Student visa to Spain – everything you need know

Student visa (type D) is intended for studying in Spain for more than 90 days in accredited full-time or mixed (full-time-distance) programs. It is suitable for university students, as well as participants in official exchange programs, internships, volunteering or secondary education abroad. The visa gives the right to study,work up to 30 hours a week and freely travel within the Schengen area after receiving a foreigner’s card (TIE). The main condition is full study (minimum 90% of the workload) in an officially recognized (accredited) program. For example, universities must be included in the RUCT of the Ministry of Education, language courses must be accredited by the Instituto Cervantes and last ≥20 hours per week.

Conditions for obtaining a visa

• Curriculum. Enrollment must be confirmed by an official document (for example, Resguardo de matrícula and payment receipt). The program can be full-time or mixed (but not completely remote). Universities, language schools and other educational institutions must have appropriate accreditation (the list of accredited universities is in the RUCT Register, language schools are on the Instituto Cervantes website).
• Financial guarantees. It is necessary to confirm the availability of funds for living in the amount of at least 100% IPREM. If you have paid housing, the amount may be reduced (a document confirming this is required). Funds are raised from accounts (including foreign ones) or sponsorship guarantees with notary confirmation. Lack of funds is a common reason for refusal.
• Health insurance. Policy from a Spanish insurer with full coverage for the entire stay. Insurance must be active at the time of filing. If the applicant plans to work, you can take out insurance or register in the Seguridad Social system after arrival.
• Certificates. For programs over 180 days, a certificate of good conduct with an apostille and a certified translation into Spanish is required. You also need a medical certificate (form 082/u according to the standards of the Russian Ministry of Health) with translation and apostille. All documents not in Spanish are translated by a sworn translator.
• Age. The law does not limit the age of the student, but some consulates may not issue student visas to persons over ~30 years of age for short-term language courses. For higher education (bachelor’s, master’s) there are no age restrictions; applicants over 30 years of age also receive visas with a full package of documents and serious educational purposes.

Changes from May 20, 2025

With the entry into force of the new Regulation on foreigners (Real Decreto 1155/2024, effective May 20 2025) the rules for applying for study visas have changed. University students can now apply both through consulates at their place of residence and online from Spain (via the Mercurio platform). However, students of language courses can no longer apply for a visa while in Spain: they are required to apply only through the consulate in their country of citizenship or legal residence. When applying through the consulate, an appointment must be made at least 2 months before the start of training. We recommend that you check all current information on the consulate’s website and on the official portal of the migration service (extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es).

Submitting documents from Spain

University students (after matriculation and before the start of classes) can apply for a visa while in Spain if they have a valid Schengen or national visa with at least two months of legal stay “remaining”. Such an application is submitted through the electronic platform Mercurio (Sede Electrónica de Extranjería) with a digital signature (for example, the Cl@ve system or an electronic certificate). When submitting online, you should upload PDF files of all documents (EX-00 form, passport, photo, confirmation of enrollment, bank statement, insurance, etc.) and ensure that they are correct. Missing documents in the application will result in refusal.

Benefits of a student visa

Study and career. It legalizes long-term stays to study in Spain. A diploma from a Spanish university or a Cervantes certificate are valued in the labor market. After completing the program, the visit is allowed to apply for a residence permit to look for work (based on “Ley 14/2013” ​​for up to 12 months), and in the future – to work in a specialty or other types of residency (entrepreneurship, “digital nomad”, etc.).

Work while studying. Holders of a student visa (and subsequent TIE card) are entitled to work for up to 30 hours per week. University students do not require additional permission; it is given automatically along with the visa. This allows you to bolster your budget and gain experience. Important: work should not interfere with your studies, otherwise it may result in refusal to renew or change your status.

Trips. With a visa (and an issued TIE card), you can freely enter other Schengen countries during the validity period of the visa. The TIE card is a foreigner’s plastic document issued upon arrival (see below). Without it, crossing borders is problematic.

Family reunion. The student’s spouse and minor children can obtain a resident residence permit (family visa) linked to the student visa. These visas provide the right to reside, but not to work. It is best to apply for them at the same time as the main applicant’s student visa. Requirements vary by country of origin; check them on the consulate’s websites.

Choosing a curriculum

Educational institution. Choose only officially registered institutions. For university programs, check entry into the Register of Universities and Centers (RUCT). An unregistered university or school will automatically lead to refusal. The accreditation of language courses is similar – only schools licensed by Instituto Cervantes are eligible for a visa.

Class format. As a rule, studies must take place full-time or with a full-time component of at least 50% (at the university a mixed format with an online part is allowed). Programs with fewer than 20 hours of instruction per week do not qualify. Even the online elements should not replace the main program.

Specialties. All levels of education are suitable: bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, Postgrado, postgraduate, secondary education, etc. The main thing is the formal recognition of the program (official status, courses as planned). Both Spanish- and English-language courses are acceptable, but an office in Spain with registration (RUCT or its equivalent) is required.

Other programs. With a student visa, you can participate in recognized internships and volunteer projects with an educational component. The program must be official, with confirmed enrollment. Such destinations (within the framework of paragraphs d, e of Article 34 RD) also allow for a visa.

Preparation of documents

Collect a complete package of documents in advance to avoid refusal due to shortcomings. The main list (for Russia) includes:EX-00 form, valid international passport, 4×3 cm photo, confirmation of enrollment in the educational institution (Resguardo de matrícula and payment receipt), bank statement with a balance of ≥7,200 €, Spanish health insurance and, for studies over 180 days, a certificate of criminal record with apostille and translation. All documents in Russian must be translated by a sworn translator (into Spanish). Other certificates (medical 082/u, x-ray certificate) are also translated and, if necessary, apostilled. Errors in translation or late documents are a common cause of refusals.

When filing in Spain, documents are uploaded to Mercurio. There you will need:EX-00 form, passport, photo, Resguardo matrícula, extract with ≥7200 €, insurance, receipt of payment of the fee, registration at the place of residence (para fingerprints), certificates of good conduct and health status (translations). Don’t forget the CL@VE digital signature or electronic certificate – without it the system will not miss the application.

Submitting an application

Through the consulate. Sign up at the Spanish consulate (for example, in Moscow or St. Petersburg) in advance – at least 2 months before the start of the course. Come with a complete set of documents. Attach a printout of the paid visa application form and copies of everything you are submitting. Check passport validity (≥1 year) and the expiration dates of all certificates. Missing papers or expired certificates will result in automatic refusal. The consulate may require 3-5 working days for processing (but in any case the shipment goes to the Spanish Migration Office).

Via Mercurio (in Spain). To submit to the Migration Office (Extranjería), use the website Sede Electronica – Mercurio. The application must be completed online only. You need to make sure that you have an active electronic signature (CL@VE, FNMT certificate, etc.). Upload scanned PDFs of all documents. The system will issue a Resguardo – confirmation of submission. Make sure all files are readable. Loading errors or empty fields will result in a delay in processing.

Consideration of the application

The review period is usually 2-4 months. Sometimes the consulate or migration office requests additional documents. After approval, you will receive a student visa type D (in your passport) with the start and end dates of your studies. Official visa notification comes by mail or e-mail from the consulate.

Obtaining a student card (TIE)

Enrollment and submission of fingerprints. Within a month of entry on a student visa, you are required to complete a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)– foreigner’s plastic card. To do this, you need to sign up to submit fingerprints through the website policia.gob.es or in person at the police department. You must take with you the original passport, two 3×4 photos and a receipt for payment of 16.08 € (form 790). You will also need registration (Padrón) at the address.

Resguardo and waiting for the card. After submitting the data, you will receive a paper Resguardo – a temporary confirmation of application for TIE. Keep it, it confirms your legal status. The TIE card takes about a month to produce (approximately 30–35 days). You will receive a notification about readiness via SMS or e-mail. You must pick up the finished card in person. Check all the data on the card at once – if there are errors, they must be corrected immediately through the police office. After receiving the TIE, you can freely move around Schengen within the validity period.

Student visa extension

If you continue your studies after completing your first year or are re-studying, your visa can be extended. To do this, a new application (same as the original) is submitted 60 days before the expiration of the current visa. Basic requirements: enrollment in the next course (over 50% of the load), good grades (certificate of academic performance from the university), maintaining finances (7200 € per year) and insurance.Students of language courses can extend their visa only once and only after passing DELE/SIELE exam (requirement of the new Reglamento). The extension is submitted through Mercurio (similar to the submission for receipt). The decision takes up to 3–4 months. If you didn’t have time to extend the extension, you can formally apply even within 90 days after the visa, but it’s better in advance.

Frequent errors and refusals

Often applications are rejected due to errors and omissions. Reasons for refusal:

• Not enough money. Extract <7200 € (or not for all family members, if they are being brought). Always take a reserve and a current bank statement.
• Incorrect program. School/university is not on the register (RUCT or CSIC), the course does not meet the requirements (wrong level, <20 hours/week, no final diploma). Before enrolling, check your accreditation on the official website of Instituto Cervantes or the Ministry of Education.
• Inaccurate translation of documents. Errors in translation or lack of apostille on certificates lead to refusal. Order translations from sworn translators and get apostilles.
• Omission of documents. Any paper can be important: a certificate of good conduct with translation, medical certificate 082/u, insurance, extract. Consulate and migration require a complete package. Failure to submit one of the required certificates is a stop request.

If you receive a refusal, the reason will be indicated in writing (for example, “insufficient language level,” “unsatisfactory program,” etc.). There is the right to appeal within a month– submit it through the consulate, attaching the missing documents or explanations. Resubmission is possible, but it is better to prepare thoroughly right away.

Tips

• Prepare everything in advance. Check the validity period of your passport and all certificates.
• Order translation and apostille in advance.
• Choose programs with official accreditation. Keep all confirmations of payment and enrollment.
• Apply for a visa at least 2-3 months before the start of your studies.
• Maintain positive motivation in the letter: explain the choice of course and Spain.
• Leave contact details or seek advice from a trusted migration service to avoid minor issues errors.

Important: accurate compliance with all requirements of the Regulations and the presence of official links to laws will increase the chances of approval. For example, financial requirements are established by Art. 35 RD 1155/2024 (100% IPREM), right to work – Art. 57 RD 1155/2024 (≤30 hours/week), and post-study opportunities – “Ley 14/2013, YES 17”. Use official resources (migration portal, consulate websites) and prepare documents according to the regulations so that the visa application goes smoothly.

As a result, a student visa is your legal pass to Spain for the duration of your studies. It opens the door to Europe: studying at accredited universities, working up to 30 hours a week and traveling around Schengen. Collect a complete package of documents, make sure the program complies with the requirements of the law, and your application will be as reliable as possible. Successful preparation based on official sources and support from specialists will help avoid refusals and give you a chance to start student life in Spain.

Sources: official Reglamento de Extranjería, Ley 14/2013, IPREM 2025, as well as government resources of migration services and websites of Instituto Cervantes and RUCT.