The single biggest reason student visa applications get delayed is paperwork: one missing certificate, an expired bank statement, or a document that wasn’t apostilled. Get the file right the first time and the rest of the process is straightforward.
This is the full checklist for a long-stay (national, type D) Spanish student visa in 2026, including the changes from the May 2025 reform. Requirements vary slightly between consulates, so always cross-check the exact list with the consulate that covers where you live. Use this as your master list and our step-by-step application guide for the order of play.
The quick checklist
| Document | Key requirement |
|---|---|
| National (type D) visa form | Completed and signed, plus a passport photo |
| Passport | Valid at least 1 year, with blank pages |
| Acceptance letter | From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school, course paid in full |
| Proof of funds | €600/month (around €7,200 for a year) |
| Health insurance | Full-coverage, Spain-authorised, no co-pays or waiting periods |
| Criminal-record certificate | For stays over 180 days, apostilled |
| Medical certificate | For longer stays — check your consulate |
| Visa fee | Varies by nationality — check your consulate |
1. Application form and photo
You’ll need the national (type D) visa application form, completed and signed, along with one recent passport-size photo. The type D form is specifically for long stays (over 90 days), which is what a study course requires. Make sure every field matches your other documents exactly, especially names and dates.
2. Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least one year from the date you apply, and it needs blank pages for the visa sticker. If yours is close to expiry, renew it before you start, since a short-dated passport is one of the most common reasons applications are bounced.
3. Acceptance / enrolment letter
This is the heart of your application. You need an official acceptance letter from an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school confirming:
- a course of at least 20 hours per week, and
- that your tuition is paid in full.
The full-payment requirement came in with the May 2025 reform, so older guides may still say a deposit is enough — it isn’t. Choosing the right school is therefore the first practical step. We only list accredited schools that issue compliant enrolment letters, and you can enrol through us to get the exact documentation your consulate wants.
4. Proof of financial means
You must show you can support yourself: €600 per month, the figure tied to Spain’s IPREM. For a full academic year that’s roughly €7,200. You can evidence this with recent bank statements in your own name, or with a sponsor who provides their statements plus a letter of support. Our financial requirements guide walks through exactly what consulates accept and how to present it.
5. Health insurance
You need a full-coverage health insurance policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with no co-pays and no waiting periods. Standard travel insurance is not accepted — this trips up a lot of applicants. The policy must cover you for the full length of your stay. See our health insurance guide for policies that meet the rules.
6. Criminal-record certificate
For any stay over 180 days, you’ll need a criminal-record certificate:
- apostilled (the Hague apostille that legalises it for use in Spain),
- issued within roughly the last six months, and
- covering every country you’ve lived in over the relevant period, not just your home country.
This one takes the longest to obtain, so start it early. Our background check guide explains how to get it apostilled and translated.
7. Medical certificate
For longer stays (over six months), many consulates also ask for a medical certificate confirming you are free of diseases that could have public-health consequences under the 2005 International Health Regulations. It’s usually issued within about the last 90 days and signed by a licensed doctor. Whether it’s required, and the exact wording, varies between consulates — so check your consulate’s current list before booking your medical.
8. Visa fee
The visa fee varies by nationality. Some consulates list around $160 for US citizens and roughly $106 for others, but amounts and accepted payment methods differ from one consulate to the next. Check your consulate’s current fee and how they want it paid before your appointment.
A note on apostilles and translations
Many of these documents — your criminal-record and medical certificates in particular — typically need an apostille and a sworn (official) translation into Spanish. Build time in for this: apostilles and certified translators can take a couple of weeks, and a document that’s correct but untranslated will still be rejected.
After you arrive: the TIE
The visa gets you into Spain; the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is your in-country ID. For stays over 180 days, apply for it within 30 days of arriving. It’s a separate step from the visa, so keep it on your radar once you land.
Pull it all together
Work through this list top to bottom, start the slow items (criminal record, apostilles, translations) first, and confirm the fine print with your specific consulate. When you’re ready, our full documents checklist and application walkthrough take you the rest of the way — and you can enrol with an accredited school to lock in the enrolment letter your application depends on.
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