Tips on how to get a Study Visa in Spain requirements guide for long term stay

Long Term Spanish Courses in Spain: Alhambra Instituto Internacional Long term Spanish courses to improve your Spanish from 8 weeks to 44 weeks: semester or a year-long Spanish immersion programme in Spain (year, short term, fall or spring study abroad programme available). With long term Spanish immersion courses you can improve your Spanish. It is the best investment for your future success.

Spain Student Long-Term Visas

These visas entitle their holders to reside, work, study or research in Spain.

All foreigners wishing to enter Spain to reside, reside and work, or study, need to have a visa of this kind, unless they are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

Applications for long-term visas must be submitted through a duly completed application form (original and copy) which may obtained for free at Spains Diplomatic Missions or consulate Posts abroad.

When obtaining your student visa for Spain, which is very important that you contact your local consulate and verify instructions. Each consulare requires different materials for the visa application process.

Who needs to obtain a student visa?

• Citizens studying in Spain one semester or Academic Year programmes that last longer than 90 days are required by Spanish law to obtain a student visa. • Students should contact the Spanish embassy/consulate in their home country about visa requirements, no matter how long the programme is that they plan to attend. • Winter term and summer term students who are U.S. citizens do not need a visa.

Where do I obtain my student visa?

You must apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate for your jurisdiction. Some consulates allow students, who attend a college or university in their jurisdiction, to apply even if the student’s permanent address is in a different jurisdiction.

How to study in Spain

However, you should always check with the consulate directly, as policies change and do vary from consulate to consulate.

Foreigners wishing to stay in Spain to study, carry out research, training or unpaid internship activities, participate in student exchanges or perform volunteer services, must obtain the corresponding visa, which will include the initial authorization to stay in Spain.

Student: This visa allows the holder to live in Spain while studying, researching or participating in an internship.

If you are a dependent of a citizen of one of the EU member states or a citizen of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you will only need to apply for a long-stay visa if you are required to do so and wish to live in Spain.

Formalities in Spain When the duration of the authorized stay exceeds six months, foreign citizens holding a visa to study, carry out research, training or unpaid internship activities, participate in student exchanges, or perform volunteer services, must apply for the foreign student identity card at the corresponding Foreigners Office or Police Station.

Citizens of the European Union

Citizens of the European Union and their family members, provided that the latter travel with or meet said citizens, are subject to a specific legal system based on the rights recognized in the Treaties.

When should I apply for my student visa?

Once accepted into your Spanish Studies Course, you should contact the consulate in your jurisdiction immediately to research the student visa application procedure specific to your consulate. Spanish consulates impose tight time restrictions on the student visa process, so plan ahead!

If your consulate requires that you schedule an appointment to apply for your visa, you should do right away!

Aim to have your appointment scheduled no later than 7-10 weeks before the start of your study in Spain. Students who wait to schedule their appointments will find that there are none left!

If your consulate does not require that you schedule an appointment, you should apply for your visa no later than 7-10 weeks before the start of the programme.

How long will it take for my visa to be issued once I apply?

Most consulates are slow and backed up with applications. Though processing times vary by consulate, it typically takes 7-10 weeks to issue a visa once your application has been submitted. Always check the consulate’s website for the most up-to-date estimations on processing time.

Make sure you consider any local or Spanish holidays that will occur around the time you submit your student visa application. Consulates are often closed for both Spanish and local holidays.

You need a passport in order to apply for your visa, so make sure you have plenty of time to apply for both, if necessary!

The consulate may keep your passport while processing your student visa. Plan accordingly, if you are travelling abroad between the time that you apply for your visa and the time that you depart for Spain.

Do I need to schedule a visa appointment? p Some Spanish consulates do not require you to schedule an appointment to apply for your visa. Check the website of the consulate you will visit to determine if you need to schedule an appointment ahead of time.

Which visa application do I fill out? p In order to study in Spain for longer than 90 days, you are required to obtain a student visa using the national visa application.

Where do I obtain a student visa application?

p Applications for long-term visas must be submitted through a duly completed application form (original and copy), which may be obtained for free at Spain’s Diplomatic Missions or Consular Posts abroad. The Student visa instructions can generally be found within the Consular Services link of your consulate’s website.

What can I use as “proof of financial means?”

p The consulate’s requirement for “proof of financial means” may be fulfilled in several ways. One option is to provide an original copy of the letter to the Visa Officer from Alhambra Instituto Internacional. The visa letter states that you, the student, have paid all your fees. p Be sure to check the consulate’s website for specific guidelines on how to meet this requirement!

What can I use as “proof of health insurance?”

p The combination of the visa letter from Alhambra Instituto Internacional and the copy of your programme health insurance Information (HTH) will suffice as “proof of health insurance.” p Make sure your name and the dates of the programme appear on your HTH form.

Some consulates will not accept the form without this information.

What items from Alhambra Instituto Internacional should I take with me to my visa appointment?

- Copy of Health Insurance Information - Copy of your Alhambra Instituto Internacional Acceptance Letter - Copy of Letter to Visa Officer from Alhambra Instituto Internacional

What additional items do I need to take with me to my visa appointment?

You will need to check the Student Visa instructions on your consulate’s website for a specific list of items to take to your appointment.

How is my visa issued to me?

Some consulates will send you your passport with your visa inside, while others require that you go back to the consulate to pick up your passport and visa in person. You will need to check the consulate website for specific instructions.

I am an Academic Year student. Do I need a special visa?

No, you need to apply for a student visa using the National Visa Application. If your visa application is accepted by the consulate, you will receive a short-term visa to start your programme. Then, during your first semester in Spain, Spanish studied staff will explain how to go about extending your visa for the full academic year.

Keep in mind that students who plan to be in Spain for more than 180 days must fulfill additional requirements, as part of the Student Visa application. Be sure to check your consulate’s website for more information.

Why do regulations vary among Spanish consulates?

Each Spanish consulate in the World functions independently and makes its own rules, deadlines, and policies. It’s important that you check the website of the consulate you will visit to keep up-to-date.

Whom should I contact?

Try to find the answers to your questions on the consulate website, but do not hesitate to contact Alhambra Instituto Internacional by telephone at (+34) 952 204 877 or by email at alhambra[at]alhambra-instituto.org with any questions you have. We are happy to help!

Long term & Short term Spanish courses in Spain: Long-Term Visas At Alhambra Instituto in Malaga, Spain our Long Term & Short term Spanish programmes are designed to help you with your future study or career path. Alhambra Instituto offers young adults long term tuition in Spanish Studies to prepare you for your life at an Spanish speaking country, and for your international profession or career in Spanish communication, minimum of 8 weeks and is suitable for those who wish to: Dedicate a short term, 2 - 8 weeks, a semester or even longer to immersing themselves in the general Spanish language Study in Spain upon completion of their course Work in Spain or start a Business Take a Long Term Spanish Course to complement their academic study goals Benefit from complete immersion in the Spanish language and culture In Malaga we offer long term Spanish courses to students who want to learn and/or improve their Spanish language and increase career opportunities for the future. These discounted courses are our most economical Spanish courses option and are extremely flexible.

The Long Term Spanish course develops your practical communication skills, with special emphasis on speaking, pronunciation and listening. By learning and practising Spanish in imaginative and well structured lessons, you will achieve greater fluency in everyday Spanish. By dedicating more than 8 weeks to learning Spanish, you will be able to:

Use Spanish more effectively and with much greater confidence, familiarising yourself with the language Develop a much wider vocabulary, including many colloquial expressions Develop a thorough knowledge of Spain itself, its cultures and customs Socialise more confidently – meet new people and make lifelong friends, many of whom will be Spanish Familiarise yourself with the extensive bureaucracy should you wish to live or work in Spain.

Book a course here : Long-term and short-term Spanish courseS