article. Once you have a letter of acceptance in hand, the next step is to apply for a student visa. This is an inevitable step in all international applications, except if you are one of the few who belong to the exemption classification of student visa applications. You can learn more about the procedure by reading our guide below.

Table of Contents

1. Who needs to apply for a Spanish student visa?
2. List of Requirements for Student Visa Application
3. Steps in Applying for a Spanish Student Visa
4. How to apply for a residence permit in Spain
5. What can you do with a Spanish student visa?

Who needs to apply for a Spanish student visa?

A Spanish student visa is needed by all students who want to attend a university in Spain. Applying for a student visa will depend on your country of origin. If you are from another European country and other specified countries, you will undergo a shorter process before you commence your study program in Spain. Otherwise, you will need to follow the step-by-step procedures in applying for the student visa.

International Students from EU/EEA/Schengen Areas
International students from any of the member countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland are fortunate as they no longer need to submit complicated visa requests before they can be allowed to study in universities in Spain. They would only need to register with Spanish authorities so as to get a residence card. For residence card applications, international students from Switzerland, EU, and EEA countries should expect to submit proof of financial capability and health insurance to cover their stay in Spain. Check the table below to know if your country belongs to this classification.

International Students from Non-EU/EEA/Schengen Areas
Students who are from countries not included in the EU, EEA, or Schengen areas have a longer list of requirements and procedures in applying for a student visa in Spain. There are two types of visas which you can apply for according to your study program and intention:

1. 180-days D Type Visa
This is a visa for international students who plan to attend a study program in Spain which will last for a minimum of three and a maximum of six months.

2. Student Visa (Type D)
This is a visa for international students who plan to attend a study program in Spain which will last for more than six months. This is the visa you need to apply for when you intend to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree in the country, as it usually lasts for at least 2 years. When you have the Student Visa (Type D), you will be allowed to hold a Foreigner Identity Card or the “Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero” (TIE). The TIE serves as your residence card as a foreigner in Spain so that you can stay in the country until the completion of your study program. While it is valid for only an academic year, you can renew the residence card for the duration of your studies. A separate application is needed for the TIE, the details of which are listed in the latter part of this article.

List of Requirements for Student Visa Application

The Spanish Embassy would ask for certain requirements before you can be allowed to study in one of Spain’s universities. Again, the list varies according to your country of origin. See the lists below for the documents you need to secure before submitting your Spanish student visa application.

International Students from the Schengen Area
If you are from the Schengen area, you need to submit the following requirements with your application:

• Duly accomplished application form
• Valid passport (from date of application to end of the intended stay in Spain)
• Copy of passport
• Recent passport photographs (2 pieces)
• Resident visa (original copy)
• Proof of health insurance
• Flight tickets
• Current bank statement
• Letter of reference (from an educational institution or an employer)
• Application fee

International Students from the United States
If you are from the US, you need to submit the following requirements with your application:

• Duly accomplished Schengen application forms (2 copies)
• Valid passport (from date of application to end of the intended stay in Spain)
• Identification card (i.e. US driver’s license, US State ID card, student ID)
• Recent photographs (passport-sized, white background, 2 copies)
• Letter of acceptance from a Spanish university
• Proof of health insurance (minimum coverage of €30,000 or $47,190)
• Proof of funds
• Application fee

Note that US applications should be notarized and submitted in person.

International Students from Non-EU/EEA/Schengen/US Areas
If you are from another country, which is not an EU/EEA/Schengen member, you need to submit the following requirements with your application:

• Duly accomplished application form
• Valid passport (from date of application to end of the intended stay in Spain)
• Identification card
• Recent photographs (2 copies)
• Letter of acceptance from a Spanish university
• Details of study program (i.e. number of required study hours per week, subjects, required units)
• Proof of health insurance (minimum coverage of €30,000 or $47,190)
• Proof of funds (minimum of €900 or $1,415 per month)
• Medical certificate
• Criminal record certificate
• Application fee

It is recommended that you secure all these documents several weeks before your scheduled application, as you would not want to risk being rejected due to incomplete requirements.

Steps in Applying for a Spanish Student Visa

Now that you have settled all the documents for your student visa application, allow us to walk you through the steps in submitting your request.

1. Find a Spanish Consulate/Embassy nearest to you in your home country. You cannot apply for a student visa when you are in Spain. It has to be processed in your home country before you travel to Spain.
2. Check the list of requirements for your country. Sometimes, the Spanish Consulate changes the items in its checklist.
3. Find out if the Spanish Consulate you are coordinating with requires an appointment for visa application submissions. Some embassies accept walk-in applications, although some require scheduling of appointments.
4. Submit your application with the correct and complete documents.
5. Pay the application fee in the amount of €60 ($68.9). Note that the visa application fee is non-refundable.
6. Wait for the results. Usually, the processing and approval of student visas takes a maximum of 15 days (in special cases, it can take up to 30 days).

The application process does not end when your student visa is approved, because you will still need to apply for a residence permit or TIE within 30 days after you have stepped into Spanish soil. Once you have successfully obtained a TIE, your studies in Spain can commence smoothly.

How to apply for a residence permit in Spain

All international students need to apply for a residence card in order to study and work in Spain. Remember that you have to accomplish this step 30 days upon arrival in the country. The following is a list of steps on how to obtain a TIE or Foreigner Identity Card in Spain:

• Look for a local police station.
• Submit the following documents:
• Valid National ID or passport
• Duly accomplished application form (given by the police officers)
• Photocopy of passport stamp for Spain
• Letter of acceptance from your university
• Recent photos (passport-sized, 3 copies)
• Letter of residency (given by the police officers if you show them a rental contract or utility bill in your accommodation)
• Wait for the evaluation of your documents, and get your TIE.
• Renew the TIE every year until your study program ends.

What can you do with a Spanish student visa?

A Spanish student visa and residence card guarantee your official stay to study in Spain. Moreover, these approvals will also grant you an opportunity to apply for a part-time job or a temporary position in companies in the country. If you are the type who wishes to juggle studies and work, you can have a part-time job to support your finances. You are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week on school days. You can also do internships as part of your course requirements in your study program.

A student visa in Spain is the gateway to your educational career in this European country. Settle your applications today, and start your study abroad adventure in Spain!