How long does a Spain student visa take to process?

A decision on a Spain student visa typically takes around 30 days from the appointment date, though peak season, additional document requests and consulate workload can extend this. Apply as early as the rules allow.

Where do I apply for a Spain student visa?

Spanish consulate covering your place of residence — student visas are handled by the consulate itself, not fully outsourced to BLS in every district. You always apply through the mission or application centre that covers your country of legal residence.

What documents are required for a Spain student visa?

The Spain consular network lists: Valid passport (valid for the whole course); National visa form (Solicitud de visado nacional); 2 biometric photos; Letter of admission from an authorised Spanish institution; Proof of full course fees paid or payment plan; Proof of financial means (100% IPREM per month, approx. €600); Private medical insurance with full cover, no co-payments, valid in Spain; Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated (courses over 6 months); Medical certificate (courses over 6 months); Proof of accommodation in Spain; Proof of UK immigration status. Some items are mandatory and others only advisable — the EU Visa Compass checklist tool flags which is which.

Can I apply for a Spain student visa from the United Kingdom?

Yes. We list 3 submission points in the UK for Spain, with addresses and notes, on this page. If you live elsewhere, use the consulate covering your country of residence — the requirements themselves stay the same.

Spain student visa: requirements, fee and processing time

This page covers the Spain student visa — used for enrolling on a course, degree programme or exchange semester. Every field below is taken from our editor-verified country record and reflects what the Spain consular network publishes for applicants of any nationality. You apply in the country where you legally reside, so exact centres and service fees can differ locally.

Consular fee

€80

Typical decision

30 days

Appointments

Premium options

Where to apply for a Spain student visa

Spanish consulate covering your place of residence — student visas are handled by the consulate itself, not fully outsourced to BLS in every district.

Required documents

Valid passport (valid for the whole course)
National visa form (Solicitud de visado nacional)
2 biometric photos
Letter of admission from an authorised Spanish institution
Proof of full course fees paid or payment plan
Proof of financial means (100% IPREM per month, approx. €600)
Private medical insurance with full cover, no co-payments, valid in Spain
Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated (courses over 6 months)
Medical certificate (courses over 6 months)
Proof of accommodation in Spain
Proof of UK immigration status

Turn this list into a tick-off checklist on the checklist page, which also flags which items are mandatory and which are only advisable.

Fees, reductions and exemptions

Student visa (standard)€80
UK nationals€600— Reciprocity fee applied to British citizens for national visas.
Family member of EU/EEA/CH citizenFree— Directive 2004/38/EC — fee waived with proof of relationship.
BLS service fee€17— £14.85 incl. VAT per applicant, mandatory for every category.
Next-day courier passport return€34— £29.99 optional return by courier.
SMS / email tracking€2— £1.95 optional.
Premium in-centre service€115— £100 per applicant. Does not speed up the appointment or the decision.
Premium lounge€200— From £175 per applicant (£160 each for groups of 5+).

Spain charges a reciprocity fee to some nationalities (notably British citizens) for national visas, so the student visa can cost far more than the €80 base. Erasmus+ and some scholarship holders may be exempt — check with the consulate.

Booking an appointment

Appointments are booked online with BLS International (London, Manchester, Edinburgh). Standard slots can be several weeks out in peak season. Paid extras (premium in-centre service £100, premium lounge from £175, next-day courier £29.99) add comfort but do not speed up the appointment or the decision.

Practical tips

Order your apostilled police certificate and its sworn translation first — it is the slowest item and is mandatory for stays over 6 months.

What is unusual about the Spain process

Travel insurance is not accepted: Spain requires a full private health policy with no co-payments and no waiting period from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain.

Official sources

If you are applying from the United Kingdom

London — Spain Visa Application Centre – London
20 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AG
All Schengen visa applications for Spain from UK residents are submitted at BLS, not at the consulate.
Manchester — Spain Visa Application Centre – Manchester
Unit 1, 205 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester M3 5PF
Serves the consular district of Manchester; submission usually 08:30–13:30.
Edinburgh — Spain Visa Application Centre – Edinburgh
Centre serving Scotland; check the BLS site for the current address and opening hours.

Applying from somewhere else? Use the consulate that covers your country of legal residence — the requirements above still apply.

Updated today against official Spain consular sources. Requirements can change without notice — always confirm before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Spain student visa cost?: For a Spain student visa, the consular fee is €80. Reduced or waived amounts apply to: Student visa (standard) — €80; UK nationals — €600; Family member of EU/EEA/CH citizen — free; BLS service fee — €17; Next-day courier passport return — €34; SMS / email tracking — €2; Premium in-centre service — €115; Premium lounge — €200. Spain charges a reciprocity fee to some nationalities (notably British citizens) for national visas, so the student visa can cost far more than the €80 base. Erasmus+ and some scholarship holders may be exempt — check with the consulate. Visa application centres such as VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact or Capago charge their own service fee on top.
How long does a Spain student visa take to process?: A decision on a Spain student visa typically takes around 30 days from the appointment date, though peak season, additional document requests and consulate workload can extend this. Apply as early as the rules allow.
Where do I apply for a Spain student visa?: Spanish consulate covering your place of residence — student visas are handled by the consulate itself, not fully outsourced to BLS in every district. You always apply through the mission or application centre that covers your country of legal residence.
What documents are required for a Spain student visa?: The Spain consular network lists: Valid passport (valid for the whole course); National visa form (Solicitud de visado nacional); 2 biometric photos; Letter of admission from an authorised Spanish institution; Proof of full course fees paid or payment plan; Proof of financial means (100% IPREM per month, approx. €600); Private medical insurance with full cover, no co-payments, valid in Spain; Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated (courses over 6 months); Medical certificate (courses over 6 months); Proof of accommodation in Spain; Proof of UK immigration status. Some items are mandatory and others only advisable — the EU Visa Compass checklist tool flags which is which.
How do appointments work for a Spain student visa?: Appointment model: Premium options. Appointments are booked online with BLS International (London, Manchester, Edinburgh). Standard slots can be several weeks out in peak season. Paid extras (premium in-centre service £100, premium lounge from £175, next-day courier £29.99) add comfort but do not speed up the appointment or the decision.
Can I apply for a Spain student visa from the United Kingdom?: Yes. We list 3 submission points in the UK for Spain, with addresses and notes, on this page. If you live elsewhere, use the consulate covering your country of residence — the requirements themselves stay the same.

🇪🇸 Spain student visa: requirements, fee and processing time