The Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Canberra only has jurisdiction in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queanbeyan. People located in the rest of Australia should check the website of the Consulate General of Spain in Sydney or the Consulate General of Spain in Melbourne. People located in other countries, should check the website of the Embassy or Consulate of Spain responsible for their place of residence.
Study visa
Visa for stays exceeding 90 days to participate in the Language and Culture Assistant program sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of Spain.
The following family members may obtain a visa to accompany the student:
- The spouse or unmarried registered partner.
- Children who are minors or who have a disability.
Visas for students' family members do not constitute work permits.
Activity for which this study visa may be obtained
- Participating in the program sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of Spain, supporting Spanish school as a language assistant.
Required documents for the student
1. National visa application form
. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling in each of its sections.
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.
Residents in Australia who are not Australian citizens will also have to provide their residence visa (VEVO).
4. Copy of the Acceptance Letter by Regional Education Authorities ("Nombramiento"). This letter must provide information about the school the applicant has been appointed to (address, phone number, contact email). It must also contain information about the grant, the duration of the program, start and end dates, and health insurance policy.
5. Criminal record certificate. Applicants who apply for a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. The certificate must include both name and fingerprint checks. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
- The background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
- Criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Hague Apostille. We do not accept background checks without the Hague Apostille.
- The apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures. We don’t accept apostilles that certify the signature of a notary that stamps a seal on the criminal background check.
6. 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. You may use this template![]()
Medical certificate template.pdf.
7. 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.
8. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. 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. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
9. Payment of the visa fee. Please check the amount of the visa fee with the Consular Office.
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, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
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. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
When travelling accompanied, the principal applicant must submit a bank statement of the last three months (signed and stamped by their branch office) to prove that they have sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of the applicant and their family members while residing in Spain, or accrediting that there is a regular source of income. Per month, this entails a minimum amount of 100% of Spain's IPREM (Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator) for the student, 75% of the IPREM for the first accompanying family member, and 50% of the IPREM for each additional family member.
The IPREM indicator changes every year. In 2025, the IPREM is 600€ per month.
Additional required documents for minors (under 18)
- Minor’s birth certificate, in English or Spanish, or translated into English or Spanish. Original and photocopy. Apostilled and translated into Spanish. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
- If the minor is travelling with only one parent/legal guardian:
- Apostilled authorization letter from the parent or legal guardian who is not accompanying the minor to travel abroad. Original and photocopy. To apostille a private document, you will need to notarize it first. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
- Passport of the legal parent or legal guardian’s passport who is not accompanying the minor. On the day of the application, you will have to provide either the original passport or an apostilled copy. To apostille a private document, you will need to notarize it first. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
- If only one parent has full custody: apostilled copy (and a photocopy) of the Family Court Order. It must be translated into Spanish. For Australian documents, you may follow the information at the Smart Traveller website.
Other required documents
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.
Procedure
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the Language Assistant. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
- Visa application period: Language assistants must submit their visa application sufficiently in advance of the beginning of their program, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities. Applications can be submitted as early as three months before the start of their program.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular Office. An appointment is necessary. To obtain an appointment, please write an email to emb.canberra.sc@maec.es.
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office 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 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: Refusals of the visa will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a 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.
- Validity period of the visa: If the study stay does not exceed 6 months, the visa will be valid for the entire stay and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card.
If the study stay is for longer than 6 months, the visa will be valid for a 90-day stay. The student must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card within a period of 1 month from their entry into Spain, at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the Police Station of the province in which the permit was processed.