Spain has a long tradition of academic excellence, making it one of the most popular countries for students taking part in Erasmus exchange programs and those pursuing a full-time degree.
Good news if you’ve studied abroad in Spain and are from an EU/EEA country! You will not require a Spanish student visa. If you are not a citizen of the EU/EEA, proceed to the next step and prepare to apply for your student visa.
This article would serve as a full guide for you to get your student visa in Spain. Keep reading.
Types Of Student Visa In Spain
Depending on the length of your course of studies, there are two types of student visas:
- Short-term student visas are designed for students who will be in the country for 91 to 180 days.
- Long-term student visa, if you plan to stay in the country for over six months to study.
Remember that if your studies last less than 90 days, whether you are a non-EU citizen, you do not need to apply for a student permit. Your tourist visa will be enough (in case you need one to enter the country) (in case you need one to enter the country).
How Student Visas Work in Spain
The student visa must be got in your home country, not after you have arrived in Spain. It is recommended that you apply at least 1 to 3 months before your intended arrival date. Applications received over 90 days before the start of the program will not be accepted.
You can learn more about how to apply for a visa in Spain by visiting the official visa center website. Spain’s BLS. A longer stay Type-D visa allows you to get a TIE (Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) Residence Card for foreign students, which is a temporary permit that allows you to live legally in Spain.
This is only valid for one academic year but can be renewed annually for longer courses.
You must apply for your TIE card within 30 days of entering Spain and can do so at a Foreigners Office (immigration center) or a police station.
Requirements Or Eligibility Criteria for Student Visa in Spain.
Before applying for a Student Visa for Spain, applicants must be offered a place on a course. To allow enough time for the visa to be processed, the visa application should be submitted between two and three months before traveling to Spain.
The specific documentation required varies depending on the consulate, the individual’s circumstances, and the course the applicant wishes to pursue. Though the documentation for a Student Visa may vary depending on your situation, the following documents are important:
- Form of visa application completed
- Passport valid for the duration of your intended stay in Spain
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Acceptance letter from a Spanish university
- Information about the course of study (extended details regarding your chosen degree within the university, such as the hours of study per week)
- Health insurance – a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR for the duration of your studies.
- Proof of financial means for the duration of your stay (at least 900 EUR per month)
- Visa application fee for a medical certificate (60 EUR)
- Certificate of criminal record (issued in the last five years by the relevant authorities in your home country)
How Long Is The Spain Student Visa Valid?
You could get your permit, which would allow you to stay in the country for a year, and if you met the same requirements when you applied, you could renew it year after year.
Until you finished your studies, that is. Things have changed. You can now apply for a two-year student visa. This means that if your course or training lasts two years, you will not need to renew your visa or extend your stay in the interim.
You can renew your expired card without applying for a new visa at the end of the year. However, you must renew it.
Fees and Cost Of Student Visa In Spain
The flat rate charge for a student visa in Spain is-
- If you are applying from the U.S.: $160
- If you are applying from Canada: $95
- Any other nationality: $67
Highly recommended: Study in Spain: Tuition Fees, Cost of Living and Admission
How To Apply For Student Visa In Spain
Step 1: Apply for a place at a Spanish university and wait for your acceptance letter.
If you are still indecisive about where you want to study in Spain, you must decide before you can begin the student visa application process. You will receive an acceptance letter from a Spanish university after being accepted. You’ll need this letter for the visa application.
Step 2: Determine what type of student visa you will require to study in Spain
Keep in mind that students from certain countries, even if they are not EU/EEA citizens, can stay in Spain for less than 90 days without a visa. Contact the nearest Spanish embassy in your country to find out if this applies to you or if you actually require a student visa.
A long-term student visa enables you to get the Spanish Resident Card (TIE), which is required for the vast majority of non-EU/EEA students. You can stay in the country during your studies if you have the TIE.
The TIE is only valid for one academic year and can be renewed annually until you complete your studies. It is important to note that you cannot apply for a student visa if you are already in Spain. You can only apply before leaving your home country.
You cannot change the type of visa you have once you arrive in Spain. The only valid visa is the one you get from the nearest Spanish Embassy or consulate.
Step 3: The application process
After you’ve been accepted to a Spanish university, contact the Spanish embassy/consulate in your area to find out what documents you’ll need for your visa application. The documents required may differ depending on the consulate or regulations in your home country.
Some consulates require you to schedule an appointment, whereas others do not and you can simply leave the documents. It is important that you schedule or visit the consulate as soon as possible to leave the required documents.
The processing time for your visa application can range from a few weeks to three months. Always check the consulate’s website for the most up-to-date process time estimates.
Step 4: Note the documents and language requirements. Get them ready.
Proof of Spanish language proficiency is not a requirement for international students seeking admission to a university. Most universities offer Spanish-taught degree programs that require applicants to have a powerful command of the Spanish language.
This article already outlined the documents and necessary processes you need to get your student visa in Spain. Make sure you have all of it ready.
Student Visa Processing Time In Spain
The application process for a student visa in Spain is quite fast. Research from different countries has shown that you can complete the application for a student visa in Spain even in a month.
Can I Get A Student Visa In Spain Without IELTS?
The DELE (Diploma de Espaol Como Lengua Extranjera) is the most commonly accepted Spanish test.
If you decide to pursue an English-taught program in Spain, unless you are from an English-speaking country, there will be a need for you to show a good command of the English language. Accepted tests include:
- IELTS
- PTE Academic
- C1 Advanced
See Also: How To Apply For a Student Visa In Spain | Interview, Requirements, Permit
Working While Studying in Spain
The Spain Student Visa allows students to work part-time or in a temporary position during the course. The maximum number of hours per week cannot exceed 20, and the job must not interfere with the candidate’s studies.
To hire a Student Visa holder, the employer must first obtain a work permit from the Foreign Office. Working as an international student in Spain is permitted under the following conditions:
- Working hours should not overlap with school hours when working part-time.
- If you want to work full-time, you can only do so for three months and not during the academic year; you can only work full-time during an academic year.
- You will need a work permit for each option that is valid for the entire duration of your work contract but cannot be longer than the duration of the student residence permit.
- With an internship, whether at a public or private institution, you will not need a work permit as long as it relates to your field of study and is part of a collaboration agreement between the university you are in and that institution.
FAQs on Student Visa In Spain
6 months or longer. The Short-term Student Visa is valid for three to six months. The Short-Term Student Visa allows students to enroll in a course for up to 180 days.
$160. If you apply from the United States, the fee for a Student visa in Spain is $160. If you apply from Canada, the fee is $95. Other nationalities are charged $67.
After being accepted into a Spanish university, student visas are usually easy to get. Foreign (non-EU) students will typically require a long-term visa to enter Spain, which can be obtained from a Spanish consulate or embassy in your country of permanent residence.
The average annual salary in Spain is €23,000 ($28,100), with a monthly minimum wage of around €1,000 ($1,200). Of course, the monthly salary for part-time jobs is lower. The minimum wage for international students working part-time in Spain is €450 ($550).
Conclusion
A student visa is a type of residence permit that allows applicants to stay in Spain while they study in public or private educational institutions, conduct research, or receive training.
Specifically, those wishing to enroll in any professional training course, master’s degree, postgraduate course, P.hD., or bachelor’s degree in Spain will find that this permit is the best option for them.
If you want to study in Spain, a student visa in Spain is compulsory for you.
References
- mastersportal.com– How to get a Student visa in Spain
- visaguide.world– Student visa in Spain
- spanishstudies.org– Spain student visa instructions
- spanishstudies.org– Spain student visa instructions
- balcellsgroup.com– Student visa in Spain