Private, online and immersion courses

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You do not need any Spanish rules knowledge to use it.

You will find help with private academies, tutors, online classes, the warning signs of a bad school, and immersion stays. Free public classes, study permit rules and exam booking are covered elsewhere.

Start with "Private Spanish academies: what to expect and how to choose". It shows how to compare schools by level, hours, class size and price, which is the base for every other choice here. From there, move to the pages on tutor or group class, online or in-person, spotting a bad school before you pay, and short immersion courses.

Key rules

• Short course visa: Visa-exempt nationals can take a course without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Withdrawal right: If you buy a course online, by phone or away from the school's premises, you have 14 days to withdraw without giving a reason.
• How to pay: Pay a school by card rather than cash or bank transfer, because a card lets you ask your bank for a chargeback if the service is not delivered.
• Accreditation: Check a school in the Instituto Cervantes directory yourself; a logo on the school's site proves nothing.
• Placement: Walk away from a school that gives no oral interview or promises a level without a test.
• Online: Online classes are enough if you need flexible hours or a low cost.

Private, online and immersion courses: the whole process, step by step

• Decide on the format: group class, private tutor, online lessons or an immersion stay. Read "Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?" and "Online or in-person Spanish classes after you move": before you look at prices or book anything

• Compare academies by level, hours, class size and price. Read "Private Spanish academies: what to expect and how to choose": before you contact schools

• If you live outside the EU and plan to travel, check your visa position. Read "Short Spanish immersion courses: choosing a city and format": before you pay for a course; stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period need no visa for visa-exempt nationals

• Check the school's accreditation, contract and refund terms. Read "How to spot a bad Spanish school before you pay": before you pay

• Pay by card and keep the contract, invoice and emails: when you book

• If you bought online, by phone or away from the school's premises, withdraw if you change your mind: within 14 days of signing

• Start the course and check it matches what was sold. If it does not, complain to the school, then to your consumer office: in the first days of the course

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Valid passport — Short Spanish immersion courses: choosing a city and format
• Enrolment letter and course certificates from a school accredited for student — Online or in-person Spanish classes after you move

The home and the lease

• A written contract or terms from the school — How to spot a bad Spanish school before you pay

Payments and receipts

• An invoice from an independent tutor for what you pay — Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?
• An invoice or receipt for every payment — How to spot a bad Spanish school before you pay

Other documents

• Your emails and messages with the school about the course — How to spot a bad Spanish school before you pay
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay — Short Spanish immersion courses: choosing a city and format
• A university degree in philology — Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?
• A certificate in teaching Spanish as a foreign language — Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?
• References or proof of classroom experience with adults — Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?
• A sample lesson plan and the materials the tutor uses — Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Private, online and immersion courses: questions that cross several articles

Does Instituto Cervantes accreditation mean a school is good?

Accreditation means the school passed a quality inspection, but it does not guarantee good teachers, a fair price or exam success. It also does not make the school an exam centre or give you student visa rights. Read "How to spot a bad Spanish school before you pay" and "Private Spanish academies: what to expect and how to choose".

How much does a group Spanish course cost at a private academy?

Part-time group courses of about 4 to 6 hours a week typically start in the mid-hundreds of euros per month. Big cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia cost more, longer bookings cost less, and registration fees and materials are often extra.

What qualifications should my Spanish teacher have?

A good teacher usually has a university degree plus specific training in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, and classroom experience with adults. No state licence is legally required in a private academy. See "Private Spanish academies: what to expect and how to choose" and "Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?".

What do online one-to-one Spanish lessons cost per hour?

Online tutors are priced per hour. Community tutors on marketplaces charge less, professional teachers charge more, and schools usually charge more than marketplaces. Trial lessons are often discounted. Read "Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress?" and "Online or in-person Spanish classes after you move".

Prices change often, so check current rates on several schools' websites and tutoring platforms.