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Have you decided to study in Spain and are now wondering what procedure you must follow? Continue reading this guide and find out.

The first important thing to mention is that this permit is intended for citizens from outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The second is that you can apply for this permit at the Spanish consulate in your country of origin or once you are in Spain during the first 2 months of your tourist period.

In this article I am going to focus on the procedure initiated in Spain and respond to the most common questions that people have regarding this procedure.

Which procedure must I follow to study in Spain?

Let’s name it: “Autorización de estancia por estudios”, it translates as “authorisation to stay to study”.

This permit would allow you to stay in Spain during the length of your studies (and normally up to a year).

If you are going to study at university or higher vocational training, you would also have the right to work in Spain up to 30 hours/week. It is also possible to work while studying something else, but you might have to apply separately for the work permit.

Can I apply for this permit with a language course?

There is no need to study at university for this procedure. Any official studies will do, including primary studies at school, high school, vocational training… Spanish language courses are accepted as long as the academy is authorised by the “Instituto Cervantes” and has at least 20 hours/week of study time.

Where should I go to apply?

You have two options:

(1) Going to the immigration office with all the paperwork ready and submitting the application in person. This requires booking an appointment with the immigration office here:
https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/icpplus

(2) Applying online on this site:
https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/mercurio/inicioMercurio.html

This option is very convenient as it does not require an appointment with the immigration office, plus you will receive a receipt immediately and updates by email.

Please note that to be able to use this option you must have a digital certificate, if you do not have one, you can ask a lawyer to submit the application on your behalf.

When should I submit the application?

Within the first 2 months of your stay, inside your tourist period. You must have at least 1 month of tourist time remaining at the time of your application.

What documents should I prepare?

– Official form Ex00. You can get it here:

https://www.inclusion.gob.es/documents/410169/2156469/00-Formulario_estancia.pdf

Please note that if you tick the option “CONSIENTO que las comunicaciones y notificaciones se realicen por medios electrónicos” you must have a digital certificate or any other form of accepted electronic identification to access communications from the immigration office, as these will be sent to an official electronic mailbox, not to your normal email.

– A whole copy of your passport (every page, even the blank ones). It must be valid for at least the duration of your studies.

– Proof that you are staying legally in Spain. This is normally proven by the entry stamp on your passport, but note that if you enter Spain from another Schengen country you might need a “declaración de entrada” (declaration of entry).

– Letter of acceptance or enrolment at your chosen university, school or academy.

– Private health insurance policy. Travel health insurance policies are not accepted. It is very important that the company is authorised to provide service in Spain and that the policy covers the same situations as the Spanish public health system (which is quite complete).

– Proof that you have enough money for your stay. Bank statements of the last 6 months. In 2023 you would need to prove that you have at least €7,200 in your bank account if you come on your own and are planning to stay 1 year. If you do not have this quantity, but can prove that your accommodation is already paid, the immigration office will take that into account.

It is also possible to provide a letter from your parents, tutors or the university saying that they swear to take care of your expenses and some proof that they can actually cover it (like bank statements) plus proof of your relation (birth certificate, passports of parents). This commitment is normally made before a notary public.

A common question students ask me is if they have to have the money in a Spanish bank account or in euros. The answer is no, you can have your money in whatever currency and whatever country.

If you will be staying in Spain for more than 6 months you will also need:

– Criminal records of the countries you have lived in covering the last 5 years.

– Medical certificate. It must state that you do not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. More specifically it should say:

“This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005”.

Or in Spanish:

“Este certificado médico acredita que el Sr./Sra. (…) no padece ninguna de las enfermedades que pueden tener repercusiones para la salud pública graves, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el reglamento sanitario internacional de 2005”.

It is possible to provide a medical certificate obtained in Spain.

What formalities must the documents comply with?

– In general, every official document issued in any country other than Spain must have the Hague Apostille or be legalised.

– Every document written in any language other than Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

You can find a sworn translator here:
https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Buscador-STIJ.aspx

How long does it take to apply for a student visa?

The immigration office has in theory 1 month to resolve the application, in practice it might take a little more than that, particularly at the start of the term in September when lots of applications are coming in.

How much does it cost to apply?

There is no official fee for this procedure.

What else should I do once the permit is granted?

If the permit allows you to stay in Spain more than 6 months, you must also apply for an identification card (TIE). The TIE procedure does have an official fee of €16.08 in 2023.

Can I bring my family with me?

Yes, but please note that in this case the monetary requirements will be higher and that they cannot apply directly in Spain with you, but at the Spanish consulate in their country of origin. They will not be authorised to work in Spain in any case.

I hope you could find the answer to your question here, if not, you can book a consultation with me here by sending an email to info@granadaimmigration.com.