Obtaining a visa to study in Spain is a procedure faster and with more accessible requirements than in other countries. It must be requested when the studies exceed 90 days, it is possible to bring the family and it allows working under certain conditions.
Types of study visa
- Short-term visa: For stays of 91 to 180 days.
- Long-stay visa: For stays longer than 180 days. In this case, the visa is only valid for the first 90 days. Within one month of arriving in Spain, the student must apply for a Foreigner Identification Card. The long-stay visa is granted for the exact duration of the studies, up to a maximum of two years. An extension can then be requested until completion of studies. The extension must be requested 60 days before the visa expires.
Requirements for student visa in Spain
- Have been accepted to an educational institution for the completion of a full-time program, which grants a degree or certificate of studies. The study center must be included in the Registry of Institutions and Centers of Higher Education, which is a list made by the government of Spain.
- The studies to be carried out must be part of those admitted by the Spanish government in order for the visa to be granted. The 50% of the studies can be done online.
- To have financial means to pay for living expenses in Spain. The minimum amount required by the government for the year 2025 is 600€ per month. You must also demonstrate resources to pay for the return trip to your country. If you have a partner and minor children, they may accompany you during your stay in Spain. For the support of family members, €450 per month must be added for the first member and €300 for each of the remaining persons.
- Have a health insurance. The study visa does not entitle you to Spanish public health care. It is necessary to contract a private insurance with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain. Travel insurance such as Assist Card does not work in these cases. It is necessary to contract a health plan and it will be better to do it with a company in Spain, because it is here where it will have to be used.
- If the duration of the studies exceeds six months, it is required not to have criminal records or a disease that may have public health repercussions.
Study visa can be ordered directly in Spainprovided that you are not in an irregular situation. This means that entering Spain as a tourist, you can apply for a study visa. In this case, it must be done within the first 30 days of arrival, and the studies must begin within two months at the most.
How to apply for a study visa to Spain from abroad
- The student submits the application at the consular office closest to his or her address in Argentina, or the country in which he or she resides.
- The documentation to be presented will be the personal identification and that which demonstrates that the requirements are met. Copies of the documents must be submitted and the originals must be shown when submitting the application.
- Pay the visa issuance fee (60€)
- In the maximum term of one monthOnce notified, the consulate will inform whether or not the application has been approved. Once notified, the applicant has up to two months to withdraw the visa.
The duration of the visa will be equal to that of the studies to be undertaken. The maximum limit is one year, which may be extended when justified by the studies.
Working in Spain on a student visa
It is possible to working in Spain on a student visaprovided that the following conditions are met:
- The studies carried out must be official and higher, i.e. university or equivalent.
- The work must be compatible with studies.
- The salary will not be counted among the resources that must be demonstrated to pay for living expenses in Spain, nor for the extension of the visa.
- The student must have the training and, where applicable, the professional qualification required for the practice of the profession.
- In the case of self-employment, it must also be proven that the planned investment is sufficient and the impact, if any, on job creation. In addition, the activity must be on a part-time basis, not to exceed 30 hours per week. If it is full-time, its duration may not exceed three months or coincide with the periods in which the studies are carried out.
Those who hold a passport from a European Union country do not need a visa to study in Spain. For everyone else, the requirements and the procedure to apply for a study visa do not change depending on the country of origin. Therefore, the information in this post is valid for students from all over the world.
Studying in Spain is a highly recommended decision. Not only for the enriching experience that always implies living and studying in another country. For those who are pursuing a university degree or postgraduate studies in Spain, it will be easier to homologate the degree in another country of the European Union. They will also have a network of contacts that will make it easier for them to find employment if they wish to settle in Spain.
In addition, at the end of the studies it is possible to extend the legal stay for two more years, to look for a job or to create a company. It should be clarified, however, that the time spent in Spain on a student visa does not count towards obtaining citizenship.
We are a law firm in Barcelona, specializing in services for foreigners. We handle student visa applications for Spain. Don't hesitate to contact us by email or Whatsapp to request a quote.
