The most detailed Spain student visa resource online
Everything you need to get your Spain student visa, done right
Every consulate, every rule change, every accredited school. No guesswork, no outdated advice.
May 2025 update The rules changed and here's what matters:
Language school students must now apply at their home consulate. Switching from a tourist visa inside Spain is no longer permitted for language courses.
Instituto Cervantes accreditation is now mandatory. Non-accredited schools cannot issue the documentation your consulate requires.
Renewal now requires a DELE or SIELE exam pass. Course completion alone is no longer sufficient.
One renewal maximum. That's two years total on a language course visa before you need to change route.
Before you apply
Three things to understand first
The Spain student visa has more moving parts than most guides admit. Getting these right shapes everything that follows.
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited
Without accreditation, your school cannot issue the enrolment documentation your consulate requires. The visa application fails before it starts. Most school directories online don't filter for this. Every school in our database is verified and accredited.
Browse accredited schools → Every consulate has its own rules
Same visa, very different requirements. Some consulates only accept MDs on medical certificates. Others require all documents in Spanish. Knowing your consulate's rules before you apply can save your start date.
Find your consulate guide → Health insurance is the #1 rejection trigger
Travel insurance doesn't qualify. Your home country's policy doesn't qualify either. You need a Spanish-authorised plan with no copayments, no waiting periods, and at least €30,000 coverage.
Find compliant insurance → School finder
Ready to find your school?
Every school listed is Instituto Cervantes accredited. Enrol through us and pay €500 less than the standard rate.
Find your school
All Cervantes accredited
Enrol through us and save €500. Same school, guaranteed lower price.
Consulate guides
Know exactly what your consulate requires
Each of the 117 Spanish consulates worldwide operates differently. We've documented them all so you don't get caught out.
Miami
2–4 weeks · $160 fee
Fastest in US
FL, PR, USVI, GA, SC, NC, TN, AL, MS
Los Angeles
4+ weeks · $160 fee
Average
CA, NV, HI, AZ, NM, CO, UT
New York
5 weeks minimum · $160 fee
Average
NY, CT, PA, NJ, DE
Chicago
~4 weeks · in-person required
6-month window
IL, IN, OH, MI, WI + 8 more states
San Francisco
5–8 weeks · $160 fee
Name on photo
Northern CA, OR, WA, AK, HI + more
Boston
Up to 8 weeks
Strictest in US
No driver's licence for residency proof
Countries covered
🇺🇸 United States 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇳 China 🇷🇺 Russia 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇦🇪 UAE
+ more being added Student experiences
From people who made the move
"The consulate breakdown was invaluable. I'm in Houston and the July 31 deadline wasn't mentioned anywhere else online. Applied in time thanks to this."
Sarah M.
Houston TX · studying in Barcelona
"Got the €500 discount on my Granada school. The DELE renewal section was something I hadn't considered at all. Really glad I read it before enrolling."
James R.
Manchester UK · studying in Granada
"As a Canadian I had no idea the RCMP check needed to go through Global Affairs Canada. Would have sent the wrong document without this guide."
Priya K.
Toronto ON · studying in Madrid
Health insurance
Don't let insurance sink your application
Non-compliant insurance is the most common rejection reason across all 117 consulates. Travel insurance and home-country policies are turned down every time.
Adeslas Sanitas ASSSA DKV Asisa
Compare compliant policies → €40–55/mo
Most students pay this with Sanitas or Asisa. Both are visa-compliant from day one.
1 month early
Coverage must start at least one month before your course begin date.
€30,000
Minimum coverage required. No copayments, no waiting periods, no deductibles.