Study visa

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For further details on the procedure for this visa through the G.C. Edinburgh, please refer to the following document: Stu​dent visa checklist.pdf​

Visa for stays exceeding 90 days for studies, training, internships or voluntary work. This visa may also be issued for stays for au pairs and for conversation class assistants.  

Study stays of less than 90 days do not require a study visa. Depending on the applicant's nationality, a short-stay visa may be required (see “Schengen visas"). 

The following family members may obtain a visa to accompany the student: 

• The spouse or unmarried partner.
• Children who are minors or who have a disability. 

Visas for students' family members do not constitute work permits. 

Activities for which a study visa may be obtained​​​ 

• Full-time studies at an authorized school that will lead to the obtainment of a degree or certificate of studies.
• Doctorate studies.
• Training activities.
• Student mobility programmes at compulsory and/or non-compulsory secondary education level at an officially recognized teaching or scientific centre.
• Training placements at public or private bodies or entities that cannot be covered by internship visas (see “Internship visa").
• Volunteer services in the framework of programmes pursuing public interest goals.
• Au pair programmes.
• Conversation class assistants.

Required documents for the student​​ ​​

1. Impreso solicitud visado na​cional español-inglés. Eac​h applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application. 

2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. 

3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid at least for the duration of the planned stay and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.   

​4. Proof of acceptance for the study, training or volunteer activity or internship. Original and a copy of the document proving:

• Acceptance at an authorized teaching centre to carry out a full-time study programme.
  
• Acceptance at a research or training centre.
• Acceptance into a student mobility programme (in this case, the applicant must also provide proof of acceptance at a study centre, of having found accommodation with a family or at an institution, and the commitment of the organizer of the programme to bear the costs).
• Acceptance for a non-remunerated internship on the basis of a signed agreement.
• An agreement with the organization responsible for the volunteer programme. 

5. Proof of financial means. 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 and return, as well as the stay and return of the family members accompanyin​​​g them. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 100% of Spain's Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM). 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. If proof is provided that accommodation for the entire stay has been paid for in advance, this amount will be deducted. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

Means of maintenance can be proven with the following documents:

- Bank statements for the past 6 months (original and stamped by the bank)
- Loan or grant showing amount to be received for studies.
- University letter specifying that accommodation and food are covered.
- Should parents be responsible for the applicant's expenses in Spain, they are required to provide a written statement, signed by both parents, along with the applicant's birth certificate and the parents' passports.

6. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system. 

The Global Health Insurance Card is accepted as medical insurance for all the student visas. Nevertheless, travel insurance or the European Health Card EHIC are not accepted.

If the applicant is participating in a volunteer programme, in addition to the medical insurance, they must provide a copy of the civil liability insurance policy taken out by the organization. 

7. Criminal record check certificate. Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. These certificates must be legalized or apostilled and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

8. Medical certificate. Applicants requiring a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that they do not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. 

It must show specifically that “this health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005”. 

The certificates must be issued by a registered general practitioner and will have a validity period of three months from the date of issue. They must then be legalised by the Hague Apostille and translated by a sworn translator. Certificates that were issued in Spain are also deemed to be valid without the requirement of the legalisation.

This Consulate is unable to provide information about medical centres that issue this certificate. Should you require further assistance, we would recommend contacting any public or private medical centre that is duly accredited in the territory of the United Kingdom or Spain. Medical certificates issued in countries other than the United Kingdom or Spain will not be accepted.​

9. Proof of residence in the consular district. The applicant must provide proof of their legal residence in the consular district or that they are attending classes, in person, in the consular district. 

Document where the applicant´s name and address appear, for example, bills, bank statements, etc. Please confirm that you are eligible to apply at our Consulate by checking our website on the Jurisdiction section: Consular jurisdiction

10. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to submit copies of the identity document or passport of one of their parents, as well as of the document constituting proof of kinship. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

11. Authorization of legal representatives. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to provide the original and a copy of the parents' or guardians' authorization of the minor's temporary relocation to Spain, certified by a notary, which must also name the individual who will be responsible for the minor in Spain. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

12. Payment of the visa fee. The visa fee must be paid at the same time as the visa application is submitted. Please note that the fee must be paid in the local currency and that it is subject to regular changes due to currency fluctuations. Please refer to our list of consular fees: Consular fees

There is a basic service fee charged by the Visa Application Centre. For further details, please visit the BLS w​ebsite.

For original documents, the ORIGINAL and a COPY must be provided. Original documents without a photocopy won´t be accepted.

Required documents for family members​ 

For each family member accompanying the student, the following must be submitted: 

• The documents listed above as 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12. Where applicable, 10 must also be provided.

Moreover, the certificates proving kinship with the student (marriage certificate, unmarried couple certificate, or birth certificate, as applicable) must be provided. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview. 

Required documents for languague a​ssitants

Required documents for au-pair visas

Internship vi​sas

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Procedure​ 

This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district or who are regularly in the consular district for study purposes even if they are not a resident. 

Applying for a study visa also entails applying for a study stay permit. 

• Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative. 

• Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the beginning of the pertinent study programmes, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities.  

Place of submission:  All visa appointments of the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh will be booked only via BLS International Edinburgh web: BLS- Edinbu​rgh

The student visa application must be submitted in person at the BLS centre in Edinburgh on the day of the appointment, along with the rest of the required documents detailed in the checklist.​

• Proof of receipt: BLS​ will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx 

• Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application.   The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview. 

• Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is of 1 month from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested. 

• Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative (if the applicant is a minor) within a maximum period of 2 months, counted as of the day after the date on which the favourable decision is notified. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.  
  

• Refusal of the visa or study stay permit: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based. 

• Appeals: If a study stay permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal. 
• The appeal letter must be sent by post or other courier service provider, signed and dated with the documents justifying the reasons for the appeal. Providing documents that were already submitted with the application is not required.

Sworn traslations and legalisations: All documents requiring translations must be completed by a registered sworn translator. A list of sworn translators in our jurisdiction can be found on our website.

The legalisations and Hague Apostilles must legalise the signatures of the signatories of the certificates: registered medical practitioners, police officers, etc. and not the signature of notaries or solicitors who did not issue those certificates.​​

Documents should be legalised first and then translated afterwards. The Hague Apostille does not need to be translated, nor does the translation need to be legalised. It is only the original documents that need legalising and translating.

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