Spanish Visas

Your Stay in Spain - Visas

Do I need a visa?

Visas are NOT required for passports of any of the following countries, regardless of purpose and/or length of stay in Spain: *The European Union *Iceland *Norway *Switzerland

Not from any of these places but staying less than 90 days?  Then you DON'T need a visa if you hold a passport from:

Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Korean Republic, Liechtenstein, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, USA. (or Anguilla, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, St. Helena, The Caiman Islands, The Falklands Islands, The Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands , Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela).

If you’re NOT from any of these places but staying for less than 90 days you need to get a Schengen or Tourist visa. You need to contact your nearest Consulate who will inform you in more detail what this entails.  Tourist visas take about 15 days to come through.

I am not from the EU and am staying more than 90 days .In that case you need a student visa.  Contact your nearest consulate.  The visa takes 7 weeks to come through. Do note that you have to relinquish your passport during this time.

Staying more than 180 days? If your stay in Spain is for a period longer than 180 days you will have to request, within one month of your arrival in Spain, an authorization for the completion of your studies. ISLA will help you do this.

What happens if I arrive in Spain planning to be there less than 90 days (so don’t get a VISA) but then decide to stay on?You will need to return to your country of origin and get a student VISA.  You can not “become” a student once in Spain.

What happens if I arrive in Spain on a study visa for 6 months but when my time is up I want to stay on?You can extend Study visas while in Spain if you can produce:

1. Proof that you have successfully completed previous studies (Certificate of Attendance).
2. A course confirmation for your future studies.

Can I travel around Europe while in Spain?
If you are NOT on a student visa, you can take your 90 days anywhere within the Schengen area as long as they are used up in a 6 month period. The clock stops when you leave the Schengen area. Schengen roughly corresponds to the EU but not exactly.  The UK, for example, is NOT in Schengen. If you are on a student VISA you are a full time student but we can factor in short breaks so you can travel. If you take unpermitted time off you will not receive a Certificate of Attendance and thus not be able to extend your student visa if you wish to do so.

* A word of warning: Do not attempt to enter Spain without a visa if you need one. There is no emergency procedure, you can't bribe the police, your embassy in Spain can't help and you will probably be refused entry and put on the first plane home, or what is worse, impounded for a few days until they find you a flight.

NOTE:  This information is of an orientative nature and should be checked with your nearest consulate.  Conditions change constantly and ISLA does not accept responsibility for travel mishaps due to students’ incorrect documentation.