Student visa for Spain

A student visa — also called a study visa, a school visa or a language visa — is a permit to stay in Spain for the duration of your studies. Spain offers plenty of opportunities to get a European-standard education. From simple language courses to long programmes at the largest universities, both underage pupils and adult students can gain new knowledge and skills here. The document is also issued to people doing research or taking part in volunteer programmes. You may study at a public or a private accredited institution operating in the sunny kingdom. There is a separate guide on how to choose a university and programme: how public universities differ from private ones, where teaching is in English and how much a year costs.

What does a national study visa give you? How do you get a student visa to study in an EU country this year? How long can you stay in Spain? Why might you be refused? What requirements and conditions apply to Russians? We answer all these questions.

Types of student visa for Spain

The type of permit depends on how long you will study, so you need to choose a study programme before applying for the document. How does the long-term category differ from the short-term one? Let’s look more closely.

The choice of type depends on the programme and its length, so it makes sense to start by choosing an institution — there is a separate article on studying in Spain.

Spain issues two categories of visa for study:

• Type C. A short-term permit valid for 90 days. This type is suitable for language courses and professional development. The visa cannot be extended, but while it is valid you can travel to any country in the Schengen Area. If your study programme allows time in other countries, you can visit other equally interesting places.
• Type D. A long-term visa for studies lasting more than 90 days. For higher education the permit is issued for the whole official duration of the studies; for other programmes, including language courses, for no more than a year, with the option of renewal. This is not a residence permit but a stay permit. Since a study visa is not a type of residence permit, the time you spend on it does not count towards the minimum period required for citizenship.

Unlike type C, category D allows you to work up to 30 hours a week — details in the section on work below. After graduating you can switch to a job-seeking residence permit, start a business or take up a job under a contract. If you launch a project or find employment, you can replace your student stay permit with a work permit to move for the long term.

Step-by-step procedure

The steps of the procedure depend on where you submit your documents. Here is more on each option.

In your home country

In your home country you can apply at the Consulate by submitting your documents and an application. Applications are accepted from people of any age on the basis of higher education, language courses, school programmes, exchange projects or volunteering.

One step people put off until the last minute, and wrongly so: the insurance policy is needed at the application stage, not after arrival. The requirements for it are described in our article on insurance in Spain.

The process includes the following stages:

1. Getting your Spanish matrícula. Once you have been accepted, you need to get a special certificate of enrolment. The matrícula confirms that you have paid part or all of the fees and that you are enrolled at the institution. Without this document you will not get approval, so there is no point applying before you are enrolled. Not all educational institutions are accredited in Spain: remember to check the accreditation and the details of the course before paying. Make sure you are happy with the price of the programme.
2. Booking an appointment at the Consulate. Applicants are seen by appointment only, so book a convenient time in advance. Note that some certificates have a limited validity. Choose your appointment date so that the documents you already have remain valid.
3. Submitting documents. The applicant submits the prepared documents in person at the Consulate. The application must state an entry date no earlier than two weeks before the start of studies. You should apply 2 months before the course begins. Some documents must be translated into Spanish and legalised. All visas valid in the Schengen Area are cancelled when a student visa is issued.
4. Waiting for the result. If there are no complications, a decision to approve or refuse is made within a month. But if documents are missing and have to be requested, processing takes longer. It is better not to submit an application if you have not managed to gather the full list of required documents. Put together a complete set to get approval on your first application without further problems. The results are sent to the email address given in the application.
5. Registering your address and getting a TIE card in Spain. Once the visa has been stamped in your passport, the final stage follows. The applicant must enter Spain within the permitted period. Within one month you must provide the biometric data required for the residence card (TIE). The card is needed when the visa is valid for more than 180 days.

People over 30 often want to study. In this case difficulties may arise, as unwritten restrictions apply. The chances of getting a visa are higher if you want to obtain higher or vocational education. When the basis is a language course, applicants over 30 are often refused.

In Spain

You can apply without leaving Spain. Under Royal Decree RD 1155/2024, applications from within Spain are possible only for higher education — at a university or on higher vocational programmes. The applicant must be an adult and be in the country legally, and the documents must be submitted no later than two months before the start of studies and no later than two months before the current period of legal stay ends. Applications for language courses and other programmes are made only through a consulate.

The process includes several steps:

1. Admission and entry. You need an entry stamp or an entry declaration. From this data the immigration office can count the days of your stay in Spain.
2. Working out the deadline for applying for the student visa. You can get it if at least 2 months of legal stay remain.
3. Gathering and submitting documents. Documents are submitted online or through a lawyer using a digital certificate. Papers can be submitted as PDFs rather than on paper. You may also bring the documents in yourself after booking an appointment.
4. Waiting for the decision. Processing takes two months, and silence here means refusal: if no decision arrives within this period, the application is deemed rejected.
5. Getting a TIE card. If the approval is for more than six months, you need to get a TIE card. The document is issued after you register your address: you just need to go to a police station. At the appointment they will take your documents and fingerprints. The residence card can be collected after about 35-45 days.

When applying, you request not a visa but a student estancia (stay permit). A spouse and children can be included only if the main applicant is studying at a university, and they are not allowed to work. Applying to the Spanish immigration service lets you avoid age restrictions. Note that only statements from local banks or banks in countries other than Russia are accepted as proof of financial means. Applications are processed within 1 to 3 months.

Study visa for language courses: which courses qualify

Language courses remain a basis for a student visa, but with the restrictions of Royal Decree RD 1155/2024, which has been in force since 20 May 2025:

• you may only study Spanish or a language that is official in one of the autonomous communities — Catalan, Galician, Basque; English in Spain does not qualify for the visa;
• classes must be in person; online courses are not accepted;
• the school must be an official language school (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas) or a centre accredited by the Instituto Cervantes or an equivalent body for a regional language;
• the language cannot be your native language or an official language in your country of citizenship.

Applications for courses are made only through a consulate, no later than two months before classes begin. The permit is issued for the length of the course, but no longer than a year; it can be renewed if the course has been successfully completed. You cannot bring your family on this visa, and you may work only after obtaining a separate permit.

Hence the main conclusion for anyone considering moving to Spain through language courses: it is a way to live in the country and learn the language, but not a route to a residence permit. Time on a study visa is a stay, not residence, and it does not count towards permanent residence or citizenship. The grounds that do lead to permanent residence are collected in our overview of all the ways to get a Spanish residence permit.

How much money you need for a student visa

A regular income is not required — you need to prove means of subsistence equal to 100% of the IPREM (the Spanish public income indicator), that is €600 a month for the whole period of study; for a programme of a year or more, €7,200 a year. The funds are shown with a bank statement, a scholarship document or a guarantee from relatives. Separate payments cover the consular visa fee, the TIE card fee, health insurance for the whole period and sworn translations of documents.

Documents

To obtain entry visas, applicants need to prepare a set of documents. Underage students travelling to Spain on their own must have certified permission signed by their parents. Without official consent a teenager may not leave their home country.

The insurance requirements are strict: cover for the whole period of study, with no excess and no exclusions for chronic conditions. Our insurance selection for study and residence permits helps you choose a policy the consulate will accept.

The following documents are submitted with the application:

• Medical certificate. A doctor must confirm that the person does not carry serious diseases. Spain does not admit potentially dangerous foreigners who could harm Spaniards.
• International passport. The original and a copy of every page are required.
• Registration certificate or letter. This document confirms that the student has been accepted on the course.
• Proof of tuition payment. You must pay for your studies in full and provide proof of payment.
• Criminal record certificate. With a criminal record it is almost impossible to get a visa. The absence of a criminal record is checked when the studies last more than six months and the applicant is an adult.
• Health insurance policy. Without it you cannot visit the country. Insurance is taken out with a company accredited by the Spanish state.
• Recent photos. Do not submit photos taken more than 6 months ago.
• Proof of financial stability. You need to provide a bank statement and other certificates proving financial independence.
• Application form. You must answer all questions accurately. The form must be translated into Spanish.
• Fee payment. The receipt must be attached to the application.
• Accommodation details. You must provide details of where you will live during the study period. Without rented or purchased housing you will not be able to get the visa.

A university student can bring a spouse and children by getting them a visa or permit for the same period; students on language courses and other programmes do not have this option. Do not forget to prepare your documents properly, as they must be translated by a professional sworn translator. Official documents must also bear an apostille. Only correctly prepared documents can be attached to the application; otherwise you will be refused.

If you are refused

Visas are often refused, but even when refused, a stamp is placed in the international passport. The mark shows that the consuls received the applicant’s documents. The stamp helps you find out the reasons for the negative decision, so when you get your passport back, study the symbols on it.

Sometimes it is easier not to challenge a refusal but to change the ground: remote work or savings open up other routes — they are collected in our guide to types of Spanish residence permit.

The stamp has a code of letters and numbers from which you can learn everything about the refusal. You just need to look at the mark:

• A1, A2, A3 – the foreigner submitted an incomplete set of documents or did not attend the interview;
• B – means refusal of a transit permit;
• C1 – means the application for a single-entry tourist visa was rejected;
• C2 – shows that the person did not attend the interview or did not provide a certificate;
• D – means refusal of a long-term permit or residence permit.

Not planning to immigrate after your studies? Tell the immigration service when you apply and prove your ties to your home country — for example, property or family there. This can increase your chances of getting a study visa, as it is not issued for settling in the country.

You may be refused in the following circumstances:

• being aged 30 or over;
• not providing a certificate of enrolment;
• the institution not being accredited;
• distance learning, for which no permit is provided;
• unconfirmed accommodation;
• insufficient funds;
• strange or rude behaviour.

While errors in documents can be corrected, obvious deception will certainly lead to refusal. It is important to provide accurate information and certificates that are still valid.

Working while studying

Spain has a liberal immigration policy that lets you work even on a study visa. Under RD 1155/2024 a student may work as an employee or self-employed up to 30 hours a week, provided the work is compatible with their studies. University students get this right automatically, without additional documents; students on language courses and other programmes need to obtain a separate work permit. You may work in the autonomous community where the permit was issued and in bordering localities of neighbouring regions. Exceeding 30 hours is grounds for withdrawing the student’s permit.

Some students do part-time work through self-employment — how this status works and how much it costs is covered in our article on autónomo and its contributions.

When you graduate your studies end, but your status does not: a graduate at bachelor’s level or above can apply for a 24-month job-seeking residence permit. It does not give the right to work, but it gives you time to find a contract and switch to a work residence permit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you work on a student visa in Spain?

Yes, up to 30 hours a week and within the autonomous community where the permit was issued. University students get the right to work automatically, without a separate permit; students on language courses and other programmes need to obtain a work permit separately. Work must not interfere with studies.

Can you get a student visa for Spain for language courses?

Yes, if they are in-person courses in Spanish or another official language of Spain at an official language school or a centre accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. You apply through a consulate, and the permit is issued for up to a year.

Can you apply for a student visa while in Spain?

Only for higher education: the applicant must be an adult, be in Spain legally and submit the documents no later than two months before the start of studies. Applications for language courses and other programmes are made through a consulate.

How much money do you need for a student visa for Spain?

Funds equal to 100% of the IPREM — €600 a month for the whole period of study, or €7,200 for a one-year programme. In addition, you pay the consular fee, the TIE card, insurance and translations.

Do studies in Spain count towards permanent residence and citizenship?

No. A student permit is a stay, not residence, so years of study do not count towards the period for permanent residence and citizenship. After university you can switch to a job-seeking residence permit or a work residence permit.