Spain Student Visa: Requirements and Legal Support
Planning to study in Spain for more than 90 days? Ibertax helps you prepare a well-structured application based on your course, nationality and place of application. Our bilingual team reviews the legal requirements, supporting documents and filing strategy.
- Response within one business day.
- Support in English and Spanish.
- Clear legal fees from the start.
Student Visa service from €490 per applicant, VAT included.
Do You Need a Student Visa for Spain?
Non-EU, EEA or Swiss nationals generally need the appropriate study authorisation when they intend to remain in Spain for more than 90 days. Stays of up to 90 days do not use the national Student Visa procedure, although other entry conditions may apply depending on nationality.
For stays longer than six months, students will normally also need to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card —TIE— after entering Spain.
The correct route depends on your course and on whether you apply through the Spanish consulate in your country of residence or, when legally permitted, from within Spain.
Which Courses Can Qualify?
Higher education
University degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral programmes and other recognised higher-education qualifications that meet the applicable legal conditions.
Vocational and post-compulsory education
Certain recognised vocational-training and post-compulsory secondary-education programmes.
Spanish language courses
In-person Spanish courses may qualify when provided by an Official Language School or a centre in Spain accredited by Instituto Cervantes and the remaining conditions are met.
Other training activities
Some professional-training, student-mobility and educational programmes follow specific rules and must be assessed individually.
Do not assume that a course qualifies simply because the provider describes itself as accredited. Check the institution and programme before paying the enrolment fee.
Spain Student Visa Requirements
The exact documents depend on the course, duration, age, nationality and place of application. Applicants will generally need to provide:
- A valid passport meeting the applicable validity requirements.
- Admission to a recognised institution or authorised centre.
- Evidence of enrolment or payment when required.
- Sufficient financial means for the entire stay.
- Health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and suitable coverage.
- A medical certificate when applicable.
- Criminal-record certificates for certain adult applicants and stays longer than six months.
- Apostille or legalisation of foreign public documents.
- Sworn translations of documents not issued in Spanish.
- Parental or guardian authorisation when applicable.
Financial means are calculated using the IPREM in force on the application date: 100% per month for the student, 75% for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional family member. Tuition fees do not count as living expenses.
How Ibertax Supports Your Application
Case and route review
We assess your nationality, programme, dates and place of application to identify the appropriate procedure.
Personalised document checklist
We explain which documents you need and which ones require an apostille, legalisation or sworn translation.
Legal document review
We check the consistency of your admission, financial evidence, insurance and supporting documents.
Application preparation
We prepare the relevant forms and coordinate filing or representation where legally permitted.
Arrival and TIE
For stays longer than six months, and when included in your selected service, we assist with preparation of the TIE application after arrival.
Can You Work in Spain with a Student Visa?
It depends on the type of study authorisation. A long-term stay authorisation for higher education automatically allows employed or self-employed work without an additional procedure, provided that the activity is compatible with the studies and does not exceed 30 hours per week.
For certain vocational programmes, automatic permission may be limited to training activities carried out in a company. Other cases may require an additional work authorisation.
Always verify the conditions of your authorisation before starting work.
Can Your Family Join You?
Eligible family members may accompany the student mainly when the main applicant is undertaking higher education and the financial, insurance and family-relationship requirements are met.
Depending on the case, eligible relatives may include a spouse, registered or proven long-term partner, minor children and certain adult children requiring support because of disability or illness.
Accompanying family members are not authorised to work under this student-family status.
What Can You Do After Completing Your Studies?
After obtaining the relevant qualification or certificate, you may be able to modify your study status to a residence and work authorisation if you meet the requirements of the selected route.
Certain higher-education graduates may also qualify for a residence authorisation to look for work or develop a business project.
There is no general three-year waiting period. However, the change is not automatic and must be requested within the applicable period.
Explore other Spanish residence options or browse all Ibertax services.
Clear Fees for Your Spain Student Visa
Student Visa
Per applicant · VAT included
- Eligibility and funds review
- Full document preparation
- Application coordination and tracking
- NIE assistance
Student Visa + TIE
Per applicant · VAT included
- Everything in the Student Visa plan
- NIE, empadronamiento and TIE card
- First annual renewal guidance
- Priority bilingual case handler
Government fees and third-party costs —including insurance, apostilles, certificates and translations— are not included unless expressly stated otherwise in the service proposal.
“Ibertax organised my enrolment proof, insurance and financial documents and my student visa was approved in time to start my master’s in Madrid without stress.”
— Master’s Student, relocated from Mexico to Madrid
Spain Student Visa FAQs
When should I start the application?
As a general rule, the application must be filed at least two months before the course begins. Starting earlier provides time to obtain certificates, apostilles, translations, insurance and a consular appointment.
How much money do I need to show?
The general benchmark is 100% of the IPREM in force per month for the student, plus 75% for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional family member. Tuition fees do not count as living expenses.
Can I apply from within Spain?
Only certain applicants and programmes qualify for the in-country route, subject to legal-status and timing requirements. The appropriate route should be checked before travelling or enrolling.
Can I work up to 30 hours per week?
Higher-education students can generally work up to 30 hours per week when the work is compatible with their studies. Different conditions or an additional authorisation may apply to other programmes.
Do I need a TIE card?
Students staying for more than six months must personally apply for a TIE within the applicable period after entering Spain.
Can my partner or children accompany me?
This may be possible for qualifying family members of higher-education students. Additional requirements apply, and accompanying family members are not authorised to work under this status.
Does any Spanish language course qualify?
No. The course generally needs to be in person and provided by an Official Language School or a centre in Spain accredited by Instituto Cervantes, subject to the remaining legal requirements.
Can I switch to a work permit after graduating?
A modification may be possible after obtaining the relevant qualification or certificate and meeting the requirements of the selected route. There is no general three-year waiting period, but the change is not automatic.
Can Ibertax guarantee approval?
No legal adviser can guarantee the authority’s decision. Ibertax helps reduce avoidable errors and prepares a legally coherent application.
Prepare Your Application Before Your Course Starts
The earlier we review your programme, dates and documents, the more time you will have to correct potential issues before filing. Contact Ibertax on WhatsApp or by phone to discuss the scope of our service.
Response within one business day · English and Spanish support · VAT included