student visa in spain

Interested in studying abroad in Spain? Get all the information you need on Touriago.com. Here you’ll find articles and guides to help you learn more about topics like living costs, the application process, scholarships, university rankings and more.

In the heart of Europe, but away from the tourist circuit, live a great number of young people from around the world. Most of them are foreign students, who come to study in Spain and want to travel around Europe. For those kind of people, Touriago is an independent travel agency that provides day trip tickets for Spain and also services to plan your next travel adventure by providing you with all the information you need. We are specialized in travel packages to visit Madrid as well as other cities like Barcelona, Seville, Valencia or Alicante.

The number of international students who want to come to Spain for their studies is increasing year after year. This is due to the attractive offer of quality higher education that Spain provides in its world wide-spread university centers, along with many other benefits like flexible application procedures or stipends.

Spain is a wonderful place to study. If you’re looking for a student visa in Spain, Touriago can help!

Our team of experts is dedicated to helping students find the right school and get their visa processed and approved as quickly as possible. We have connections with over 1,000 schools across Spain and will work with you to find the perfect match for your needs.

Once we’ve helped you find a school, we’ll help guide you through the application and visa process. Our team members are native Spanish speakers who have lived in Spain for years, so they know exactly what you need to succeed there: from where to get groceries to which neighborhoods are best suited for students from different countries. And if your Spanish isn’t quite up to par yet, no problem! We can provide you with language courses in Madrid or Barcelona so that you’ll be able to communicate efficiently with locals while abroad.

If you’re considering studying abroad in Spain but don’t know where to start, contact us today!

Student Visa in Spain

It’s the dream of many students: studying abroad. But it can be a stressful process to get yourself set up for that experience. The good news is that there are plenty of options available to you, whether you’re looking for a short-term program or a full degree. And if you’re planning on studying in Spain, there are even more options! Here’s what you need to know about getting your student visa in Spain.

Who Needs a Student Visa?

If you’re going to be studying in Spain on a short-term basis, then you may not need a visa. If your stay is less than 90 days and you have proof of financial support from an institution or sponsor, then you won’t need one. However, if your stay will be longer than 90 days, then it’s best to check with your school or university before traveling so that they can help provide documentation for your application process. You can also apply for an extension after arriving in Spain by contacting the Spanish consulate closest to where you live or work while there (their contact information will be provided when applying).

Getting Your Student Visa

If you’re applying through a Spanish university or other educational institution that has received government approval as an official partner

What is the Spain Student Visa?

A Spain Student Visa allows you to study or train, take part in a student exchange, or to work as an unpaid intern for more than three months in Spain. EU and Swiss citizens are free to go to Spain to study without a visa.

There are different types of Spanish Student Visas which are valid for different lengths of time. Students need to apply at a Spanish embassy or consulate and provide a range of paperwork. It is necessary to be accepted onto a course before applying.

Student Permit for less than 3 months (90 days)

Students from countries which are eligible for visa-free entry of up to 90 days, can take a course without obtaining a student visa (as long as the duration of the course is shorter than 90 days).

Those coming from countries which do not qualify for visa-free entry need to apply for a Schengen Student Visa. To study in Spain, applications need to be made at a Spanish embassy or consulate in the home country of the student.

Spanish student visa process

1. Accept an offer: When you have accepted an offer from a university you can go to a Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country to apply for a visa.
2. Contact your nearest embassy/consulate: You have to apply in person for a Spanish visa, and depending on the embassy you may need to schedule an appointment. Ask which documents you will need for your application so you are prepared.
3. Submit your documents: Take your required documents to the embassy or consulate and fill in the visa application form.
4. Get a decision: It takes around a month to get a decision on your student visa.
5. Register with immigration: When you arrive in the EU you have 30 days to apply for a Spanish Student Residence Card for Foreigners (TIE) and receive a NIE number at your nearest Oficina de Extranjeros or police station. This will need renewing each academic year. Your academic performance can affect the renewal of your TIE.

Spain student visa requirements (type D)

What you need to provide for your student visa and residence card will depend on your home country, but can include:

• A valid passport to be current throughout the whole time of your stay in Spain
• Letter of acceptance from the university
• A copy of all the passport’s pages
• A recent passport style color photo
• Confirmation of school/university registration issued by the academic institution in Spain
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of your financial situation — bank statements and any scholarship details if necessary
• A medical certificate issued by a doctor
• A negative criminal record check from the countries you have lived in for the past five years

Visas for dependents of students

Your spouse or children under 18 can usually join you in Spain if you are there on a study visa for more than six months. You will need to show that you can financially support them as well as yourself and your course fees.

They need to register at the local Oficina de Extranjeros for their TIE, and are not automatically eligible to work in Spain.

Spanish student visa processing time

Your student visa application should be processed within one month from when you submit all your documents, but this could change depending on the workload of the embassy or consulate.

You could receive an answer in as little as 15 days, but it’s not unknown for it to take three months in busy periods.

It’s really important you apply well ahead of time to avoid any possible delays. Make sure you begin preparing the required documents as soon as possible after receiving your letter of admission from your university.

Working in Spain with a student visa

You can work up to 20 hours a week in Spain provided that you have the correct work permit and it does not interfere with your studies. It’s also worth noting that you cannot be undertaking work as the only means of supporting yourself whilst in Spain.

Before beginning work you need to receive the correct permit from Spain’s immigration authorities. The application for this can be completed at an Oficina de Extranjeros and you should speak with them before to ensure you know the exact process and have all the relevant documents. Receiving your permit may take a long time so you should apply as soon as possible.

EU / EEA students do not need a work permit for Spain.

What to do if your visa application is rejected

Provided you carefully complete your application and provide all of the requested documents, it’s unlikely that your application will be rejected.

However, if your application is declined, it doesn’t spell the end of your plans. If your rejection is down to an incomplete form, or missing documents, simply apply again making sure you’ve corrected any errors.

If you believe your application was rejected unfairly, you can appeal the decision within a month of the refusal. When you appeal, you’ll need to send:

• A copy of the rejection letter
• A cover letter explaining why you want to appeal
• A copy of your passport
• Current address and telephone number
• A stamped addressed envelope (SAE)

Conclusion

Touriago.com is a web site dedicated to finding all the necessary information regarding the student visa for Spain. It covers practical as well as legal aspects of this study visa. They also answer questions that are not directly related to student visas. All articles on Touriago.com are written by experts in immigration who have experienced these processes first hand. These articles can be very useful when deciding upon the most appropriate immigration option for you.

Although their process is clear, they lack a penalty clauses if you fail to deliver on the promised timeframe. It would appear that they still have a lot of kinks to work out before becoming a more viable option for students looking for an intern visa. The most important question you will want to ask yourself right off the bat: is this truly worth your time and money?