How to apply for a Spanish Visa:

• You don’t need a visa if you come from / are:

 – European Union – European Economic Area (EEA) – Swiss Citizens

To study in Spain for more than three months as a Non-European student you need a student visa type.

• Cost:

Applying for a student visa in Spain has a non-refundable fee of €60.

• Timing:

It takes approximately 15 days for your visa application to be processed, however it can extend up to 1 month in case of incomplete or imprecise documentation.  Make sure to apply at least one month before your arrival to Spain.  Check out our checklist at the bottom of this page!

• Documents required:

 – Passport or national ID valid for at least six more months from application date, and for 90 days after the length of your stay is completed – Acceptance certificate from your university/institution – Health Insurance that is valid in Spain  – Photo ID (government issued)  – Birth Certificate  – Completed application form (can differ depending on your country of origin)

Keep in mind that all official documents, if not in the required language for the application, must be translated by a sworn, official translator who works with the embassy.  They will be able to provide details regarding this – always ask.

Who to contact: 

Reach out to Naorlex, a Spanish law firm specialized in helping for immigration formalities! This is recommended by the EIS,

https://www.naorlex.com/insternational-studens-spain-law-firm/

and don’t forget mentioning you come form us 😉

Your country’s embassy in Spain, the Spanish embassy in your country, or the Spanish Consulate covering your jurisdiction in your home country.

Click here to find the closest Spanish embassy or consulate:

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/EmbajadasConsulados.aspx

Make sure you do not try to get your long stay visa through a certified agency, it should be directly through the respective government authority (embassy, consulate, etc.), double check, always!

What you can/cannot do:

With a Spanish Student Visa, you’re allowed to work part time or in a temporary position.  The maximum amount of hours cannot exceed 20 hours (internships excluded) a week. If the work doesn’t interfere with your studies, full time work is possible, if you get a work permit.

What now?

Do not procrastinate, get this done as soon as you arrive in the country.

• NIE: If you are a foreigner from outside of the EU+ the usual members, you will have to obtain a foreign student identity card (NIE) at a foreigners office or police station. This cannot be done online. You can have it done by lawyers for a hefty fee around 250 €, so we recommend doing it yourself. It will take up to 40 days for you to receive your NIE. If you obtain a student visa, your residence permit will be included, and you will receive the student residence permit along with it. Required Documents (original and copy): – Printed and filled application form EX-17 here – Valid passport (d-type visa and stamp of spain) – Certificate of enrollment – Referral note of the municipal registration (volante de empadronamiento: certificate of your regular residential address) – 3 photographs of ID card size (32 x26 mm) – Receipt of the application fee payment form here

How to open a bank account in Spain?

• First, should you even open one?

Opening a Spanish bank account makes everything easier (housing, payments, phone contract if not prepaid).  Like in France, Spanish bank accounts are often requested.  Especially for a longer stay, it’s recommended.  If you’re only in Spain for a semester, don’t bother unless you really love paperwork (looking at you Amy Santiago).

• Documents required:

– Passport and/or ID card AND student visa if applicable – A document to prove your address – A recent bank statement or utility bill (less than 3 months old) – A document to prove your employment status (such as a pay slip, tax return or a letter from the government stating that you’re unemployed).

In some cases, depending on the bank, your documents must be translated into Spanish by a “translator jurado” (licensed translator).  This is often required and is affordable, especially in larger cities.

• Banks to Consider:

 – ING direct – Bankia – BBVA – Santander – Sabadell

These banks are reliable and offer good option for students, especially the ING direct.  Once again, don’t forget to mention your student status.

How to apply for Spanish insurance?

Why do I need insurance in Spain?

• Renters insurance (Seguro de Hogar):

– Renters insurance is officially required, but often not asked for while renting an apartment (if you wanna take the risk), or might be covered by your landlord.  Make sure to ask about it when renting.

– When choosing renters insurance, you can opt for buildings cover, contents cover or both.

– Buildings cover is insurance on the building itself, the content everything inside the apartment- Atlantis, Mapfre and Santa Lucia are the best ones.

• Required insurances:

Health insurance (universal):

-The Spanish universal healthcare system (SNS, Sistema nacional de salud) is very good and goes alongside with the private insurance plans

– Emergencies are treated no matter what (yes, really)!

– Europeans are covered with their EHIC Card, only for longer stays a registration in the SNS is required

– If you are from a non-EU country and a student under 26, you can get free public healthcare, but you must register in the SNS (do it)

– To register you have to get a social security number at a TGSS (Tresorería General de la Seguridad Social) office. You will need a valid passport/ID (with visa if applicable), your residence certificate, proof of registration at your local town hall.  With your social security number you are entitled to medical help – apply for a health card (tarjeta sanitaria universal)!

– Dentists, pharmacy costs, and ambulance are not covered by the SNS

https://www.mscbs.gob.es/organizacion/sns/home.htm

• Private health insurance:

– Especially as a non-EU citizen it can be favorable to have a private insurance

– Private insurance costs between 50-200 euros a month

– Some of the largest health insurance companies include:

Allianz Care

Sanitas

• Personal/ Third-party-liability insurance:

– Third-party-liability insurance is not common in Spain. Check your home country insurance policy, it likely covers you.

How to apply for a phone subscription in Spain?

Who are the phone operators in Spain?

• Phone providers:

 – Movistar https://www.movistar.com/es/ – Jastel https://www.jazztel.com/ – Orange https://www.orange.es/ – Vodafone https://www.vodafone.es/c/particulares/es/

The companies above have the best prices for prepaid and contract sim cards, and they are reliable.

• Apps to Remember:

 – Metro App (Madrid) – Supermarket App for good discounts (look for the one in your city) – Blabla car – Whatsapp (commonly used in Spain) – Uber is working in Madrid (yeah!) – Cheap flights with Ryanair and Vueling

Emergency services contacts

Emergencies: 112

Health emergencies: 061

National Police: 091 

Local Police: 092

Your country’s embassy (lost passport, etc.)