Jurisdiction — which consulate covers you?
Russia has two Spanish consulates. Make sure you apply at the right one based on your region of residence.
Moscow covers most of Russia — all federal districts except the northwest. If you live in St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov, Karelia, or Kaliningrad, you must apply at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg.
The Moscow consulate's jurisdiction includes the Central, Southern, Far East, Siberian, Ural, Volga, and North Caucasus federal districts — covering the vast majority of Russia's population.
Where to submit your application
This is the most important thing to understand before booking anything. From 1 June 2026 the process changed for Moscow-demarcación applicants.
From 1 June 2026 — national visas via BLS International. The Consulate General in Moscow published a notice on 14 April 2026: applicants for SLU, SSU, SLF, and SSF visas residing in the Moscow consular demarcación must now submit through a BLS International centre. The consulate retains the decision-making authority — BLS only receives files, collects biometrics, and returns passports. Book at blsspainrussia.ru.
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Student visa (national visa — stays over 90 days)
From 1 June 2026: submit through BLS International (blsspainrussia.ru). For queries, email cog.moscu.res@maec.es. Note: sutramiteconsular.maec.es is the case-status tracking system used after submission — it is not for booking appointments.
Consulate address: Stremyanniy pereulok 31/1, Moscow 115054 · Metro: Serpukhovskaya
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Short-stay Schengen visa (stays up to 90 days)
Submitted through BLS International visa centres as before. Book online at blsspainrussia.ru. BLS centres are located across Russia.
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; your language school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: university students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit (language-school students still need a work authorisation); the authorisation lasts the full programme duration; a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available to university graduates.
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. All documents not in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legalised with the Hague Apostille where required.
1
National visa application form
Download from the consulate website. Complete every section, sign and date it. Must be in Spanish.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Recent passport-size colour photograph taken within the last 6 months. Light background, facing forward, no dark glasses.
3
Valid passport
Must be valid for at least one year from the date of application (post-May 2025 rule). Must have at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. Your passport will be held by the consulate for the entire processing period.
⚠️ Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is approved and your passport returned.
4
School acceptance letter
Official letter from your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain confirming your name, course name, start and end dates, hours per week (minimum 20), and proof that fees have been paid. Must be in Spanish.
All schools in our finder hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol through us and we'll ensure your acceptance letter meets all consulate requirements.
5
Proof of financial means
Bank statements showing a minimum of €600 per month for the duration of your course. Statements must show your name, account number, and transaction history. Must cover the last 3 months. If funds are from a family member, you need their statements plus a notarised sponsorship letter — both must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
6
Health insurance certificate
From a Spanish DGSFP-registered insurer. Must cover your entire stay in Spain with no copayments, no waiting periods, and minimum €30,000 coverage. Travel insurance does not qualify.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Compare compliant policies →
7
Proof of financial means
Minimum 100% IPREM per month of stay — approximately €600/month in 2025/2026 (IPREM frozen). Bank statements covering at least 3 months, showing your name, account number, and available balance. If funds are from a family member, their statements plus a notarised sponsorship letter are needed — both apostilled and translated into Spanish.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Signed by a registered doctor confirming no disease with serious public health implications per the 2005 International Health Regulations. Must be issued within 3 months of your application date and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
9
Proof of accommodation in Spain
A rental contract, confirmed student housing letter from your school, or a notarised invitation letter from a host with a copy of their ID. Must cover at least the first 4 weeks of your stay.
10
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
Must be issued by the Russian Federation and cover the last 5 years. Valid for only 3 months from the date of issue — obtain it as late as possible to avoid it expiring before submission. Must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
How to get the Apostille in Russia: Request the certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД — Main Analytical Information Centre). The apostille on MVD-issued certificates is affixed by the MVD itself, not by the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice apostilles notarial, educational and other documents — but not MVD police certificates. Allow approximately 35 days for the full process. Paper originals only — certificates issued by Russian consulates abroad cannot be apostilled and are rejected by Spanish authorities.
⚠️ Start this process early — it is the longest lead-time document. But do not start too early: the 3-month validity clock starts from the date of issue.
Apostille in Russia — what you need to know
Russia is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, which means Russian public documents going to Spain require apostille rather than consular legalisation. The issuing body depends on the type of document.
Criminal record certificates (МВД): The apostille is affixed by the MVD itself (Ministry of Internal Affairs). You do not take the certificate to the Ministry of Justice for apostille — the MVD handles the apostille on its own documents. Processing takes approximately 35 days. Educational, notarial and other documents are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (ul. Zhitnaya 14, Moscow).
Citizens of Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan living in Russia and applying at the Moscow consulate: the rules depend on which country issued your criminal record. Certificates from Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan can be apostilled. Certificates from Turkmenistan require consular legalisation by the relevant diplomatic mission. Always verify with the consulate for your specific situation.
Processing time and fees
The consulate is legally required to decide within one month of receiving a complete application. In practice, allow 4–8 weeks. Apply at least 2 months before your course start date — and ideally 3 months, given document preparation times.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | Paid in Russian rubles at the time of application · rate set by the consulate and updated regularly |
| Payment method | Local currency (rubles) · check the consulate website for current fee |
| BLS service fee | Applies to short-stay Schengen visas submitted via BLS · does not apply to national visa applications submitted at the consulate |
Translations
All documents not in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This includes your criminal record certificate, medical certificate, and any financial documents in Russian. A list of recognised sworn translators is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (maec.es).
Translated documents may be legalised either at the Spanish Consulate General in Moscow, or by a sworn interpreter duly recognised by Spanish authorities. Both routes are accepted.
Contact
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National visa enquiries (student visa)
cog.moscu.res@maec.es
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Schengen visa enquiries
cog.moscu.vis@maec.es
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General consulate enquiries
cog.moscu@maec.es
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Address
Stremyanniy pereulok 31/1 · Moscow 115054 · Metro: Serpukhovskaya
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit my student visa application through BLS? +
From 1 June 2026, yes — in fact you must. The Consulate General in Moscow published a notice on 14 April 2026 that applicants for national student visas (SLU, SSU, SLF, SSF) residing in the Moscow demarcación must now submit through BLS International. Previously national visas were submitted directly at the consulate, but this has changed. For visa queries, email cog.moscu.res@maec.es. Note: sutramiteconsular.maec.es is the case-status tracking system — it is not for booking appointments.
Where do I get the Apostille on my Russian criminal record? +
The criminal record certificate is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД — Main Analytical Information Centre). Importantly, the apostille on an MVD-issued certificate is also affixed by the MVD itself — not by the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice apostilles other document types (notarial, educational). Once apostilled, the certificate must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Allow approximately 35 days for the full process. Only paper originals work — certificates from Russian consulates abroad cannot be apostilled and are rejected. The certificate is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, so timing matters.
I'm a citizen of Armenia / Belarus / Uzbekistan living in Russia — do the same rules apply? +
Mostly yes, but with one important difference: your criminal record certificate requirements depend on which country issued it. The Moscow consulate specifies that certificates from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Uzbekistan must be apostilled under the Hague Convention. Certificates from Turkmenistan require diplomatic legalisation rather than an apostille. If you have lived in multiple countries in the past 5 years, you may need certificates from each country, legalised according to that country's rules. Contact the consulate directly at cog.moscu.res@maec.es to confirm your specific situation.
How long in advance should I start preparing? +
At least 3 months before your course start date, ideally 4. The criminal record certificate and apostille process alone can take 4–8 weeks. Add sworn translation time, appointment availability at the consulate, and processing time (up to 4 weeks), and it is easy to see how the timeline adds up. Apply at least 2 months before your start date — this is the legal minimum.
Will my passport be kept during processing? +
Yes. The consulate keeps your passport for the entire processing period, which can be several weeks. Plan around this — you will not be able to travel internationally while your application is being processed. Only the passport holder can collect the visa and passport in person.