Study visa for Spain: documents and steps

If you are from a country that does not belong to the European Union and you are going to take a course of more than 12 weeks, yes: you need a study visa. And to request it you have to enroll in a program with a minimum teaching load of 20 hours per week.

It is very important to follow the following steps to be able to obtain the study visa. Here you have the complete documentation, organized and explained, and at the end a checklist for you to mark.

And you will not be alone. We issue your acceptance letter and you have help with the processing of your visa from a specialized immigration law firm, included and at no additional cost.

The most important thing: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE APOSTILLED/LEGALIZED AND TRANSLATED by a sworn translator.

All the documents listed must be presented apostilled/legalized and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator, whether they are delivered to the consulate in the country of origin or to Immigration. Consulates can also offer sworn translation services.

Often, applicants often encounter the problem of legalizing documents that are private (bank accounts, payslips, etc.), since they are normally public and official documents that can be legalized. So, in those cases, to "legalize" a private document, what must be done is to take it to a notary so that it can be made public. Then it can be legalized and translated to present to the competent authorities.

1. Visa application form:This questionnaire will be provided by the embassy or consulate of each country.

2. Valid passport and FULL copy of the passport.

3. Acceptance letter from our School. This will detail:

• The description of the course.

• The number of weekly class hours to be taken: they must be a minimum of 20 hours.

• The total duration of the course in weeks.

• The start date of the course and the end date, since the visa is granted according to the dates of the course.

• The purpose of the course, since it must be related to obtaining an official qualification such as DELE, SIELE, PCE or EBAU.

If the visa application is delayed, you must ask the center for AN ANNEX to this acceptance letter with new dates. In this way the course start date is updated.

4. Academic degree or diplomaapostilled/legalized and translated by a sworn translator. If the student is enrolled in a University Access course, they must present a copy of the academic degree or diploma that qualifies them to study in Spain.

Some consulates require interest in the language and previous experience in studying Spanish. Therefore, it is advisable to present an official language certificate that reflects the student's level. From our School we offer online courses so that applicants can reach an adequate level before processing their visa.

5. Accreditation of accommodation contracting. It is recommended to have the entire stay contracted. If not, the first four weeks and the indication that the stay will be extendable. If you have contracted accommodation through our School, this information will appear in the acceptance letter.

6. Proof of payment of registration to the School.

7. Medical certificate. It must be demonstrated by a medical certificate, apostilled/legalized and translated by a sworn translator, that you are in perfect health condition to carry out your study stay.

8. Criminal record certificateapostilled/legalized and translated by a sworn translator. If you are 18 years old or older and your course lasts 26 weeks or more, you must provide a criminal record certificate. This certificate must be from the countries in which you have resided during the last 5 years.

9. Proof of financial means.The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has sufficient financial means to cover expenses throughout his or her stay and return to his or her country. Documents must be presented that support the required financial capacity, such as:

a. Blocking of funds:The required amount must be equal to 100% of the IPREM, established by law. In some cases, it is requested to block this specific amount in a bank account, exclusively for the student applying for the visa. This block is demonstrated by a bank certificate with the account balance and which mentions the name of the student and the permanent block in the account of the sum to be sent to Spain to the student during the duration of the studies, and a photocopy of the certificate. It is essential to understand that this blockade should not affect the quality of life of the rest of the family, as it may cause the visa to be denied if it is found that the family does not have sufficient means to meet their needs. Therefore, it is crucial to have sufficient funds both for the student and to maintain a decent standard of living in the country of origin.

b. Required amount: it is requested to have resources equivalent to 100% of the IPREM (Multiple Effects Public Income Indicator), which for the year 2026 is 600 euros per month.

c. Consistent banking documents:All banking documents must be clear, consistent and must adequately show the origin of the funds presented. The banking documents must show income consistent with a stable and regular situation, without suspicious banking movements. If there are any, it is essential to justify the source of origin. It is also recommended that the pages of the statement be signed and stamped by the bank employee.

d. Origin of funds:The money can come from personal income or family support. The accreditation of financial means can be carried out based on the student's own means or based on the means of his or her sponsor, that is, the person who acts as the candidate's financial manager. The sponsor must be as closely related as possible to the student.

ACREDITATION WITH OWN RESOURCES:

• Bank statement of account movements for the last six months, duly stamped by the bank, detailing the applicant's account movements.

• Six proofs of income (payrolls) to demonstrate monthly financial capacity.

• Tax return from the last fiscal year, providing a comprehensive view of the applicant's financial situation.

• Possibility of providing other official banking documents, such as savings accounts or investments, to support financial solvency.

ACREDITATION WITH FAMILY SUPPORT:

• Certificates that prove the relationship with the student (marriage, birth or other legal documents).

• Copy of identification of the declaring family member.

• Detailed bank statement of the family member's account movements for the last six months, with the bank's seal.

• Six proofs of income (payroll) of the family member declarant.

• Tax return for the last fiscal year of the family member.

• Possibility of presenting other official banking documents such as savings accounts or investments to support financial solvency.

• It is important to emphasize the need to maintain a financial balance between the funds blocked for the student and the resources necessary for the general well-being of the family.

For this accreditation there are multiple documents that can be provided. However, the most important thing is to always convey an image of trust and reliability. A penniless student who shows a bank statement for an account into which an exorbitant amount of money has recently been deposited is guaranteed to be denied. A student whose family has a stable job and income that comes from a verifiable and regular source will have better chances of obtaining a visa.

Remember that all documents must be apostilled/legalized and translated by a sworn translator.

10. Residence certificate.The student must present a residence certificate from the place where he or she resides at the time of applying for the visa.

11. Medical insurance. Medical insurance is an essential requirement for a stay in Spain and must meet the following specifications:

• Full coverage and repatriation: the insurance must guarantee full coverage of medical expenses during the entire stay without limits, without co-payments, as well as provide repatriation in the event of death.

• Contracting options: we offer the possibility to acquire medical insurance through the School or, alternatively, they can manage it on their own.

• Insurance certificate: the presentation of the health insurance certificate is required, whether public or private, contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain.

• Coverage comparable to the public health system: the insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain. This implies that health care benefits must be covered through direct assistance, without financial limitation, without additional payments for co-payments or deductibles, and without waiting periods.

The objective is to guarantee that the student has complete medical coverage without obstacles during their stay in Spain, providing medical insurance comparable to the standards of the country's public health system. This ensures that any required medical care is available without additional financial worries.

12. Taking responsibilityIt is a notarial document that indicates the person who will act as sponsor of the applicant. In this document, you will declare that you are responsible for the student's accommodation and maintenance expenses during your stay.

13. Motivation letterIn this letter, the student must explain their experience with Spanish and why they want to come to Spain to study Spanish at our School. This letter must be written in Spanish.

STUDENT DOCUMENTATION

• Visa application form

• Valid passport and copy of passport

• Acceptance letter

• Accreditation of contracting accommodation

• Accreditation of payment of registration to the School

• Medical certificate

• Bank certificate with account balance and mentioning the name of the student and the blockage

• Proof of financial means

• Residence certificate

• Medical insurance

• Responsibility

• Certificate of background check criminal charges

• Motivation letter

CREDITATION OF FINANCIAL MEANS · WITH OWN RESOURCES

• Bank statement for the last 6 months

• 6 payslips

• Tax return for the last year tax

• Other official bank documents such as savings accounts or investments

ACREDITATION OF FINANCIAL MEANS · WITH FAMILY SUPPORT

• Certificates that prove relationship with the student

• Copy of family member's identification declarant

• Bank statement for the last 6 months of the family member

• 6 payslips of the family member

• Tax return for the last fiscal year of the family member

• Other official bank documents such as savings or investment accounts

If you already have all this documentation, it is time to apply for your study visa!

We are a center accredited by the Cervantes Institute and an official examination center, and we have been receiving students from all over the world since 2002. This is what we do on our part:

• Help with the processing of your visa with a specialized immigration law firm, included and at no additional cost. A lawyer prepares and reviews your complete file, verifies that you meet the consulate's requirements and presents it without errors and with the maximum guarantee of success. Applies if your course requires a visa: University Pathway or Long-term General Spanish (more than 12 weeks).

• We issue your acceptance letter with everything required by the consulate, and the annex with new dates if your course is delayed.

• We offer you the possibility of contracting insurance doctor through the School, if you prefer not to look for it on your own.

• We help you organize the documentation and make sure that the dates of your course, your accommodation and your visa match.

• If you need to upgrade your level before processing it, you have our online courses.

It is the peace of mind of having an immigration law professional at your side in the most dizzying process. The final resolution is signed by the consulate or the Immigration Office, not the School. What we do assure you is that your file arrives in the best possible conditions, and with support and clarity at every step.

Write to us and we will tell you exactly where you are. We will be happy to help you!

If the consulate denies your visa, you must present the official denial letter to us. We may ask you to file an appeal, and we will help you prepare it if you need it. If the appeal is also denied, or if it is not applicable, we will refund the amount of the course and accommodation, deducting the management fee:

• €450 if the acceptance letter was for a long-term course, of 13 weeks or more.

• €300 if it was for a short-term course, of 12 weeks or more. less.

You are also charged the postal shipping costs, the bank transfer fees, the notarial document, the legal guardianship document and any service from an external provider contracted through the School.

Important deadline: the deadline to request the refund ends, in any case, on the end date of the course that appears in your current acceptance letter. If the start date arrives and you are still waiting for a resolution, ask us to postpone the course and the annex with the new dates BEFORE that end date. Once passed, the dates cannot be modified to reopen the term.

You can read the complete policy in our terms and conditions.

Do I need a visa if my course lasts less than 12 weeks?
If you are from outside the EU and the course is 12 weeks or less, normally you do not need a study visa, but another type of visa may be required depending on your nationality. Check with the Spanish consulate in your country.

What if I am from the European Union?
You do not need a study visa.

How many hours of class do I have to do?
A minimum of 20 hours per week. It is a visa requirement, not ours, and it must be stated in the acceptance letter.

How much money do I have to prove?
100% of the IPREM, which in 2026 is 600 euros per month.

Do I need a criminal record certificate?
Yes, if you are 18 years old or older and your course lasts 26 weeks or more. Of the countries in which you have resided in the last 5 years.

Can I legalize a bank statement?
Not directly, because it is a private document. It must be taken to a notary so that it can be made public, and then it can be legalized and translated.

Is the visa carried out by a lawyer?
Yes. You have help with the processing of your visa from a specialized immigration law firm, included and at no additional cost: prepare and review your file to present it without errors and with the maximum guarantee of success. Applies if your course requires a visa: University Pathway or long-term General Spanish (more than 12 weeks). The final resolution is signed by the consulate or the Immigration Office, not the School.

When do I start the process?
As soon as possible. Between apostilles, sworn translations and the appointment at the consulate it takes weeks, sometimes months.

Will you refund my money if my visa is denied?
Yes, discounting the management fee of €450 or €300 depending on the duration of the course, and within the period that we explained above.