Student visa & permits in Spain
Student visa, residence permit, registration, fees, deadlines and document guidance for studying in Spain.
Read the complete Spain study abroad guide.
Visa & Immigration
For non-EU students undertaking more than 90 days of higher education, Spain uses a long-duration study authorisation and, where required, a study visa for entry. Under the current regulation, applications should normally be filed at least two months before the studies begin, unless a documented enrolment timetable or exceptional circumstance makes that impossible.
Financial means are measured against the IPREM. In 2026, 100% of the monthly IPREM is EUR 600 for the student, plus 75% for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional family member. Money already paid for accommodation for the full stay can reduce the maintenance amount under the official rule; tuition/registration payments are treated separately.
Insurance must be with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and provide benefits comparable to the Spanish National Health System. Spanish consular guidance generally requires no deductibles or co-payments and treats ordinary travel insurance as insufficient. Adult visa applicants normally provide criminal-record evidence for the required period. A medical certificate is part of the consular/visa route, but the Ministry expressly states that it is not required when a qualifying higher-education study authorisation is applied for from inside Spain.
Requirements can vary in presentation by consulate, so use the Ministry information sheet together with the checklist of the specific Spanish consulate handling your case.
Source: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/migraciones/w/estancia-por-estudios
Residence Permit
The current immigration regulation changed an important old pattern: for higher education, the long-duration study authorisation can run for the total official duration of the studies. Where it is granted for more than one year, the student must provide proof of continued enrolment/registration at the start of each academic year to maintain validity. It is therefore no longer accurate to tell every higher-education student that the permit must be renewed annually.
If the authorised stay exceeds six months, obtain the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) in person within one month of entry/notification as applicable. The NIE is the identification number, while the TIE is the physical card. Municipal empadronamiento is a separate local registration that is useful for many services and may be requested in local procedures; do not assume it is legally identical to the TIE process.
For EU long-term residence, current Ministry guidance states that authorised study or vocational-training periods count at 50% of their duration in the relevant long-term-EU calculation. This is a specific legal rule, not the 'contested' position described in older guides.
Source: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/migraciones/w/estancia-por-estudios
Common questions
What should international students know about visa in Spain?
Higher-education applications should generally be filed at least two months before study; 2026 maintenance is 100% IPREM, currently EUR 600/month.
What should international students know about residence in Spain?
Higher-education authorisation can cover the full official programme; TIE is required for stays over six months, and study time can count 50% toward EU long-term residence.