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. National visa application form
. Each 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. One (1) recent full-face color photograph passport-size, taken in person against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face taken by a commercial photographer or studio no more than six months before the date you submit your application. It should also meet the requirements pictured on this link.
Photographs of minors must not show any part of the adult holding them.
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 accompanying them. The minimum required monthly amount for 2024 is € 600.00 (CAN $879.00). To this amount must be added € 450.00 (CAN $659.00) for the first family member and € 300.00 (CAN $440.00) 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.
If your parents are to cover the costs, you must present a notarized letter signed by them indicating their consent and a copy of their bank statement for the last two months.
6. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting a public or private health insurance provided by an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain. It has to be a health insurance, not a travel insurance. For this reason, it does not need to cover repatriations and/or evacuations.
Coverage period must be throughout the validity of the study authorization and should contain all risks normally covered to Spaniards in the Spanish National Health System benefits list.
Medical insurance must not have a deductible, co-payment or coverage limit, that is, it must cover 100% of medical, hospital and extra-hospital expenses. Spanish companies such as Sanitas, Adeslas, Axa, etc. offer unlimited expenses coverage.
Exceptionally, a medical insurance from foreign company that sets a maximum coverage limit may be accepted if it meets the rest of the requirements. As a benchmark, insurance coverage up to a maximum of US$500,000.00 may be accepted.
In any case, the insurance company must be authorized to operate in Spain. There is a list of them at http://rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es/.
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. This requirement is not mandatory if the duration of the requested stay is less than six months. However, if the length of stay requested is longer than six months, applicants of legal age (18 years old and older) must submit the original and a photocopy (not notarized) of their criminal background check(s) issued by the country or countries of residence in the past 5 years.
In the case of Canada, only the negative criminal record certificate issued by the RCMP containing the visa applicant's fingerprints will be accepted. You will find more information about how to obtain it
here.
Criminal records certificates from local police stations will not be accepted.
The Canadian Criminal Record Certificate must be authenticated with the Hague Apostille Certification, and must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator.
The visa will not be issued without the Criminal Record Certificate
apostilled by Global Affairs Canada, so it is recommended that you carry out this procedure with the Canadian authorities
well in advance.
The official translation can include the translation of the Apostille as well, but it is not necessary (the translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation). You can find a certified translator through
The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario.
The background check must be issued within 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
The apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures (e.g. we don’t accept apostilles that certify the signature of a notary public that stamps a seal on the criminal background check).
If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 5 years in another country (outside Canada) an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague, unless it is issued by an EU member state. The criminal background check issued by an EU authority does not need to be apostilled to be accepted. You can check the list of the countries signing the Hague Convention
here.If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in 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 issued by your family doctor worded as follows:
“This medical certificate states that Mr./Mrs. ….. does not suffer from any diseases that may have serious consequences on public health in accordance with the provisions contained in the 2005 International Health Regulations."
9. Proof of residence in the consular district. The applicant must provide proof of their legal residence in the National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau) or that they are attending classes, in person, in the National Capital Region.
If you live in a city other than Ottawa and Gatineau, you should apply for your visa at the Spanish Consulate General in Toronto or Montreal according to their consular jurisdictions.
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.
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.
12. Payment of the visa fee. The visa fee is CAN $ 131.90 (year 2024), except when a reciprocity fee applies to other countries, such as Australia, United States of America and the United Kingdom. Visa processing fee for Canadians is CAN $131.90. Please refer to the consular fee chart for other nationalities.
Only cash, money order or certified cheque payable to the "Embassy of Spain" will be accepted.
13. If an applicant is not a Canadian citizen, he/she must provide documentation proving his/her residence status in Canada (a permanent residence card or working permit or study permit with transcript)
14. Proof of accommodation. Hotel reservation or confirmation letter from the Academic Institution indicating the conditions of your accommodation. Private housing must be accompanied by an invitation.
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, common law certificate, or birth certificate, as applicable) must be provided.
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.
A Spanish translation of all documents submitted may be required in accordance to the provisions of article 15 of "Act 39/2015 on Uniform Administrative Procedures of the Spanish Public Administration". It may also be required that foreign documents be legalized or apostilled, where applicable.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the National Capital Region or who are regularly in the National Capital Region for study purposes even if they are not residents.
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.
- 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 (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.
To find out about the outcome of your visa application, click HERE and input your personal data on your Proof of receipt. You may pick up your passport/visa any working Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 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.
- 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.
This information is not binding and does not alter or replace the relevant regulations, which shall always prevail.