Do you need a student visa?
Under 90 days — no visa needed. New Zealand citizens are visa-exempt for Spain and can study in Spain for up to 90 days without any visa. Short intensive courses or summer programmes fall into this category.
Over 90 days — student visa required. Any course lasting more than 90 days requires a national student visa (Visado de Estudios) applied for before you travel. This applies to all full academic-year or longer intensive Spanish language courses at Instituto Cervantes accredited schools.
Under 30? Consider the Working Holiday Visa first. Spain and New Zealand have a bilateral Working Holiday Agreement. The WHV allows New Zealanders aged 18–30 to live, work and study in Spain for one year — and study is permitted as a secondary activity. If your primary goal is immersive language learning alongside part-time work, the Working Holiday Visa can be a faster and less document-heavy route. The annual quota is 2,000 places — ask the Embassy about the current application window.
No BLS centre — apply direct to the Embassy
Unlike applicants in the US, UK, Australia and South Africa, New Zealanders do not submit through a BLS visa application centre. You deal directly with the Spanish Embassy in Wellington. This means:
Book your appointment by email. Contact the consular section at emb.wellington@maec.es to request an appointment. Do not turn up without one.
Submit and collect in person at the Embassy. Both submission and passport collection must be done in person at Level 11, 50 Manners Street, Wellington. Consular office hours are 9:00am–5:30pm Monday to Friday, by appointment.
Check the current fee before your appointment. The visa fee is the NZD equivalent of approximately €80–90 (the exact amount varies with currency fluctuations). Contact the Embassy to confirm the current NZD fee before attending — you cannot pay online or in advance.
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Spain's student visa rules changed significantly on 20 May 2025. Key requirements now in force: apply at least 2 months before your course start date; passport must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date; proof that tuition has been paid in full is required with your acceptance letter; your language school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. Key new rights: student visa holders can now work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit; the authorisation lasts the full programme duration; a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available on completion.
Required documents
Submit originals and copies of all documents. Documents not in Spanish or English may need a sworn translation into Spanish. New Zealand-issued documents require the Hague Apostille for the criminal record check and medical certificate — New Zealand is a signatory to the Hague Convention.
1
National visa application form
Download from the Embassy website. Complete all sections and sign it. If a minor, one parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance on every section.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photograph. Light background, facing forward, taken within the last 6 months. No dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original and photocopy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for at least 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter and proof of tuition payment
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must confirm admission, programme name, start and end dates, full-time attendance (minimum 20 hours/week), and that enrolment fees have been paid. A single document can satisfy both admission and payment requirements.
All schools listed on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited. Enrol here and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600 per month for the full duration of your stay. Options include: 6 months of bank statements (originals, bank-stamped); a scholarship letter covering all costs; or a sponsorship letter from a parent (notarised, apostilled, with a sworn Spanish translation) along with their 6 months of bank statements, employer letter, and your birth certificate.
For a 9-month course you need to demonstrate approximately €5,400 available. If accommodation is paid in advance, that amount can be deducted from the total required.
6
Health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Must cover all risks of Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles, no waiting periods. Travel insurance is not accepted. Valid for the full duration of stay plus one month before the course starts and 15 days after it ends.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Criminal record check Stays over 180 days
For courses lasting more than 180 days: a Criminal Record Check from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice, covering the past 5 years. Must also include checks from any other country you've lived in for 6+ months during that period. Must not be older than 6 months at the time of application. Must be apostilled and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
Apply online or by post at justice.govt.nz. Allow 5–10 working days. The apostille is issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) — processing takes 5–10 working days via post.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
For courses lasting more than 180 days: a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner, dated no more than 3 months before your application. Must state: "This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. [name] does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005." Must be apostilled and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
Any registered GP or doctor can issue this. The apostille certifies the doctor's signature — contact the Department of Internal Affairs for the apostille.
9
Proof of residence in New Zealand
A document showing your current name and New Zealand address — utility bill, bank statement, driving licence, or official correspondence all work.
10
Visa fee payment
Paid in NZD at the Embassy on the day of your appointment. Confirm the current NZD amount by emailing the Embassy before attending — the amount changes with currency fluctuations. Check with the Embassy whether cash or bank cheque is required.
Apostille guide for New Zealand applicants
New Zealand is a signatory to the Hague Convention, so documents are apostilled rather than double-legalised. The Hague Apostille is issued by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Criminal record check — apostille (on Ministry of Justice signature) + sworn Spanish translation
Medical certificate — apostille (on doctor's signature) + sworn Spanish translation
Sponsorship letter (if applicable) — notarised + apostilled + sworn Spanish translation
Birth certificate (if using parent sponsorship) — apostille + sworn Spanish translation
Apply for apostilles at dia.govt.nz. DIA processes apostilles in 5–10 working days by post. If using a private document legalisation service allow extra time. The Embassy maintains a list of approved sworn translators — request it when you email to book your appointment.
Step-by-step process
1
Enrol at an Instituto Cervantes accredited school and get your acceptance letter
Your letter must confirm admission, course dates, full-time attendance (20+ hrs/week), and fees paid.
⏰ At least 3 months before your course start date
2
Get your NZ Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check (stays over 180 days)
Apply at justice.govt.nz. Receive the certificate, then send to DIA for apostilling. Then commission a sworn Spanish translation.
⏰ Allow 3–4 weeks for check + apostille + translation
3
Get your medical certificate (stays over 180 days)
From any registered GP using the required IHR 2005 wording. Send to DIA for apostilling, then sworn Spanish translation. Must be dated no more than 3 months before your Embassy appointment.
⏰ Within 3 months of your Embassy appointment
4
Purchase Spanish health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised insurer. No travel insurance. Must cover the full stay including 1 month before course start and 15 days after end.
⏰ Before booking your Embassy appointment
5
Email the Embassy to book your appointment
Contact emb.wellington@maec.es to request a consular appointment. Apply at least 2 months before your course start date. Confirm the current visa fee in NZD at the same time.
⏰ At least 2 months before course start
6
Attend your Embassy appointment in Wellington
At Level 11, 50 Manners Street, Wellington 6011. Consular hours: 9:00am–5:30pm Monday to Friday, by appointment. Bring originals and copies of all documents. Pay the fee in NZD as instructed.
⏰ Day of appointment
7
Collect your passport and visa in person
The Embassy's decision period is 1 month. When notified, collect your passport in person at the Embassy. Track your application status at sutramiteconsular.maec.es with the receipt code provided on the day. Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.
⏰ Legal decision within 1 month
Working Holiday Visa — the alternative for under-35s
Spain and New Zealand have a bilateral Working Holiday Agreement. If you are a New Zealand citizen aged 18–35 who wants to spend a year in Spain, the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) may be worth considering alongside or instead of the student visa. Key differences:
| Student Visa | Working Holiday Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Age limit | None | 18–30 |
| Primary purpose | Study (full-time) | Holiday + incidental work or study |
| Work rights | Up to 30hrs/week (RD 1155/2024) | Work freely for the duration |
| Study rights | Full-time study | Study permitted as secondary activity |
| Duration | Length of course | 1 year (non-renewable) |
| Document burden | Higher | Lower |
If your primary goal is to learn Spanish and you're under 35, ask the Embassy about the current WHV quota and application window when you contact them. WHV quotas are set annually and can fill up quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Do NZ citizens need a Schengen visa for Spain? +
No. New Zealand citizens are visa-exempt for Spain and the entire Schengen area for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You can enter Spain as a tourist to visit schools, explore cities, or do a short course without any visa. For stays or courses over 90 days, you need to apply for a student visa before you leave New Zealand.
Is there a BLS centre in New Zealand? +
No. Unlike applicants in the US, UK, Australia and South Africa, New Zealanders apply directly to the Spanish Embassy in Wellington. There is no outsourced visa centre. Email the consular section at emb.wellington@maec.es to book your appointment.
Which criminal record check do I need? +
For stays over 180 days, you need a Criminal Record Check from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice (not a police vetting check — the MoJ check is the correct document for visa purposes). Apply at justice.govt.nz. Once received, send it to the Department of Internal Affairs for an apostille, then commission a sworn Spanish translation. Allow 3–4 weeks for this whole process.
My course is 6 months — do I need the criminal check and medical cert? +
It depends on the exact length. The threshold is 180 days (approximately 6 months). If your course is under 180 days you don't need either document. If it's over 180 days you need both. Under the post-2025 rules, your visa period also includes 1 month before the course starts and 15 days after it ends — so factor that into the calculation. If your combined stay period crosses 180 days, you'll need both documents.
Can I apply for the Working Holiday Visa instead? +
If you're 18–30 and want to spend up to 1 year in Spain, the WHV may be a simpler option since study is allowed as a secondary activity. The annual quota is 2,000 places and applications open at a set date each year — contact the Embassy for current timing. Note that under RD 1155/2024, student visa holders can now work up to 30 hours/week, so the work-rights gap between the two routes has narrowed. If you're planning serious full-time intensive language study, the student visa remains the more appropriate route.
How long does processing take? +
The legal decision period is 1 month from submission. The full timeline including document preparation — particularly the MoJ criminal check, DIA apostille, and sworn translation — is typically 8–10 weeks from start to finish. Apply at least 2 months before your course start date, and earlier if possible to give yourself buffer.