Student visa
(with the option to work part-time)
General information
Foreigners who wish to pursue or extend studies at publicly or privately recognized Spanish educational institutions must have the corresponding student visa.
Except for foreign non-EU citizens from Spanish-speaking countries, who will not be able to apply for a visa with the purpose of learning or improving their Spanish.
The student visa allows the foreigner to remain in Spain. The duration of their stay will be equal to the length of the course they are enrolled in
Student Visa General Information
Through the Spanish consulate of the applicant’s country of origin.
The application can be presented individually, through authorised representation or online.
The requirements for the student visa are:
- Fulfillment of all of the entry requirements.
- Acceptance into an officially recognized Spanish teaching or scientific centre, public or private, to carry out or extend studies. The timetable of the course must be indicated which implies attendance and a study plan.
- In the case of students who are minors and who are not accompanied by parents or legal guardians, authorization from their guardians will be required for their relocation to Spain in order to study. The name of the centre and the period of the stay must be indicated.
- The necessary economic means to be able to pay for course and accommodation costs and return journey to country of origin and, if applicable, for family members, must be guaranteed.
Procedure
The application for a student visa must be presented at the Spanish diplomatic mission or the Spanish consular office in the country where the foreigner resides.
Upon requesting the student visa the applicants must present documents which accredit the following:
- Validity of the passport or travel document for the entire period of the visa.
- Acceptance into an officially recognised public or private teaching centre.
- The content of the study programme that they plan to carry out.
- Medical insurance which covers, for the entire duration of their stay in Spain, the medical costs and costs of repatriation associated with an accident or sudden illness.
- The availability of funds for subsistence and accommodation for the period requested and, if necessary, to guarantee the return to the country of origin.
In the case of the duration of studies exceeding six months the following is also required:
- A medical certificate.
- In the case of applicants who are above the legal criminal age, a criminal record check.
The Consulate or Embassy may require the presence of the applicant, and where considered necessary, to attend an interview.
The Embassy or Consulate will make a decision about the application and will, in the case of it being successful, issue the student visa within a month.
In the event of the acceptance of the application, the applicant should collect the visa within a period of two months from notification.
If the duration of the stay for studies exceeds six months, the applicant must apply for the corresponding foreign student card within a period of one month after entry into Spain.
Renewal
Student visa renewal
The authorization to remain in the country for study purposes may be extended annually if the applicant is able to show:
- That they continue to comply with the established requirements for obtaining the student visa.
- That they have passed the tests or requirements in order to continue their studies.
The extension of the visa must be requested no less than sixty days prior to expiry date.
Work
Is it possible to work with a student visa?
Those who have the corresponding student visa may to be authorized to carry out paid work activities, once the employer presents a job authorization application and the following requirements are met:
- That the worker is guaranteed a continuous activity.
- That the company has formalised its inscription in the corresponding part of the Social Security system, and that they are up to date with the fulfillment of their tax and social security requirements.
- That the conditions stipulated in the job offer comply with the established guidelines for the particular field, professional activity and location.
- That the person holds the appropriate qualifications, officially approved where necessary, or that they have appropriate training for carrying out of the profession.
- That the foreign workers are not in Spain illegally.
The aforementioned activities should be compatible with the studies that they are carrying out.
It is not necessary to request authorization for those practices (in public or private entities) which form part of the study plan for which the student visa was granted.
Contracts should be formalized in writing and should adapt to a part time working contract.
The issued authorization will not be limited geographically, except if it coincides with teaching periods, in which case it will be limited to the residential area of the visa holder.
The validity of the authorization will not be longer than that of the visa or study permit.
Work permits will be renewed if there is no change in the circumstances in which it was originally issued, as long as the student visa renewal authorization has been obtained.
Brochure
