Spain

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

The Schengen 90/180 rule allows visitors to visit any Schengen Zone country without requiring a visa for 90 days within a 180-day window. These days are calculated on a rolling basis, meaning you look back at the last 180 days to count how many days you have spent in the Schengen area. To be eligible to return, you must wait for enough of your previous stay to fall outside of the current 180-day period. You can calculate your days spent in the Schengen Area using this calculator.

Read more about the Schengen rules.

Post-arrival essentials

All foreigners staying in Spain for longer than 3 months must register with local authorities within one month of arriving.

Please note:

• If you are of UK/non-EU/EEA nationality, you will need a TIE Number
• If you are of EU nationality – you will need a NIE number

Entering Spain without a visa

UK students can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period under the Schengen Zone rules. The UK has a visa waiver, so no visa is required for short-term study programs or certain traineeships. You can check if you need a visa using the Eligibility Tool here.

EU/EEA students have no restrictions on living, working, or studying in Spain and can travel using a National ID card or passport.

Discover whether you require a Schengen Visa, or find out more about your visa eligibility.

To determine if you can travel to Spain without a visa, please see the list of non-visa required countries.

Please note:

• UK students can enter the Schengen Zone using their 90-day visa free allowance
• EU/EEA students do not face any restrictions when it comes to staying, living, working or studying in Spain – you can use a National ID card or passport to travel through EU countries
• International Students (Non-EA/EEA) who are not visa exempt must apply for an Schengen Visa

If you are an international student in the UK, your residence permit from your host Schengen country must be valid for at least another 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave.

A multi-visa “C” category, or a short-term visa, allows its holder to reside in a Schengen area for a certain period, depending on the visa validity. This category, according to the holder’s purpose of the travel can be obtained in the form of:

• Single-entry visa – allows a one-time entry to your host country
• Double-entry visa – allows a single return trip to the Schengen area once you have left it
• Multiple-entry visa – allows you to leave and return to the Schengen area as many times as you want (within the constraints of the 90/180 rule).

Studying for less than 3 months

For study programs or traineeships (prácticas) for a period up to 90 days, British nationals do not need to apply for a visa. If your nationality means you require a Schengen visa, you should apply for a Schengen Tourism Visa through the BLS International Visa Management Agency. 

If you are an international student in the UK and have a Residence permit – you must have at least another 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave on your current Residence Permit from your Host Schengen country.

Please note – if you have already spent 90 days in Spain without a visa, you cannot:

• Apply for a National visa (D), intended for longer stays
• Apply for a Schengen visa

Activities for which a Schengen Study visa may be obtained​​​ are:

• Full-time studies at an authorised school, which will lead to the obtainment of a degree or certificate of studies
• Doctorate studies
• Training activities
• Student mobility programmes at a secondary education level, which take place at an officially recognised teaching or scientific centre
• Training placements at public or private bodies or entities that cannot be covered by internship visas
• Volunteer services (in the framework of programmes pursuing public interest goals)
• Au pair programmes
• Conversation class assistants

Discover an in-depth list of documentation.

How to apply

Once you have all the necessary documents, you should submit your student Schengen visa application at the main Schengen destination in your home country. Schengen visas are dealt with by the BLS centre in the UK.

The earliest you can apply for a student Schengen visa is three months prior to the start date of your trip. The latest you can apply is 15 days prior to the start date of your trip.

To submit your student Schengen visa application, follow these steps:

1. Check if you need a student Schengen visa
2. Figure out where you need to apply
3. Figure out the best time to submit your visa application
4. Fill the application form for a short-stay visa
5. Collect the required documents for your student Schengen visa
6. Make an appointment
7. Attend the interview
8. Pay the student visa fee
9. Wait for a response

Discover further information on applying for a student Schengen visa.

Studying for 3–6 months

All students looking to study in Spain for 3–6 months need to apply for a short-term study visa. Please note that this visa does not replace a long-term study visa. You must apply as soon as possible before travelling to Spain.

The student short-term visa applies to studies that will last more than 90 days, but less than 180 days. Your student short-term visa:

• cannot be extended
• does not allow you to work in Spain
• has a less complicated application process than long-term visas

Find out more about the long-stay visa for Spain.

Gather your documents

To apply for your student short-term visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• National visa application form, duly filled in and signed by the applicant
• 2 recent colour photos with white backgrounds, 3.5cm x 4.5cm
• Original passport, valid for at least 1 year from submission of application, plus a photocopy of biographic page
• Proof of admission from an authorised educational establishment in Spain for the completion of a complete program, which will lead to a degree or certificate of studies
• Proof of full tuition payment
• Documents specifying the subjects of study and number of learning time hours per week (at least 20)
• Proof of financial means for accommodation and living costs (€600 per month as of 2024)
• Health insurance covering the time of your stay in Spain (the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is accepted as medical insurance for all the student visas)

How to apply

You can apply for your student short-term visa at your nearest Consulate of Spain in the UK: Edinburgh, Manchester or London.

Studying for more than 6 months

A long-term student visa allows you to study, train or work as an unpaid intern for more than 3 months. EU and Spanish citizens do not need a visa to reside in Spain for more than 3 months. However, you will need to register with the local principal for a NIE.

Gather your documents

To apply for your long-term student visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• National visa application form, duly filled in and signed by the applicant
• 2 recent colour photos with white background, 3.5cm x 4.5cm
• Original passport, valid for at least 1 year from submission of application, plus a photocopy of biographic page
• Proof of admission from an authorised educational establishment in Spain for the completion of a complete program, which will lead to a degree or certificate of studies
• Proof of full tuition payment
• Documents specifying the subjects of study and number of learning time hours per week (at least 20)
• Proof of financial means for accommodation and living costs (€600 per month as of 2024)
• Health insurance covering the time of your stay in Spain (the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is accepted as medical insurance for all the student visas)
• Police clearance from countries of residence for the last 5 years (must be legalised by means of a Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish)
• Medical certificate, plus an accredition that you do not suffer from any diseases that could have serious public health consequences, in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations 2005 (must be legalised by means of a Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish)

Working for less than 3 months

Depending upon your nationality, you may be able to work in Spain for 90 days or less without the need for a visa. To determine if you can travel to Spain without a visa, please see the list of non-visa required countries.

Before you can apply for your internship visa, you may need a Residence Authorisation. However, for Spanish internships lasting less than 90 days, especially if unpaid, it is unlikely that a Residence Authorization is required. Schengen rules allow for short-term stays for various purposes without needing formal residence permits. 

Please note, you cannot work on a Schengen Tourism Visa, instead you would need a short-stay Schengen Visa for "study" (category C)

Only your host company can request your Residence Authorisation, which gives you permission to work in Spain. Once your employer has your authorisation, you must then arrange a visa appointment at your closest Consulate.

Gather your documents

To apply for your internship visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• 2 visa application forms
• 2 identical photos
• Valid passport
• A copy of your passport’s biometric data
• Previous passports
• Proof of residency
• Roundtrip reservation or itinerary
• Travel medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of academic qualifications
• Proof of financial means
• Letter of Employment

How to apply

You can apply for your internship visa at your nearest Consulate in the UK: Edinburgh, Manchester or London.

Working for 3–6 months

Students will need to apply for an internship visa to work for more than 6 months in Spain.

Internships can be both paid and unpaid. British students conducting an internship for a duration of up to 90 days do not need an internship visa.

Before you can apply for your internship visa, you will need to receive your Residence Authorisation.

Only your host company can request your Residence Authorisation, which gives you permission to work in Spain. Once your employer has your authorisation, you must then arrange a visa appointment at your closest visa Consulate.

Further information can be found here.

While the Edinburgh Consulate have confirmed that students who require a visa will need to apply for an internship visa, other Consulates (London and Manchester) may issue a student visa instead.

Newcastle University highly encourages students to contact their local Consulate or Embassy to check visa requirements. It cannot be assumed that the same visa will be issued at all the same country Consulates/Embassies.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your internship visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• National visa form, completed, dated and signed
• Recent passport photograph with a white background (the Spanish Consulate doesn't accept digital retouching on identity photographs)
• Valid passport or travel document, recognised as valid in Spain
• A photocopy of your passport's biographic page
• A photocopy of all passport pages containing stamps, visa, annotations, etc.
• Valid UK Residence Permit (non-UK nationals only)
• A photocopy of your UK Residence Permit (non-UK nationals only)
• Resolución de Autorización de Residencia Inicial para Prácticas
• Criminal record check, issued by the country or countries where the applicant has resided within the 5 years preceding the date of the visa application (cannot be older than 3 months, unless the certificate itself specifies a longer expiration)

Your valid passport must have:

• A minimum validity of one year
• At least 2 blank pages to affix your visa

For UK criminal records, students can submit an ACRO Certificate.

Certificates must be legalised through the Consular representations of the issuing country or, in the case of signatory countries, to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 (the Hague Apostille). Official documents issued by a Member State of the European Union do not need to be legalised. Sworn translation into Spanish is also required.

You must also pay the relevant visa fee at the Consulate on the day your application is accepted.

How to apply

You can apply for your visa at your nearest Consulate in the UK: Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

Visa appointment guidance

Appointments can be booked at the London Consulate. Students should send an email to cog.londres.viscp@maec.es.

Alternatively, you can also book at the Manchester and Edinburgh Consulate via email.

In the SUBJECT field of your email, you must specify the type of residence visa you wish to apply for. The text of your message must state:

• Given name and surname
• Passport number
• Email address
• Phone number
• Place of residence in the UK
• Type of residence visa you wish to apply for

Please attach the authorisation for residence and internship issued in Spain by the competent authority to your email (if applicable).

Once your document had been verified by our staff, you will receive an email with a username and password to complete the process.

Once you receive the confirmation email with your password, you can choose the date and time of your appointment and modify or cancel if needed. The Consulate cannot book another appointment or modify the dates in the case of cancellation.

The Consular office, in addition to the required documentation, reserves the right to request additional documentation or the personal appearance of the applicant, without this implying the approval of the visa. If your application is refused, you will not be refunded the fee you paid at the time of your application.

Full year abroad in Spain

UK/non-EU/EEA students wishing to complete a full year abroad in Spain will need to apply for a study visa to cover the period of study and/or an internship visa (+Residence Authorisation) to cover the period of work.

While the guidance suggests that the Spanish Consulates in London and Manchester issue student visas to cover a full year abroad, the Spanish Consulate in Edinburgh may ask students to apply for a student visa and an internship visa. Students should always check with the nearest Consulate for advice regarding their visa plans.

British Council – Language Assistantships

Language Assistants in Spain are considered participants of a grant-funded mobility programme and receive a monthly stipend, rather than a paid salary with a contract of employment.

Language Assistants travelling to Spain who do not have a current EU passport or valid Spanish residency paperwork need to apply for a long-stay student visa (visado de estudios).

If you have received a contract of 'nombramiento', please contact your local consulate.

It is important to distinguish the purpose of your visit, as you will need to specify this for your Residence Permit.

As a general rule, if you recieve the Programme's admission letter, as issued by the corresponding Ministry of Education or Education Council, (normally called 'nombramiento') you will need to apply for a student visa. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a work visa.

Applications for your visa will be made through the Spanish Consular offices in the UK.