Thinking about coming to Spain to learn Spanish? If you are planning to stay for several months, it is important to understand the visa and immigration requirements before choosing your language course.
The process depends on your nationality, the length of your stay and the type of Spanish course you intend to take. While some international students can travel to Spain for short language courses without applying for a visa, longer stays generally require a long-term stay visa and the corresponding authorisation.
Spanish immigration regulations also establish specific conditions for language courses, including the type of school where they must take place, the course format and the student’s eligibility.
Although this is commonly referred to as a student visa, Spanish language courses at accredited language centres fall under the legal category of long-term stay authorisation for training activities.
In this guide, we explain when you need a visa to study Spanish in Spain, which language courses qualify, what requirements and documents you need, and how the application process works.
Do You Need a Visa to Study Spanish in Spain?
Whether you need a visa to study Spanish in Spain depends mainly on your nationality and how long you intend to stay.
For immigration purposes, it is important to distinguish between short stays of up to 90 days and longer stays exceeding 90 days.
Courses of up to 90 days
If your Spanish course lasts no more than 90 days within any 180-day period, the Schengen short-stay rules generally apply.
Depending on your nationality, you may be able to enter Spain without a visa or you may need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa before travelling.
The 90-day limit applies to your total time spent in the Schengen Area, not just the duration of your language course. Previous visits to other Schengen countries must also be taken into account.
You can check the entry requirements for your nationality through the European Commission’s official visa information.
Courses lasting more than 90 days
If you plan to study Spanish in Spain for more than 90 days, you may qualify for a long-term stay authorisation for training activities.
For applicants applying from outside Spain, this involves requesting a long-term stay visa for studies, mobility, volunteering or training activities through the competent Spanish consulate.
This is the legal route established by Article 52 of Royal Decree 1155/2024 for certain language courses.
However, not every Spanish language course qualifies. Both the educational programme and the applicant must meet the relevant immigration requirements.
Which Spanish Language Courses Qualify for a Student Visa?
Not every Spanish language course qualifies for a long-term stay authorisation.
Under Article 52.1.e.2 of Royal Decree 1155/2024, Spanish language studies must meet specific conditions.
The course must:
Focus on learning Spanish or another co-official language of Spain.
Be taught in person.
Take place at an Official School of Languages (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas) or a centre accredited in Spain by the Instituto Cervantes.
Teach a language that is neither the student’s mother tongue nor an official language of their country of nationality.
These conditions are particularly important when choosing a language school.
For example, enrolling in an online Spanish course or a programme at a school that does not meet the accreditation requirements does not automatically qualify someone for this type of authorisation.
The regulation does not establish a general minimum of 20 teaching hours per week for this specific language-course route. Applicants should nevertheless check the current requirements of the competent consulate and the conditions of their chosen programme.
Before enrolling, you should verify the school’s accreditation and confirm that the specific course meets the legal conditions.
You can consult the official Instituto Cervantes directory of accredited centres in Spain.
What Are the Requirements for a Spanish Student Visa?
To apply for a long-term stay authorisation for Spanish language studies, applicants must meet several personal, financial and educational requirements.
The main conditions include:
Age and admission
Applicants must be over 18 years old.
They must have been accepted onto a qualifying Spanish language course.
They must have paid the corresponding enrolment or registration fees.
Financial resources
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover their living expenses and return journey without relying on Spanish social assistance.
The general financial requirement is 100% of the monthly IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples) for each month of the stay.
There is an exception when accommodation has already been paid in advance for the entire period of the stay. In that case, the accommodation payment can be taken into account when assessing the required maintenance funds.
However, applicants must still demonstrate sufficient resources for their other expenses and return journey.
Money used to pay for the language course cannot be counted towards the financial resources required for living expenses.
The exact amount in euros depends on the applicable IPREM at the time of application.
Health insurance
Applicants must have health insurance with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain.
The policy must provide benefits comparable to those included in the basic common healthcare services of the Spanish National Health System and cover the intended period of stay.
A standard travel insurance policy should not automatically be assumed to meet these requirements.
Medical certificate and criminal records
Applicants applying from outside Spain must provide a medical certificate confirming that they do not suffer from serious diseases with potential public health implications under the International Health Regulations (2005).
This certificate is not required when the authorisation is requested from Spain through a legally permitted procedure.
For stays exceeding six months, applicants who are over the age of criminal responsibility must also demonstrate that they have no relevant criminal convictions in the countries where they have lived during the previous five years.
Spanish criminal records and the relevant police information are also checked by the authorities as part of the assessment of public order, public security and public health requirements.
Other legal conditions
Applicants must also:
Not be in an irregular situation in Spain.
Not be listed as inadmissible in territories covered by relevant agreements with Spain.
Not represent a threat to public order, public security or public health.
Meeting these conditions does not guarantee approval. The competent authorities assess each application individually.
What Documents Do You Need to Apply?
Once you have confirmed that your course qualifies and that you meet the personal requirements, you can start preparing the documentation.
The main documents include:
Completed and signed official visa application form.
Valid passport or travel document, with a minimum validity of one year.
Proof of admission to the Spanish language course.
Evidence of enrolment and payment of the corresponding fees.
Documents demonstrating sufficient financial resources.
Proof of valid health insurance.
Medical certificate meeting the applicable public health requirements, when applying from outside Spain.
Criminal record certificates from the relevant countries, when the stay exceeds six months and the applicant is over the age of criminal responsibility.
Proof of payment of the administrative fee for processing the authorisation.
Proof of payment of the corresponding visa application fee.
Documents issued abroad may need to be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator and legalised or apostilled, depending on the country of issue and applicable international agreements.
There are two separate administrative fees associated with an application submitted from abroad: one for processing the initial long-term stay authorisation and another for issuing the visa.
The exact documentation may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the Spanish consulate responsible for processing the application.
It is always advisable to consult the consulate’s official checklist before submitting your documents.
How to Apply for a Student Visa for Spain
For applicants applying from outside Spain, the procedure generally involves the following steps:
Choose an eligible language school. Make sure the centre is an Official School of Languages or accredited by the Instituto Cervantes.
Select a qualifying Spanish course. Confirm that it is taught in person and meets the legal conditions for long-term language studies.
Obtain your admission and enrolment documentation. You will need evidence that you have been accepted onto the programme and have paid the required registration or tuition fees.
Prepare your personal documentation. Gather your passport, financial evidence, health insurance, medical certificate and any other required documents.
Submit your application. Apply through the Spanish diplomatic mission or consular office responsible for your place of residence. The application can be submitted personally or through an authorised representative.
Pay the corresponding fees and wait for a decision. The authorities will assess whether you meet the legal requirements for the authorisation and visa.
When should you apply?
Spanish regulations establish a general requirement to submit the application at least two months before the planned start of the course.
An exception may apply when justified circumstances prevent the applicant from meeting this deadline, including certain enrolment deadlines.
Planning ahead is therefore essential, particularly if your course has a fixed starting date.
How long does the application take?
The procedure involves two linked administrative decisions.
Initial authorisation: Once the consulate has requested the decision from the competent immigration authority, the latter has a maximum of seven days to decide on the long-term stay authorisation.
Visa decision: If the authorisation is approved, the consular office has a maximum of one month to resolve the visa application and issue the visa, where appropriate.
These are statutory decision periods. They do not necessarily include the time needed to obtain an appointment, prepare the documentation or respond to requests for additional information.
For this reason, it is advisable to start the process well in advance of your intended travel date.
Can you apply from inside Spain?
This depends on your existing immigration status.
Under Article 54 of Royal Decree 1155/2024, an application for long-term stay authorisation may be submitted from Spain when the foreign national already holds a residence authorisation and is in Spanish territory.
However, being in Spain as a tourist or under a short-stay visa is not sufficient to use this general route for Spanish language courses.
If you already hold a residence authorisation, the application must be submitted through the competent immigration office and in accordance with the applicable deadlines. As a general rule, it must be presented at least two months before the expiry of your current legal status.
The rules for applying from Spain are different from the consular procedure, so it is important to check your individual circumstances with the competent immigration authority before making any arrangements.
How Long Can You Stay in Spain with a Language Course Visa?
The initial long-term stay authorisation is linked to the duration of the approved training activity, with a maximum initial period of one year for this category.
As a general rule, its validity begins one month before the course starts and extends 15 days after the activity finishes.
If the application is submitted during the two months before the course begins, specific rules may determine whether the authorisation starts one month before the course or on the date the decision is issued.
Do you need a TIE?
If your authorisation is valid for more than six months, you must apply personally for a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the relevant police station.
For applicants entering Spain with an approved visa, this must be done within one month of arrival.
If the authorisation is granted following an application submitted from Spain, the one-month period runs from the grant of the authorisation.
Can you extend your stay?
A single extension may be available for this type of training authorisation, provided the applicant continues to meet the relevant conditions.
The normal application period is during the two months before the authorisation expires. The regulations also contemplate applications submitted within the three months following expiry, although this may lead to a sanctioning procedure. It is therefore important not to rely on this late submission period.
There is an additional requirement for Spanish language courses:
Students attending an Official School of Languages must demonstrate that they have successfully completed their course.
Students attending other accredited language centres must have obtained a DELE diploma, registered to take the corresponding DELE examination or obtained a SIELE diploma.
An extension is not automatic. It must be requested electronically through the relevant immigration office, and the applicant must continue to meet the applicable financial, insurance and admission requirements.
Study Spanish in Granada at an Instituto Cervantes-Accredited Centre
Choosing an appropriately accredited language school is an important part of preparing your stay in Spain.
Teba Languages appears in the official Instituto Cervantes directory of accredited centres in Granada. This is relevant because Spanish immigration regulations specifically recognise centres accredited by the Instituto Cervantes for the language-study route described in this guide.
However, the accreditation of a school does not automatically mean that every course it offers qualifies for a long-term stay authorisation. The specific programme and the applicant’s circumstances must also meet the applicable requirements.
At Teba Languages, international students can explore Spanish language courses in Granada and discover opportunities to develop their language skills in an immersive learning environment.
If you are considering studying Spanish in Granada for an extended period, contact Teba Languages to find out more about its current programmes and discuss which course may suit your learning objectives.
Before enrolling for immigration purposes, make sure you verify the eligibility of the specific course with the school and the relevant Spanish consular authorities.
Important information: This guide provides general information based on Spanish immigration legislation and official guidance checked in November 2026. Visa and immigration decisions depend on individual circumstances. Always consult the competent Spanish consulate and current official regulations before making travel or enrolment arrangements.
