Student Visa Spain from Canada

Spain student visas allow non-EU/EEA students to engage in one of the following activities:

• Study for a degree or advanced degree program in a Spanish higher education institution.
• Participate in a student exchange programme in an accredited scientific or educational institution, whether public or private
• Engage in a training program
• Conduct a research
• Partake in an internship program
• Perform volunteer services

To qualify for a Spain study visa, you must have been accepted in an accredited educational or research institution or in an internship or volunteer program. You’ll need to submit your acceptance letter as part of the required documents when applying for a Student visa at a Spanish consulate or embassy.

Page Contents

• Overview of Spain Student Visas
• Do I Need a Visa to Study in Spain?
• Types of Spanish Student Visa
• Schengen Student Visa
• Spain Short-Stay Student Visa
• Long-Term Student Visa
• Spain Student Visa Requirements
• How to Get a Student Visa for Spain from Canada?
• Student Residence Permit in Spain
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Student Visa to Spain?
• Spanish Student Visa Cost
• Can I Work While I Study in Spain?
• How Total Law Can Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Canadians do not need a visa for short-stay studies of less than three months. However, you will need an appropriate visa if your course or study program lasts longer than three months.

Nationals of EU/EEA member states do not require student visas for short-term and long-term studies in Spain. They’ll only need to register their stay with the Spanish authorities and obtain a residence card (NIE).

There are three main classes of Spain student visa:

• Schengen Student Visa
• Short-Stay Student Visa
• Long-Stay Student Visa

The student visa type you’ll need depends on the duration of your program or course of study. We’ll discuss each one in detail in the next sections.

The Schengen Student visa is a short-stay visa that allows international students to study in Spain or participate in training and exchange programs for up to three months (90 days). A Schengen visa will enable you to study in Spain and other Schengen countries, provided your entire study duration is less than 90 days.

Canadians can visit the Schengen area visa-free for up to three months within six months. Therefore, you’ll not need a Schengen Student visa to study in Spain for less than three months. The Schengen Student visa is for non-EU nationals who need a visa to enter the Schengen area.

It is a great option for people who want to conduct short research or attend a training program in Spain. You do not need to be a current student in your home country to qualify. You can use the Schengen visa to attend professional training for career advancement.

A Schengen Student visa is valid for only three months. If you need to stay in Spain for more than three months to complete your studies, you may have to leave Spain and apply for another visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country. Overstaying your Schengen student visa duration can result in a fine, deportation, or a ban from entering the Schengen area.

Schengen Student visa holders cannot work in Spain. Working on a Schengen visa is illegal and can attract sanctions.

Spain Short-stay Student visa is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who want to study, conduct research, or participate in a training program for three to six months in Spain. As a Canadian, you’ll need to apply for a Short-stay Student visa if you intend to study in Spain for over three months but less than six months.

Depending on your study purpose, you must be accepted into an educational, research, or vocational institute before applying for the Short-stay Student visa. You’ll need to submit the acceptance letter when applying for the visa. You’ll also need to provide detailed information about your study plan, research project, or training programme.

You cannot work in Spain with a Short-stay Student visa. A short-stay student visa also does not lead to Spanish residence. You cannot obtain a residence card with a short-stay student visa.

The Spanish short-stay student visa is issued for the duration of your study and is not extendable. You must leave Spain at the time stipulated on the visa or risk facing penalties for overstaying. If you must stay beyond 180 days, you must leave Spain and apply for a new visa at the Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country.

The Spanish Long-stay Student visa allows international students to study in Spain for more than six months. Students on a Long-stay Student visa can work part-time for up to 30 hours as long as it does not affect their studies. You can also work during holidays but cannot do full-time work on a Student visa.

Canadian citizens are required to obtain a Long-stay Student visa to study in Spain for more than six months. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need a visa to study long-term in Spain, as they enjoy free movement within the European Union. However, they must register their presence with the Central Register of Foreigners and obtain an EU registration card.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, you must apply for a Foreign Identification Number (NIE) within one month of arriving in Spain on a Long-stay Student visa. You’ll apply for a residence card –tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE) upon receiving your NIE number. The residence card is a biometric identity card that carries your photograph, immigration status, NIE number, and duration of stay.

The TIE is a temporary residence card essential as an identity document for opening bank accounts, paying taxes, obtaining a driver’s licence, and accessing social services. It is valid only for one year, and you’ll have to renew it yearly.

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Spanish long-stay student visa. You must:

• Have a valid Canadian passport with at least two blank pages
• Be accepted into an accredited research or educational institution or language program
• Have sufficient financial means to pay your tuition and support yourself. If someone or an organization sponsors you, you must provide proof of financial sponsorship or a confirmation letter.
• Have a clean criminal record certificate for the five years before your application. This will be issued to you in Canada and it must be authorized with the apostille of the Hague.
• Have a medical certificate issued by a credible physician and legalized with Hague apostille certification.
• Medical insurance (not travel insurance) that is equivalent to healthcare Spaniards receive from Spain’s public health system.
• Have legal residence arrangements that you’ll stay when in once you arrive in Spain.

You must provide relevant documents and certificates as evidence that you meet these requirements when submitting your long-stay visa application. All documents in other languages must be translated into Spanish.

The first step to obtaining a Spanish student visa is to apply to an accredited institute for a place in their study, research, training, or volunteer program. The institution will issue you an acceptance letter with which you’ll make your visa application.

After receiving your acceptance letter, download, complete, and sign a National visa application form. Package the visa application form, your acceptance letter, and other supporting documentation, and submit it in person at the nearest Spanish embassy or consulate. Canadians already in Spain as visa-exempt visitors can apply for a student visa at the foreign office in Spain. However, they must apply at least 30 days before their legal stay expires.

You can apply for the visa up to three months before your resumption date and, at the latest, three weeks before the expected start of your program. However, it’s best to start preparing early to avoid delays that can make you lose your admission.

The Long-stay Stay Student visa you’ll receive from the embassy only grants you entry into Spain. It is not of itself a resident permit. You must apply for a Foreign Identification Number (NIE) within one month of arriving in Spain.

Once you receive your NIE, you’ll use the NIE to apply for a student residence card. The residence card is valid for one year but is renewable. If your programme or course extends beyond 12 months, you’ll have to apply for renewal for each year.

The processing times for a Spanish student visa depend on the consulate, volume of application, and place of application. Spain student visa applications submitted from outside the country are typically processed faster than applications made within Spain.

Spanish student visa applications submitted at Spanish embassies abroad are usually processed in 15 days to one month. It may extend longer if there’s a need for an interview or further investigations. Student visa applications from within Spain are usually processed between three and six months.

The visa fee for a student visa is approx CAD 131.9 (€80). You’ll also need a minimum of CAD 908.27 approx (€600) every month of your intended stay to prove that you have sufficient resources to support yourself. If you’re coming with dependents, you’ll need an additional CAD 450 (€297) for the first family member and CAD 300 (€198.13) for each subsequent family member.

Your ability to work while studying in Spain depends on the type of student visa you hold in Spain. International students cannot work in Spain with a Schengen student visa and Spain’s Short-stay Student visa. However, Long-stay Student visa holders are allowed to work part-time while studying. They can work up to 30 hours per week so long as it does not affect their studies.