When choosing Spain as a study destination, your first best step is knowing how to secure a student visa. Before starting your visa application, consider the type of visa you’re looking to acquire. You can choose from two types, depending on how long you plan to study.
The first is the Short-term Student Visa, which you can only use for three to six months. While it is relatively easy to apply for this type of student visa in Spain, you can’t extend its validity for any reason. The other type is the Long-Term or Type D Visa, which you can use for more than six months. This visa is preferable as you can complete your entire study in Spain. However, the requirements list for this visa is more extensive than the Short-Term Student Visa.
Besides the visa application, you’ll also need to apply for a residence card within a month of arrival in the country. Once settled in Spain, you can finally fulfill your academic goals and have an excellent time. So, here’s what you need to know about how to get a Student Visa in Spain.
Steps on Applying for a Spanish Student Visa
Now that you know the things to prepare for the application, here’s how to get a student visa in Spain:
Step 1. Get Accepted to a University or School
Before starting your student visa application, apply and get accepted to a university or school in Spain. Be sure to complete the university application requirements and submit them as soon as possible. This way, you’ll have better chances of receiving your acceptance letter and starting your student visa application.
Besides the Certificate of Admission being a requirement for a Spain student visa application, having the complete details for your entire study can help you prepare for your stay. You can choose a student visa type to apply for depending on whether you’ve applied for a short program or a full degree program. Additionally, this will help you determine how much money you need as proof of economic means.
Step 2. Book an Appointment at the Spanish Consulate
Once you receive your letter of acceptance from the university, you may start your student visa application. You can only apply for a student visa in your home country; it is not allowed to get a tourist visa first, then go to Spain and get the student visa there.
Book an appointment with the Spanish Consulate in your home country. By contacting them before submitting your requirements, you can inquire if there are additional requirements you might need to present.
You can find information on the Spanish consulate and embassies here. Simply locate your country on the map and click on the letter E to see the link to the Spanish embassy website. You can also download the application form from the website instead of personally getting a copy from the embassy.
Step 3. Complete the Requirements for Student Visa Application
Once you have definite information about the student visa requirements from the embassy, complete the application before your appointment date. You will also need the documents translated into Spanish by an official translator.
Additionally, the embassy will not photocopy documents for you, so have the required photocopies. If you bring incomplete requirements, you will need to set another appointment again.
Step 4. Submit Your Visa Application
Bring your complete requirements and application fee payment on your appointment date. Check the embassy website for any specific regulations when entering the embassy. For example, the Spanish embassy does not allow visitors to bring their mobile phones for security reasons in some countries.
Processing of a Spanish student visa application can take up to one month. However, you can ask the consulate general during your interview for the processing time.
Step 5. Get Your Visa
Once you receive notice of your visa approval, you’ll need to personally go to the embassy to get it within one month of the notice. Along with your visa, you’ll also receive your Foreigner Identification Number. You can now book your flight to Spain and get ready for your stay there.
Step 6. Apply for a Foreigner Identity Card
Suppose you’ve received a Long-term student visa or Type-D, meaning you’ll be staying for over six months, apply for a Foreigner Identity Card within 30 days of your arrival in Spain. You’ll need the Foreigner Identification Number that came with your visa to apply for the Foreigner Identity Card. This will serve as your temporary residence permit in Spain for the duration of your studies.
You’ll need this card for your economic activities in Spain, such as opening a bank account, applying for a telephone contract, or getting employment. This card is renewable annually, and you don’t have to apply for a new visa to renew.
Documents Needed for Spanish Student Visa Applications
To apply for a student visa, you’ll need the following documents:
- Completed application form
- One passport-sized photo with a white background
- Valid passport
- Photocopy of the data page of your valid passport and all prior visas and stamps
- Previous passports, if applicable.
- Certificate of admission at a public or private university, school, or college, indicating the start and end date, and duration of your program
- Details of your entire program plan, such as the number of hours per week
- Proof of economic means
- Medical insurance
If you’re applying for a Long-Term student visa, you’ll need to provide a medical certificate and a certificate of no criminal conviction.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Spain
How Much Money Do You Need for Spain Student Visa?
The processing fee for a student visa in Spain costs around $67 to $160. However, you must provide proof of economic means, which means you have money to fund your entire stay in Spain. It should cover your living costs and expenses, including flight costs to return to your home country.
To give you an idea, you’ll need at least $600 per month unless you’ve already paid for your accommodation in advance. So, for a study duration of two years, you’ll need to have at least $14,400 as proof of economic means. If you plan to bring relatives, you should also have the funding to support their stay in Spain.
If someone else is funding your study, like your parents or other family members, prove that your sponsor can support you and their stay in Spain.
In conclusion, multiple steps are required when you apply for your student visa, but what you need to keep in mind is that knowing the local language is one of the most important steps as that allows you to communicate with others through your daily life and also makes your university experience more pleasing. There are different ways to learn Spanish and one of the most preferred ways is through online courses that can help you develop your skills.
We hope this article on applying for a student visa in Spain was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, check out the Study in Spain and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more insightful articles.
