Student Visa

This is the basement of your application. If you do not meet the pre-eligibility criteria, the chances to get a visa are zero. You must meet one of the following to be able to apply:

• You are admitted to an accredited educational institution in Spain.
• You are admitted at an officially recognized research or training center in Spain.
• You have an agreement signed with a public or private body or entity, a vocational training center or an organization where you will be volunteering.

The earliest you can apply is three months before your intended departure to Spain, while the latest is three weeks. Yet, you are recommended to apply at least one month in advance.

You should lodge your application at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, or a third-party visa application center, to which Spain has outsourced visa submission.  It all depends on how Spain has regulated visa submission in your country of residence.

The application form for a Spain Study Visa is the first document you should obtain/complete. The form should not be confused with the Schengen Visa application form since they are different.
The application form for a long-stay study visa contains questions on your identity, intended period of stay in Spain, the purpose of visa application, and other questions on your background.

Make sure all the information you give in this form is correct and in compliance with the information that the other documents contain.

Next, continue collecting the required documents to apply for a Spain Study Visa. Aside from the main required documents for a Spain visa that include the

application form, your valid passport, photos, and photocopies of previous visas and passports, you need to submit additional documents.

First, submit the documents that prove your purpose of applying for a Study Visa:

• Studying: Admission letter issued by an educational institution (school/college/university) accredited in Spain. This document must contain the start and end dates of the course.
• Research or training: Admission letter issued by a research or training center officially recognized in Spain.
• Non-labor practices: An agreement signed between you and a public or private body or entity, or an officially recognized vocational training center.

Volunteer service: An agreement signed between you and an organization in charge of the program. The document must list and describe the activities you need to perform, as well as the available resources to cover your trip, food, and accommodation during your stay.

• Proof of economic solvency. During the year 2019, an amount of about €540 is required for each month of stay in Spain, in order to cover expenses of subsistence. You will have to submit one or more of the following:
• Bank statements for the last three months.
• Scholarship award.
• Documents that prove the studies have been paid by you or are covered by the body with which the activity will be carried out.
• In case your parents will pay the expenses, a notarized document must be presented, signed by them, stating their commitment to cover the expenses. You should also submit a copy of parents’ banking history of the last two months, a photocopy of their passports and your birth certificate.
• Medical Insurance. You must purchase health insurance arranged with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain with a validity of one year. Travel insurance is not accepted.
• Proof of accommodation. This could be a rent or dorm agreement, or letter issued by the academic institution indicating details of the accommodation. In the case of accommodation in a private residence, you must present a letter from the owners in the one that expresses its agreement.

If the duration of the requested stay is more than six months, it is also necessary to provide:

Proof of economic solvency. During the year 2019, an amount of about €540 is required for each month of stay in Spain, in order to cover expenses of subsistence. You will have to submit one or more of the following:

• Bank statements for the last three months.
• Scholarship award.
• Documents that prove the studies have been paid by you or are covered by the body with which the activity will be carried out.
• In case your parents will pay the expenses, a notarized document must be presented, signed by them, stating their commitment to cover the expenses. You should also submit a copy of parents’ banking history of the last two months, a photocopy of their passports and your birth certificate.
• Medical Insurance. You must purchase health insurance arranged with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain with a validity of one year. Travel insurance is not accepted.

Proof of accommodation. This could be a rent or dorm agreement, or letter issued by the academic institution indicating details of the accommodation. In the case of accommodation in a private residence, you must present a letter from the owners in the one that expresses its agreement.

Depending on how Spanish authorities in your country of residence have regulated appointments, you will be able to schedule a visa interview in two forms:

• Online through the website of the consulate or third-party visa center.
• Through phone.

On the day of your interview, you will need to complete three procedures:

1. Give your biometrics. If this is the first time traveling to the Schengen territory in the last five years, you will need to give your biometrics. This means you will have your facial image and fingerprints taken.
2. Attend the interview. The interview will last between 10-20 minutes. A visa consular will ask you questions regarding your application, background and the intention of your trip to Spain. You will also need to give the required documents, and answer any questions asked related to these documents.
3. Pay the visa fee. In most countries, you will need to pay the visa fee during the interview, or just before you meet the visa consular. However, in some others, you will need to pay the fee prior to the day of your appointment at the bank or online.

After you complete these steps, you need to wait for the processing of your visa. Usually, it takes about a month for your application to be processed. Once you get the visa, you can freely travel to Spain.

Upon arrival in Spain, depending on the intended period of stay, you may have another one or two steps left to complete.

Note that if you are permitted to stay in Spain for a maximum of 180 days, then you do not need to complete any other procedures. On the other hand, if you will be staying in Spain for more than six months, then you should get a Foreigner Identity Card

Apply for a Foreigner Identity Card within one month of arrival in Spain, at the Foreigners Office in the area where you have settled.