Requirements for granting a student visa may vary from one country to another; therefore, you must contact the Spanish consular authorities that correspond to your jurisdiction.  They will provide you with information on procedures specific to that consulate, as well as what documentation must be submitted along with your application.

Refer to this website for a directory of the Spanish consular authorities abroad. Also, be aware that some consulates have their own individual website, which you may refer to for more specific information.

Visa applications are only accepted if filed using the official form.  Applications submitted for studies at IE must be accompanied by the following documents (please bear in mind that these may vary from one consulate to another):

• Valid passport. The passport must be valid for the duration of the planned stay (or minimum validity of 1 year). Please check the specific passport validity requirements with the Spanish consulate that pertains to you.
• A recent, passport-size, color photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
• Set of visa supporting documents, issued by IE’s Student Services department (please see the ‘CERTIFICATES’ section)
• Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that you do not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with a SWORN translation into Spanish. You can find the list of approved sworn translators HERE.
• Certificate of criminal records issued by the authorities in the country of origin and residence, OR in the country or countries where the applicant has resided lawfully during the last 5 years for over 6 months. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with a SWORN translation into Spanish. 
• Evidence of AVAILABILITY of sufficient economic means to meet the cost of tuition, travel, and living expenses during the total length of your stay in Spain. Original and a copy of the documents proving that the applicant (or their legal representative or the family member supporting them) has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of the student’s stay in Spain, program fees and return, as well as the stay and return of the family members accompanying them. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 100% of Spain’s Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM): 600€ per month of stay. To this amount must be added 75% of the IPREM for the first family member and 50% of the IPREM for each additional family member. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with a SWORN translation into Spanish.
• Some Spanish Consular authorities also request the legalization of our students´ University Degree. Such legalization process will have to be carried out as instructed by the Registrar’s Office of your university and the Spanish Consular Authorities. This legalization can take quite long so please make sure you start the process well in advance.
• Guarantees of return to the country of origin.
• Proof of accommodation in Spain. Student Services will send you an ‘accommodation letter’ (please see the ‘CERTIFICATES’ section)
• Private medical insurance covering medical costs and repatriations associated with an accident or sudden illness. It must include full coverage, without waiting periods, copayments, or deductibles. Please read our section on this subject in the ‘Landing in Madrid’ guide before deciding on a medical insurance plan.

These are the minimum requirements. You must contact the corresponding Spanish Consulate or Embassy for information on any additional required documentation.

VERY IMPORTANT:

Legally, a student visa application can only be submitted within 90 days prior to the program’s start date; however, some consulates are now accepting visa applications 180 days in advance. Please get in touch with your consulate to enquire about their deadline, to be able to submit your application as soon as possible. 

The standard processing time is 4 to 6 weeks from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended.

Besides the processing time, you must also account for the time it takes to prepare (and legalize and translate, if required) the student visa application documents, which can take several weeks to obtain. In addition, due to the holiday periods, August and December are characterized by low activity in both the Spanish consulates and immigration institutions. All these issues may delay the visa process, and thus jeopardize joining the program in due time. It is therefore essential that you obtain all the necessary information and begin the process as early as possible, so that you can submit your student visa application at the beginning of this legally established three/six-month period.

We recommend you request a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa (although it might be more expensive) in case you need to travel before your student permit is issued.

WHEN ENTERING SPAIN, POLICE AUTHORITIES AT THE BORDERS/AIRPORT MUST STAMP YOUR VISA. PLEASE KEEP THE BOARDING PASSES OF YOUR FLIGHT(S) TO SPAIN, AS YOU MAY NEED THEM IN THE FUTURE.

Please note that it is HIGHLY discouraged to enter Spain as a tourist (either because you are a national of a country permitted to enter Spain with a visa for a stay of 90 days or less, or because the Spanish consulate taking care of your visa allows you to do so) without previously discussing your case with Student Services. If you enter as a tourist and your initial 90 days have passed without presenting requesting any kind of additional permit, you would have to leave Spain to avoid remaining here illegally. At that point, you would have to return to your home country or country of legal residence and request a new student visa, which may seriously jeopardize your participation in your academic program.