Spain Student visa

Long-term stay authorization and visa for full-time higher education, post-compulsory secondary education, vocational training, exchange programmes and unpaid volunteering. Students may work up to 30 hours a week. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

What you must show and pay

• Savings of at least EUR 600 a month (≈ $670) · 100% of the monthly IPREM for the student (2026 IPREM EUR600 (≈ $670)), or 50% (EUR300 (≈ $340)) where accommodation is paid in advance for the whole stay; tuition costs are not counted. ^{2 5}
• Savings of at least EUR 450 a month (≈ $500) · 75% of the IPREM (EUR450 (≈ $500)) for the first accompanying family member. ^{2 5}
• Savings of at least EUR 300 a month (≈ $340) · 50% of the IPREM (EUR300 (≈ $340)) for each further family member. ^{2 5}
• A fee of EUR 90 (≈ $100) · National long-stay visa (type D) processing fee, collected in euros or local currency; some nationalities pay a different amount under reciprocity. ⁶

Requirements

• The applicant is 17 or older for higher education, or 18 or older for post-compulsory secondary education. ²
• The applicant is admitted to a full-time programme at a recognised institution and has paid enrolment fees. ²
• Non-university programmes need at least 50% face-to-face attendance. ²
• Means of EUR600 (≈ $670) per month of stay (100% of the 2026 IPREM), excluding course costs. ²
• EUR450 (≈ $500) per month is added for the first family member and EUR300 (≈ $340) for each further one. ²
• Passport valid at least one year, admission and fee proof, and health insurance with benefits similar to the public system. ²
• A criminal record certificate for the last five years when the stay exceeds six months. ²
• Apply at the consulate at least two months before the studies start; the decision takes up to one month. ²
• Collect the visa within two months of notification. ²
• Request the identity card within one month of entry when the stay exceeds six months. ²
• The authorization starts one month before the studies and ends fifteen days after them. ⁴

Stay

• For higher education the authorization lasts the official length of the studies. For secondary studies it lasts the course length up to one year. It starts one month before and ends fifteen days after the studies.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Work, employed or self-employed, is allowed alongside the studies for up to 30 hours a week; higher studies authorise it without a separate procedure.

Family

Spouse, registered or stable partner and minor children may come with a higher-education student and are not authorised to work.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Study visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spain · checked 2026-10-10
2. Sheet 1 - Long-term stay authorization for higher studies or post-compulsory secondary education · Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration · checked 2026-10-10
3. Sheet 4 bis - Access to employment for holders of a long-term stay authorization for studies · Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration · checked 2026-10-10
4. Real Decreto 1155/2024, Regulation of Ley Orgánica 4/2000: consolidated text (in force 20 May 2025) · Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2024-11-20
5. Monthly and annual values of SMI and IPREM 2026 · Public Employment Service (SEPE) · checked 2026-10-10
6. Orden AUC/891/2024 setting the fees for processing visas · Official State Gazette (BOE) · checked 2026-10-11
7. Código Civil, Art. 22 (Spanish nationality by residence) · Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-11