★ Where you apply — directly at the Embassy, not BLS
Student (national / type D) applicants submit their application directly at the Embassy of Spain in Dhaka — not at the BLS visa centre. You must book an appointment in advance by calling +8801609208089 between 14:00 and 15:30 (this is the long-term-visa appointment line). No applicant is received without a prior appointment. This is different from short-stay Schengen (Category C) visas, which are lodged at the BLS centre in Banani. Because some official documents also reference BLS for long-term submissions, confirm on the phone when you book that you are submitting at the Embassy.
Important — Bangladeshi nationals need a visa for all Spain trips
Bangladeshi passport holders are not visa-exempt for Spain. Unlike nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays, Bangladeshi nationals require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any visit under 90 days. For language courses lasting more than 90 days, you need a separate national student visa (Category D). The short-stay Schengen visa is processed at the BLS centre; the national student visa is submitted directly at the Embassy.
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Spain's student visa rules changed significantly on 20 May 2025. Key requirements now in force: apply well in advance of your course start date (the site standard is at least 2 months); your acceptance letter must confirm tuition has been paid in full; your passport must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay and not older than 10 years; for Spanish language courses the school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: student visa holders can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit (higher-education students only; language-school students need a separate work authorisation); a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available to university graduates on completion.
Is Dhaka the right consulate for you?
The Embassy of Spain in Dhaka covers the whole of Bangladesh. Applications are accepted from persons residing in — or regularly studying in — the consular district.
The Embassy in Dhaka serves all of Bangladesh — there is a single Spanish embassy for the country. Neighbouring countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives) are handled by the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi, not Dhaka.
Your current place of residence — or where you regularly study in person — determines that Dhaka is your consulate, not the place of issue on your passport. Students attending classes in person in Bangladesh may apply here even if not formally resident.
Document checklist
Prepare the whole file on A4, one-sided, unstapled, in checklist order, with a full set of photocopies to accompany. Two completed application forms are required (not one). All documents must be in Spanish or accompanied by an official Spanish translation (see the legalization section below).
1
National visa application forms (×2)
Two copies of the national visa application form, each completed in full and signed. If the applicant is a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photographs
Two recent passport-size colour photographs on a white background, glued (not stapled) to the forms. Facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of the biometric-data pages, previous visas and migration stamps. Must be valid for at least the whole intended stay (1 year of validity is recommended) and have blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter (Spanish + English) + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school, addressed to the Embassy of Spain, in both Spanish and English. It must state the course name, class times, and start and end dates, and be accompanied by a full studies programme (subjects, credits, length, and the certificate/grade awarded) plus a fees letter confirming full-time, paid-in-full enrolment and a bank receipt of the student's payment.
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600 per month for the full duration of your stay (100% IPREM), plus 75% IPREM for a first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional one. The Embassy scrutinises funds closely (see the Bangladesh quirk below). If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
Self-funded applicants show their own bank statements; sponsored applicants provide the full sponsor documentation set described below.
6
Spanish health insurance
From an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Must provide full cover equivalent to Spain's public health system, with no copayments, no deductibles and no coverage limits. Travel insurance is not accepted. Must cover the full duration of your stay.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Applicants over 16 · stays over 180 days
Issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and it must be issued with a photo. It must cover each country where you have resided in the last 5 years. It is then legalized by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) — not apostilled — and afterwards translated into Spanish. Valid if issued within 1 year before the application.
Bangladesh is not a Hague Apostille country, so this follows the legalization route, not an apostille. See the section below.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a registered medical practitioner, certifying the applicant does not suffer from any disease with serious public health implications per the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Legalized and translated into Spanish. Should be issued within 6 months of the application.
9
Civil-status documents
Original birth certificate in English (from the registrar). If married, marriage certificate + Nikah Nama (English and Bengali). A copy of the National ID (smart card) for applicants over 18.
10
Explanation letter for any missing document
If any document cannot be provided, include a written explanation letter (translated into Spanish) setting out why.
Bangladesh's legalization route — MOFA, not apostille
Bangladesh is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Public documents for use in Spain therefore go through a chain legalization — not an apostille. The Embassy's checklist specifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) legalization route for the police certificate.
1
Obtain the original document with photo
The Police Clearance Certificate is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and must carry a photograph.
2
Legalize at Bangladesh's MOFA
Have the certificate legalized by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is legalization, not an apostille, because Bangladesh is outside the Hague Convention.
3
Onward Spanish legalization — confirm if required
The general Spanish rule for non-Hague countries is MOFA legalization followed by legalization at the Spanish Embassy. The Dhaka checklist names MOFA legalization + Spanish translation but does not restate an onward Embassy step. Confirm the current requirement with the Embassy when you book your appointment.
4
Official Spanish translation
After legalization, have the document translated from English into Spanish by an authorised translator (traductor autorizado). All documents must be legalized first, then translated.
PCC validity differs here. The police certificate must have been issued within 1 year before your application — a wider window than the 6-month rule that applies to other certificates and that many other Spanish consulates use for the PCC too.
Bangladesh-specific quirk — heavy funds scrutiny
The Dhaka Embassy examines financial documentation more closely than most consulates, and asks for notably more paperwork. If you are sponsored, expect to provide the full set below.
- Sponsor's passport / ID copy and proof of the family relationship
- Letter of guarantee / affidavit of support from the sponsor
- Sponsor's bank statement covering at least the last 6 months
- Two years' Income Tax Certificate + the Income Tax Return slip
- Company certificate + 6 months' salary slips (where applicable)
- Acceptance and fees letters in both Spanish and English with the bank receipt of tuition paid
- A personal interview may be requested, and additional documents may be asked for during examination
Booking + submission tips
- Call +8801609208089 between 14:00 and 15:30 to book your appointment — this is the long-term-visa line. No applicant is received without a prior appointment
- Student (type D) applications are submitted directly at the Embassy of Spain in Dhaka, not at the BLS centre — confirm this when you book, as some official text also references BLS for long-term visas
- Visa fee: BDT 12,587 (all ages), paid in cash at the Embassy. This is roughly €95 — the euro figure moves with the exchange rate, so treat the BDT amount as authoritative and confirm the current figure
- Present the whole file on A4, one-sided, unstapled, in checklist order, with a full photocopy set
- Two application forms and two white-background photos (glued, not stapled)
- Decision: the legal maximum is 1 month from the day after submission; it may extend if an interview or extra documents are requested
- Collect the visa in person (or via a representative for a minor) within a maximum of 2 months after a favourable decision
- Short-stay Schengen (Category C) visas are handled separately at the BLS centre in Banani — not covered by this student-visa guide
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply at the Embassy or at BLS? +
For the national student (type D) visa you apply directly at the Embassy of Spain in Dhaka, not at the BLS visa centre. You must book an appointment first by calling +8801609208089 between 14:00 and 15:30. No applicant is received without a prior appointment. Only short-stay Schengen (Category C) visas are lodged at the BLS centre in Banani. Because some official text also references BLS for long-term submissions, confirm on the phone when you book.
Do I need a visa just to visit Spain as a tourist? +
Yes. Bangladeshi nationals require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any trip to Spain, even for stays under 90 days. This is different from nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays. For a course longer than 90 days you need the national student visa (Category D) instead.
How much is the visa fee and how do I pay? +
The fee is BDT 12,587 for all ages, paid in cash at the Embassy. In euros that is roughly €95, but the exact euro amount moves with the exchange rate — treat the taka figure as the authoritative one and confirm the current amount when you book your appointment.
What is the Police Clearance Certificate and how do I legalize it? +
The PCC is the criminal record check required for applicants over 16 for stays over 180 days. It is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and must carry a photograph. Because Bangladesh is not a Hague Apostille country, it is then legalized by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) — not apostilled — and afterwards translated into Spanish. It must have been issued within 1 year before your application. Whether an onward legalization by the Spanish Embassy is also needed is best confirmed with the Embassy when you book.
Why does the Embassy ask for so much financial paperwork? +
The Dhaka Embassy scrutinises funds more heavily than most consulates. A sponsored applicant typically needs the sponsor's passport/ID, proof of the family relationship, a letter of guarantee, 6 months of bank statements, two years' Income Tax Certificate plus the return slip, and — where applicable — a company certificate with 6 months' salary slips. A personal interview may also be requested. Prepare the full set to avoid delays.
Does my acceptance letter need to be in Spanish? +
Yes — and also in English. The Embassy wants the acceptance letter in both Spanish and English, addressed to the Embassy of Spain, stating the course name, class times and start/end dates, with a full studies programme and a fees letter confirming full-time, paid-in-full enrolment plus the bank receipt of the payment.
How early should I apply? +
Start preparing several months ahead. The PCC + MOFA legalization + Spanish translation chain takes time, appointment slots on the phone line are limited, and the Embassy has up to 1 month to decide once your complete file is submitted — longer if an interview or extra documents are requested. Do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is in hand.
Can I work in Spain on a student visa? +
Yes — since the May 2025 reform (RD 1155/2024), university / higher-education students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit (students at language schools still need a work authorisation). You still need to demonstrate sufficient financial means at the application stage — work rights don't replace the financial proof requirement.