Your student residence application file

Key rules

• Admission: Your course must be full-time and lead to a qualification, or be a recognised programme, at an authorised centre.

A study offer is not enough on its own

An offer of a place becomes usable for the visa only when four things meet the consulate's requirements: proof of admission, proof of means, health insurance and your certificates. Build all four before you book your appointment.

Proof of admission

The proof is an official admission letter or enrolment certificate from the university or centre. It should show:

• your name
• the course name
• the course dates and duration
• the full-time hours, normally at least 20 a week
• that the centre is authorised

Many consulates also want proof that your fees or registration deposit are paid. Ask the centre for this when you request your letter.

Proof of means

You must show monthly means equal to the IPREM for your stay, plus 75% of the IPREM for each family member who comes with you. The IPREM is €600 a month in 2025, so you show €600 a month for yourself and €450 a month for each family member who comes with you, for your whole stay.

If a scholarship or sponsor pays for you, bring proof of that funding instead of your own savings.

Health insurance

You need public or private health insurance valid in Spain for your whole stay. A private policy must come from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Choose one with full cover, including medical and hospital care, and with no co-payments or waiting periods. Many consulates also require repatriation cover. Submit proof that the policy is paid, not just a quote.

Certificates and extras

• Police record: needed if your stay is longer than 6 months.
• Medical certificate: needed if your stay is longer than 6 months.
• Parental authorisation: needed if you are a minor.
• Proof of the activity: needed if your stay is linked to work or volunteering.

The police record and the medical certificate are valid for 3 months from issue.

A certificate issued in another EU country needs no apostille, and a multilingual standard form replaces a translation. A police record or medical certificate issued in a non-EU country that is a Hague Convention member needs an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish. One from a non-Hague country needs full legalisation through the foreign ministry and the Spanish consulate, plus a sworn translation.

You also need the common file: the form, your passport, a photo and the fee. The national visa fee you pay at the consulate is €80.

Consulates differ

Each consulate can ask for more than the common file. Ask yours for its exact list before you gather documents, and ask how it wants the certificates presented.

You start the visa application with the national visa application form. You apply in person or by the consulate's method at the Spanish consulate covering your country of residence, before you travel to Spain. If your visa is refused, you can file an appeal for reconsideration (recurso de reposición) within one month of the refusal notice.

After you arrive

Within one month of entering Spain, apply for the foreigner identity card (TIE) at the immigration office or the police of your province. You pay the €16.40 card fee with modelo 790 code 012.

Extending later

An extension is filed inside Spain, with the immigration office or the police of your province, not at a consulate, using form EX-00. You show continued enrolment, academic progress, enough funds and valid insurance. Your stay remains valid while the extension is processed. After the extension is granted you collect the renewed TIE and pay the €16.40 card fee with modelo 790 code 012.

If you are a Spanish citizen or dual national

You need no visa or student permit. Spanish citizens have the right to live and study in Spain, so you do not build this file. If you are an EU citizen you do not apply for a student visa; you register as an EU citizen instead. If you are a UK citizen with Withdrawal Agreement rights, you follow your own residence rules and this file does not apply to you; a new UK student arrival needs a student visa.

If you bring family

Each family member who comes with you adds €450 a month to the means you show. Each relationship has its own rule:

• Spouse: can come with you, with the marriage certificate.
• Registered partner: can come with you when the partnership is entered in a public register, with the registration certificate.
• Unmarried, unregistered partner: does not count as family for the student route; your partner applies on their own.
• Children: minor children can come with you, with the birth certificate.

Timeline and deadlines

• Get your police record certificate if your stay is longer than 6 months: before you file the visa application
• Apply for the TIE: within one month of entering Spain
• File your renewal online with the immigration office or police of your province: during the 60 days before your stay expires, or up to 90 days after it expires