Long-Term Student Visa In Spain Under The New Immigration Regulation

The following sections provide detailed information about this opportunity, curated with the expertise of the Klev & Vera team.

If you are from a country outside the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and wish to study in Spain for more than 90 days, you will need a long-term stay authorization for studies, also known as student visa.

The new Immigration Regulation sets additional legal requirements that students must meet for the approval of the long-term stay authorization for studies in Spain.

When beginning the process of coming to Spain for academic purposes, it's important to distinguish between the terms visa and authorization:

• Student Visa: This must be requested at the Spanish Consulate in your country of origin or legal residence. The visa is stamped in your passport and allows for legal entry into Spain for academic purposes. If your stay exceeds six months, you are required to apply for the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) once in Spain.

• Student Stay Authorization: This is processed directly in Spain when the person is already in the country as a tourist or under another type of permit. In this case, the application must be submitted to the Immigration Office in the province where the studies will take place. Once approved, a favorable resolution is issued, and if applicable, the TIE must also be requested.

While these are technically different procedures, it is common in practice to use the term student visa more generally to refer to both processes, regardless of whether the process begins abroad or from within Spain.

In immigration matters, it is also crucial to distinguish between the concepts of stay authorization and residence, as they imply different rights, requirements, and purposes. Understanding this distinction is key to choosing the right procedure based on each person’s academic or professional goals.

A stay authorization, also known as a study permit, allows a foreign national to remain in Spain for a set period, usually for specific purposes such as studies, internships, research, or exchange programs. It does not imply the intention to settle permanently and, from a legal perspective, is not considered residence for the purposes of nationality or long-term residence status.

In contrast, residence authorizes a person to live in Spain continuously with the intention of staying long-term. It can be temporary or long-term and does count as legal residence, allowing access to additional rights such as family reunification or citizenship application, among others.

Foreign students in Spain are granted a stay authorization for studies, which allows them to remain in the country while pursuing their education. However, this does not equate to residence, and therefore does not grant the same rights nor count toward benefits such as long-term residency or citizenship.

Although it’s common to hear expressions like “student residence” or “residence for studies,” it's important to note that these terms do not align with the official legal terminology as defined in Spanish law.

Who can apply for a Long-Term Student Visa in Spain?

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you may apply for this authorization if you have been admitted to a recognized Spanish institution to pursue higher education, post-compulsory secondary education, international mobility programs, volunteering, training activities (such as language assistantships, language courses, MIR entrance exam preparation, technical aptitude certificates or professional qualifications, vocational certificates) or healthcare sector programs.

Requirements for Higher Education Studies

• You must be admitted to a recognized institution of higher education, within a full-time program that leads to an officially recognized higher education degree.
• This includes university degrees offered by accredited higher education institutions, as well as Professional Training Master’s degrees (Máster de Formación Profesional).
• The term “recognized institution or center of higher education” refers to those that are accredited as such or affiliated with a recognized center, as well as those registered in the Register of Institutions and Centers of Higher Education, the Register of Universities, Centers and Degrees, the State Register of Non-University Educational Centers, or the corresponding official registers.

University studies may be carried out in-person or in a hybrid format; the rest of higher education programs may also be pursued in in-person or hybrid mode, provided that at least 50% is in-person.

Requirements for Pursuing Post-Compulsory Secondary Education Studies

• This includes Bachillerato, Intermediate Vocational Training (professional artistic education: music/dance), plastic arts and design education, sports education, and Vocational Specialist training.
• These studies must be taken at an authorized educational center, within the framework of a full-time program, and must lead to a recognized qualification.
• The educational center must be listed in the National Register of Non-University Educational Centers or in the corresponding official registers.

These studies may be carried out in-person or semi-in-person, provided that at least 50% of the program is in-person.

Requirements for other studies

For both international mobility and volunteer activities, training activities, or those in the healthcare field, the regulations also require that they take place in official centers and/or those registered in the corresponding registers. In the case of language studies, it is important to note that the center must be accredited by the Instituto Cervantes or a similar institution, depending on the language to be studied.

The distinction between different types of studies is important when determining how to process the application and the characteristics of the residence permit. Unless the applicant already holds another residence permit in the country, only authorizations for higher education, healthcare-related studies, and studies for technical qualification or professional accreditation may be applied for from within Spain, provided that the applicant is over 18 years of age. All other applications must be submitted through the Consulate.

If you want to submit your application from within Spain, you must ensure that it is submitted at least two months before the expiration of your current legal status in the country and before the start date of your course. In the case of applications submitted through the Consulate, they must be submitted at least two months prior to the start date of the course.

Additionally, the duration of the “study visa” will match the duration of the studies, up to a maximum of one year, except in the case of higher education and healthcare-related studies, where it may be granted for the full duration of the program.

This distinction in the type of studies also affects the possibility of renewing the authorization. For higher education and post-compulsory secondary education, two renewals are allowed. However, in the case of volunteering, language studies, or preparation for the MIR (Medical Residency Exam), only one renewal is permitted.

Furthermore, holders of a “study visa” for higher education are automatically authorized to work, both self-employed and employed, without the need for an additional procedure, though some limitations apply, which will be discussed later.

Understanding these concepts is essential before considering the practical and additional advantages offered by this type of long-term stay authorization for studies in Spain (commonly known as a “student residence permit” or “student visa”).

Benefits of the Long-Term Study Authorization in Spain

If you meet all the eligibility requirements, this long-term stay authorization for studies offers several advantages: the possibility of legally staying in Spain for more than 90 days during the academic year; the option to work up to 30 hours per week, provided it is compatible with your studies; access to curricular or extracurricular internships; the ability to bring family members; mobility within the Schengen Area; the possibility to renew the authorization, among others.

1. Legal Stay Status

The main purpose of this authorization is to ensure legal residence in Spain while pursuing your studies. Depending on the type of studies, the permit may cover the full duration of your academic program.

This legal status provides legal security as a student and allows you to pursue your academic activities without violating immigration laws.

2. Professional Integration

As mentioned earlier, study stay authorizations for higher education automatically allow students to work, both self-employed and employed, without the need for an additional procedure. In other words, higher education students can engage in employment or self-employment activities that are compatible with their studies. Post-compulsory secondary education students may participate in training activities as part of vocational education programs.

No employment activity may exceed 30 hours per week, except in the case of intensive vocational training.

3. Family Inclusion

Students may be joined by their family members in Spain. For higher education studies, family members may apply for the corresponding visas or authorizations either at the same time or later, provided that at least 90 calendar days remain on the student’s authorization.

The validity of the family members’ authorization will match that of the student, but family members are not authorized to work.

The term “family member” includes a spouse, registered partner or duly proven stable partner, minor children, dependent adult children, and any person assisting the holder in cases of disability or illness.

Admission Criteria and Requirements for Study Authorization

While the main features have been outlined, you must still meet certain additional basic criteria under Spanish law in order to obtain long-term stay authorization for studies. These requirements include:

• Not being in Spain illegally at the time of application.

• Proving the absence of diseases that pose a serious risk to public health, as defined by the International Health Regulations of 2005.

• To apply through the Consulate, you must be of legal age or at least 17 years old for higher education studies.

• If applying from within Spain (only possible for higher education), you must be of legal age and have legal status in the country.

• Submit the application at least two months before the start date of the studies and before the expiration of your legal stay, unless prevented by enrollment dates or other exceptional reasons.

• Have sufficient financial means to cover the costs of your stay, return to your home country, and those of any accompanying family members.

• Hold valid health insurance in Spain with an authorized insurer, offering coverage similar to the Spanish National Health System.

• If the stay exceeds six months, and you are of legal age with criminal responsibility, you must not have a criminal record in Spain or in any countries of residence during the last five years for offenses recognized under Spanish law.

• Pay the applicable processing fee.

• For accompanying family members, you must provide proof of the family relationship.

• If your stay exceeds six months, you must personally apply for a foreigner's identity card within one month of your arrival in Spain.

All documents must be legalized or apostilled and translated into Spanish or the co-official language of the region where the application is submitted, by a sworn translator authorized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC).

Our team at Klev&Vera is ready to assist you at every stage of the process, ensuring that your documentation meets all the requirements.

Каков процесс подачи и продления заявления?

Depending on the case, the application can be submitted either from within Spain or from abroad and must be submitted at least two months before the start of the studies. If applying from within Spain, it must also be submitted at least two months before the expiration of the applicant’s legal stay.

However, there are important considerations depending on where the application is submitted:

• Applications submitted within Spain can also be submitted electronically.
• Minors may only submit their application from outside of Spain and in person through their legal guardian.

Once the application has been submitted and all requirements are met, the authorities must issue a decision within the established period: one month for applications submitted from abroad and two months for those submitted from within Spain. However, delays in the processing of these applications are common.

You may apply for the renewal of your authorization from two months before and up to three months after its expiration, provided you can prove the continuation of your studies.

What are the options after graduation?

After completing the studies in Spain, many international students may consider the possibility of remaining in the country. Depending on your future plans, there are several pathways that allow you to stay in Spain, whether to work, start a business, undertake professional internships, or continue studying.

• Continue studying or apply for an authorization or permit to search for employment
• Work in Spain

There are various work permits available, depending on the applicant’s goals and qualifications. The most common types of work authorizations in Spain are:

• Visa for Highly Qualified Professionals: serves individuals who have a job offer in Spain for a technical or managerial role with a minimum salary of €40,100, or €54,200 for directors, or less for individuals under the age of 30. A university degree or at least three years of experience in the area is required. The visa can be requested within or outside of Spain. It is valid for three years and renewable More information can be found here: How to get a highly qualified professional work permit – Klev&Vera
• General Work Permit: serves individuals who have a job offer and who do not qualify for the Highly Qualified Professionals Visa. Core requirement includes a job offer from Spain’s catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations. Employers must apply within Spain for the employee. General work permits are valid for one year, and upon renewal, valid for two years. More information can be found here: How to get a regular work permit in Spain Immigration, Work permits – Klev&Vera
• Entrepreneur Visa: serves individuals who have innovative-creative business projects with high-growth potential and value in certain sectors. These sectors may include technology, research, science, the digital economy, or the creative sector. The business plan must be approved by ENISA as an innovative activity of special economic interest for Spain. This visa can be applied for in or outside of Spain and is valid for three years with an option of renewal. More information can be found here: How to get the entrepreneur visa in Spain – Klev&Vera
• Self-Employed Work Permit: serves individuals who are not eligible for the Entrepreneur Visa but would like to develop any business and activity that exists in the Spanish labor market. Applications must be submitted through the Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country. The visa is valid for one year and renewal is extended up to four years. More information can be found here: How to get a self-employed work visa in Spain – Klev&Vera

At Klev&Vera, we help international graduates choose the best legal pathway after their studies, offering tailored guidance throughout the process.

Your Student Visa in Spain, secured by Klev&Vera in accordance with the New Immigration Regulation

Making legal decisions about your stay in Spain can be complex and often involves navigating unfamiliar procedures. Having the right support ensures that each step is handled correctly and with confidence.

With our expert legal assistance, you will gain clarity, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure that your application fully complies with current regulations. At Klev&Vera, we offer personalized guidance and manage the entire process from the start, so you can focus on your studies and lay the foundation for your future in Spain.