Spain Student Visa
You will need a student visa for Spain if you plan to study or do research work in Spain for periods exceeding 3 months. I’ve had a lot of friends get this visa, and I can show you the steps below on a high level of how to go about getting it.
Be advised that, if you want to work and study at the same time, you will need to apply for a work permit at the Consulate (or go to the Foreigners Office-Oficina de Extranjeros) in Spain.
The following action items that will take the most time (Plan ahead and start early!)
- Official letter of acceptance as a full-time student in Spain from the Spanish University/School or US program.
- Original Letter from your health insurance company of evidence of medical/travel accidental insurance.
- Proof that you have enough money to support your stay in Spain
- Go to my Spain visa page for information on other types of visas for Spain.
If you’re a U.S. resident. or non-U.S. resident:
Gather the required documents and follow the procedures for the “student visa.”
Submit the information that you gathered in Step 2 to the consulate that you located in Step 1.
Depending on the consulate you might be required to make an appointment to apply in person. Your consulate website will have details on whether you will need to make an appointment in order to submit an application or if you can apply by mail.
Congratulations! After a period of waiting, the Spain Consulate/Embassy will give to you your brand new Spanish visa.
Don’t get sick! Check vaccination requirements here at the CDC.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to study in Spain for less than 90 days.
This visa must be obtained for studies under 3 months by all nationals that are not EU citizens or they are from the countries that require visas to travel to the Schengen countries. Learn about the Schengen Area at this link.
You must apply at the Consulate where you study or have your permanent residency.
The application must be submitted in person by you or through your parents. If the parents apply for the visa on behalf of their son/daughter, the student must pick up the visa in person.
Applications by mail are not accepted by the Consulates.
By submitting your student visa application you can also apply for the visa for your spouse and children under 18 years of age.
The visa will be affixed to your passport before you depart the United States and it must be presented at your point of entry into the Schengen countries.
If your program lasts over 180 days, you must first obtain a visa to that effect. Within a month upon arrival in Spain, you must also request an authorization to extend your stay until completion of studies and the pertinent Student ID from the Spanish Police (Policía Nacional).
Further Reading
Want Professional Visa Help? If you are a U.S. citizen and want professional help with getting a visa, check out my post on the 4 Best Travel Visa Services in the United States.
Worldwide Moving Guide: Everything you need to know in order to plan your move to 65+ countries around the world.
Find an Embassy or Consulate: Check my Worldwide Embassy and Consulate Finder to find the diplomatic representation nearest you.
Worldwide Jobs Guide: Be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in any country in the world.
Worldwide Dating Guide: Also, check out my posts on the best online dating sites in 60+ countries around the world.
About Addison Sears-Collins
Hey! I'm Addison Sears-Collins, the founder of Visa Hunter. You can learn more about me here. Connect with me by liking my fan page on Facebook, connecting with me on Twitter, or check out my website Automatic Addison where I build robots and embedded systems.
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