Student Visa Spain: A Complete Guide 2026
International students must apply for a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain if their course duration is longer than 90 days. You must meet the strict requirements set under the current Spanish immigration regulations to get an approval.
Most student visa refusals in Spain happen due to avoidable technical and documentation errors, not eligibility. If you are planning to apply for a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain, call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today to receive expert legal advice and professional support tailored to your situation.
What Is a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain?
A Spanish Long-Term Study Visa (‘Visado de Estudios’) is a study and stay authorisation that allows foreign national students to reside in Spain for more than 90 days to pursue higher education studies or post-compulsory secondary education at duly accredited educational institutions.
To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must meet the academic, financial, and administrative requirements established under the new Immigration Regulations (approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024) which is in effect since 20 May 2025.
EU, EEA or Swiss nationals do not need a visa to live and study in Spain regardless of the course duration. All other foreign students must apply for a Spanish student visa if their course duration is longer than 90 days.
For short-term study courses (i.e., whose duration is less than three months), via-exempted nationals will have to apply for an ETIAS permission while visa-required nationals must obtain a Schengen visa.
Page Contents
- What Is a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain?
- Types of Studies Covered by a Long-Term Study Visa Spain
- Eligibility Requirements for a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
- Minimum Financial Requirements
- How to Apply for a Spanish Long-Term Study Visa
- Documents Required for a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
- Spain Long-Term Study Visa Processing Time
- Eligible Family Members
- Extending a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
- Common Refusal Reasons
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Types of Studies Covered by a Long-Term Study Visa Spain
A Spanish Long-Term Study Visa covers both higher education studies and post-compulsory secondary education where the course duration is longer than 90 days. You must be offered a seat in a relevant course at one of the duly accredited Spanish educational institutions.
Higher Education Studies
For the visa purpose, the following programmes are considered as higher education studies:
- Official university degree programmes or university-specific qualifications
- Higher artistic education programmes
- Advanced vocational training programmes (higher vocational education)
- Advanced professional studies in visual arts and design
- Advanced sports education programmes
You may undertake any of the above programmes either in person or through a hybrid format. In the latter scenario, you must comply with the attendance requirements established by the applicable regulations.
Post-Compulsory Secondary Education
The following programmes fall under this category:
- Upper secondary education (‘Bachillerato’)
- Intermediate vocational training programmes
- Professional artistic education (music and dance)
- Intermediate professional studies in visual arts and design
- Intermediate sports education programmes
Additional Permitted Activities
The Spain Long-Term Study Visa also permits international students to participate in student mobility programmes for compulsory or post-compulsory secondary education at officially recognised Spanish educational or scientific institutions.
The visa also allows participation in volunteer programmes aimed at objectives of general interest. Such programmes must operate on a non-profit basis, where activities are unpaid except for reimbursement of expenses, pocket money, or both.
You may also undertake educational training activities, such as Spanish language courses or courses in Spain’s co-official languages (including programs offered by institutions such as the Instituto Cervantes), on this visa.
Eligibility Requirements for a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must:
- Not be an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or an eligible family member benefiting from EU free movement regulations
- Not be in an irregular immigration situation in Spain
- Not be listed as inadmissible within the Schengen Area
- Not pose a threat to public order, public security, or public health in Spain
- Have been admitted to an authorised Spanish educational institution
- Have secured a place on the course and paid tuition fees
- Have private health insurance valid in Spain
- Demonstrate sufficient financial means
- Pay the visa fee
- Be able to submit a criminal record certificate if you are going to stay in Spain for more than 180 days
Minimum Financial Requirements
You must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Spain (as well as that of your accompanying dependent family members, if any). The following table provides a snapshot of the minimum funds required:
| Category | Financial Baseline | Monthly | Annual |
| Main Applicant (i.e., the foreign student) | 100% IPREM | €600 | €7,200 |
| First family member | 75% IPREM | €450 | €5,400 |
| Each additional family member | 50% IPREM | €300 | €3,600 |
Note that:
- The above figures do not include tuition fees
- You may demonstrate financial means through personal funds, scholarships, or family support
How to Apply for a Spanish Long-Term Study Visa
The application process for a Long-Term Study Visa Spain will vary depending on where you are applying from, i.e. from outside Spain or within the country. However, in both cases, go through the following steps before you apply:
- Check the eligibility criteria including the minimum financial requirements and confirm that you can meet them
- Secure a seat in a course offered by an accredited Spanish institution and receive the official acceptance letter
- Arrange for all your necessary supporting documents and information required to complete the visa application
- Remember to legalise/apostille all required documents
If You Are Applying From Abroad
If you are submitting your application from outside Spain, your application must be submitted to the Spanish Consulate having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
In some countries, there may be an official third-party consular services provider who is authorised to receive your visa application and documents on behalf of the Spanish Consulate. For example, if you are applying for a Spain Long-Term Study Visa from the UK, BLS International is the official third-party consular services provider.
You must submit your visa application at least two months before your course begins. You must submit your application in person. For minors, a parent or guardian (or a duly accredited representative) can submit on their behalf.
You may have to attend a visa interview with a consular officer and/or submit additional documents, if asked. Submit any such documents within the deadline mentioned to avoid refusal.
If your application is successful and you are granted a Long-Term Study Visa, you can travel to Spain. After arriving in Spain, apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within 30 days. You can apply at the Foreign Nationals’ Office or at your local police station.
If You Are Applying From Within Spain
In certain cases, you may be able to submit your visa application from within Spain (e.g., you are already in Spain on a tourist visa).
Here also you must submit the application at least two months before the course start date. Plus, you must apply within two months before your current Spain visa expiry date. Your application will have to be filed with the relevant Immigration Office (‘Oficina de Extranjería’).
You must submit your application in person. For minors, a parent or guardian (or a duly accredited representative) can submit on their behalf.
Documents Required for a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
We have provided here a list of usual documents (but note that the Spanish authorities may request additional documents depending on your circumstances):
- Your current passport issued within the past 10 years, which must be valid for at least one year and contain at least two blank pages
- National visa application form, completed and duly signed
- A recent passport-size, colour photo
- Your acceptance letter from an accredited Spanish education institution (or from the organisation with whom you will work as a volunteer)
- Proof of course admission fee payment
- Address proof in your country of residence (if applying from abroad)
- Proof of financial means (e.g., bank statements, scholarship documents, a notarised letter from the sponsor, student loan documents, etc.)
- Health insurance
- Proof of the parent’s or guardian’s identity and capacity (in case of minor applicants)
- Authorization of legal representatives, if applicable
- Criminal record check certificate from the country(es) of residence, if course duration is over six months
- A medical certificate certifying that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health in Spain per the 2005
- International Health Regulations
- Visa fee payment receipt
- Relationship proof (e.g., birth certificates, marriage or partnership certificates, etc.) for accompanying family members, if any
Spain Long-Term Study Visa Processing Time
If you are applying from outside Spain, the Spanish Consulate may take up to one month to process your application and issue a decision. If you do not get to hear from them within a month, your application will be deemed refused (this scenario is known as the ‘negative administrative silence’).
For applications filed from within Spain, the visa processing may take up to two months. Administrative silence even after two months will be considered a visa refusal.
If the relevant Spanish authorities ask you for additional documents, the calculation of your visa processing time will start from the date of the pending document(s) submission.
Eligible Family Members
Eligible family members may accompany you as your dependants on a Long-Term Study Visa provided you are going to pursue higher education studies or certain specialised healthcare training programmes in Spain.
You may bring your:
- Spouse, civil/registered partner, or unmarried partner in a stable relationship
- Dependent minor children
- Adult children if they are dependent on you due to any disabilities or such other reason(s)
A family member providing assistance to a dependent student may also accompany the student.
Requirements for Family Members
Accompanying family members must be able to:
- Prove their family relationship with the main applicant
- Demonstrate sufficient proof of funds
- Submit documentary proof of a valid health insurance
- Provide criminal record check certificates where required (not applicable for minors)
Extending a Spain Long-Term Study Visa
You may be able to renew your visa provided you continue to meet the relevant requirements, specifically:
- You remain enrolled in your educational programme and continue to participate in it
- You can demonstrate sufficient financial means for yourself (and any accompanying family members)
- You have a valid health insurance coverage
- You have paid the required visa fees
You must apply within two months before your current visa expiry date, or up to three months after expiry. Although renewing your visa in Spain after expiry is not considered as overstaying your permission, we recommend you apply for a renewal before your current visa expires.
If successful, your visa will generally be renewed for the duration of the academic year, subject to a maximum duration of one year per renewal. You may be able to renew your student visa in Spain twice under the same authorisation.
Common Refusal Reasons for a Spanish Long-Term Study Visa
Spanish Long-Term Study Visa refusals are not uncommon. The document-heavy and time-sensitive application process often leads to visa refusals not because the applicants fail to meet the eligibility requirements, but because they fail to submit sufficient documentary evidence on time.
Common visa refusal reasons include:
- Insufficient or improper evidence for proving sufficient financial means
- Health insurance policies that do not comply with relevant Spanish regulations
- Incomplete legalisation/apostille chain for foreign documents
- The concerned educational institution not officially recognised or accredited in Spain
- Applying at the wrong consulate or outside the permitted application window
- Missing or incorrectly translated documents
You may be able to lodge an appeal in case of a refusal, but this is where professional support matters. We strongly recommend consulting a Spanish immigration specialist lawyer even before you apply for a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain to increase your chances of receiving a positive decision, and/or advise on next steps if your application is refused.
How Can Total Law Help?
Spanish immigration rules are complex and varied in nature. All visa applications, including Long-Term Study Visas, are subject to stringent checks by Spanish consular authorities to rule out any immigration abuse.
Even if you meet all eligibility requirements, you must pay due diligence while filling up the relevant form(s) as well as arranging for supporting documentation.
Speak to Total Law. If you wish to study in Spain and require assistance with your student visa or study stay authorisation application, our legal team can provide specialised advice and legal assistance in Spanish immigration and nationality matters.
To find out more about the tailored services we provide and how we can help you, call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact online today to speak with our immigration advisers.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply for a job seeker’s visa to stay in Spain for up to one year after your student visa expires. It allows you to look for a job in Spain. However, you may not be able to extend or renew this permit. Once you have a job, your employer can then apply for a work permit for you.
Only 50% of any time spent on a student visa in Spain will be counted while calculating the required five-year period to apply for a residence permit.
If you are coming to Spain to pursue higher education studies, you will be authorised to work up to 30 hours a week on a Long-Term Study Visa. This provision enables applicants to support themselves financially in Spain. Plus, it may later facilitate a smoother transition to a residence and work permit in Spain based on the employment these students are already carrying out.
You are not required to meet any language proficiency requirement to apply for a Long-Term Study Visa in Spain. However, if you are applying for a Spanish-taught programme, your educational institution may ask for a relevant language certification.
IELTS is not required to apply for a Long-Term Study Visa. However, you may have to provide an IELTS score if this is one of the requirements from your Spanish educational institution.
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