May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
BLS Turkey has not yet updated its website for all rules introduced in May 2025. The following apply regardless: submit at least 2 months before your course start date; your acceptance letter must confirm tuition has been paid in full; your passport must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date; for Spanish language courses the school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit; a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available on completion.
Provinces under Ankara Embassy jurisdiction
You must apply at BLS Ankara if you live in one of the following provinces (or in Azerbaijan — see note below):
Azerbaijan: The Ankara Embassy is formally accredited to Azerbaijan, but Spain also operates a Representative Office in Baku (Nizami Street 90A, Landmark III · emb.baku@maec.es). Residents of Azerbaijan may use either the Baku office or BLS Ankara — contact the Baku office first as it is the more practical option.
Iraq Kurdistan Region: Since 3 April 2025, residents of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq can no longer apply at BLS Ankara. Applications now go to the Spanish Embassy in Baghdad directly.
Not on this list? If your province isn't above, your application goes through the Istanbul Consulate General instead.
Document checklist (SSU / SLU)
For language courses, university degrees, master's programmes, and other full-time study lasting more than 90 days. Submit originals and photocopies of all documents in A4 format, sorted as listed on the BLS checklist, without a folder or binder.
1
National visa application form
Completed and signed in Spanish or English. Available on the BLS website or at the BLS centre.
2
Passport photograph
One biometric photo, white background, 3×4 cm, no glasses, recent.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of the biographical page. Must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date, have at least 2 blank pages, and be issued within the last 10 years.
4
Letter of intent
A personal letter (preferably in Spanish, Turkish, or English) explaining your study plans and purpose of trip in detail.
5
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must clearly state the programme, start and end dates, minimum 20 hours/week, and confirm tuition has been paid in full. Must be in Spanish or translated. A letter confirming admission or deposit only is not sufficient (RD 1155/2024).
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
6
Flight reservation
Return tickets for stays under 180 days. One-way ticket acceptable for stays over 180 days. Do not purchase tickets before the visa is issued.
7
Proof of accommodation in Spain
Hotel reservation, signed lease agreement with landlord's ID copy, or school-issued accommodation confirmation.
8
Bank statement
BLS Turkey expects €750 per month of stay (the statutory IPREM minimum is €600/month, but BLS applies a higher de-facto threshold). Must be from a single account, signed and stamped by the bank. Not older than 3 months at submission.
9
Spanish health insurance
Must be from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer — e.g. Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, MAPFRE Salud, or Cigna Global. Full cover, no copayments, no deductibles. Standard travel insurance and Schengen health policies are not accepted for the long-stay student visa. For stays over 1 year, policy must cover at least the first year.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
10
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
Must cover all countries where you have resided for the past 5 years. Each certificate requires: (1) Hague Apostille from the Governorship (Valilik) + (2) sworn Spanish translation by a notarised translator. Not older than 3 months at submission.
11
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
From a fully equipped hospital. Must state the applicant does not have any disease posing a public health risk per WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Requires Hague Apostille + sworn Spanish translation. Not older than 3 months.
12
Proof of residence in Ankara jurisdiction
Document proving you live in one of the provinces listed above under Ankara Embassy jurisdiction.
Foreign nationals with long-term Turkish residence permits: All documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn (notarised) translator — even documents from your home country.
Short-term Turkish residence card holders cannot apply without prior written approval from the Embassy. Contact the visa section before booking a BLS appointment.
Apostille + sworn translation — the correct sequence
For the criminal record certificate and medical certificate, you must follow this exact sequence:
1
Obtain the original document
Criminal record from the courthouse (Adli Sicil Müdürlüğü). Medical certificate from a fully equipped hospital.
2
Get the Hague Apostille stamp
Take the original to your provincial Governorship (İl Valiliği) to obtain the Hague Apostille. Allow up to 2 weeks.
3
Sworn Spanish translation
Take the apostilled document to a sworn notarised translator (yeminli tercüman) for the official Spanish translation.
4
Submit
Original document + Apostille + Spanish translation, plus photocopies of each. Allow 2–4 weeks total for this process. Documents must not be older than 3 months at submission.
BLS submission tips
- Book only through the official BLS website — never through third parties
- Allow at least 15 working days between your application date and intended travel date
- Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment; late arrivals must rebook
- Each applicant needs a separate file and appointment
- If no online appointment is available, email info.turkey@blsinternational.net with a complete document list
- Visa fee (~106 USD) and BLS service charge (~19 USD) are both paid in USD cash. $50 bills and old-series $100 notes are not accepted. Ancillary services (courier, SMS, copies) are paid in TL
- Submit all documents in A4 format, sorted as listed on the BLS checklist, without a folder or binder
- Passports are returned by courier only — not collected in person
Frequently asked questions
I live in Konya — do I apply in Ankara or Istanbul? +
Konya is under Ankara Embassy jurisdiction. Apply at BLS Ankara.
I'm from Azerbaijan. Can I apply at BLS Ankara? +
Azerbaijan falls formally within the Ankara Embassy's accreditation, so BLS Ankara is an option. However, Spain also operates a Representative Office in Baku (Nizami Street 90A, Landmark III; emb.baku@maec.es), which is typically the more practical choice for Azerbaijan-based applicants. Contact the Baku office first — they handle consular matters for residents of Azerbaijan directly. All documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
Does the medical certificate wording matter? +
Yes — it must include the specific WHO phrasing: "The individual named [name] does not have any diseases that may pose a public health risk in accordance with the World Health Organization International Health Regulations (2005)." If the hospital does not use this wording, the certificate may be rejected. Bring a printed copy of the required text to the hospital appointment.
Do I need a notarised bank statement? +
No notarisation is required for the bank statement. However, it must be signed and stamped by the bank itself and show a balance meeting the minimum threshold of €750 per month of stay. It must not be older than 3 months at submission.
My criminal record is from another country. Do I still need an Apostille? +
Yes — criminal records from all countries where you have lived for more than 6 months in the last 5 years must be submitted, each with a Hague Apostille and sworn Spanish translation. If the issuing country is not a Hague Convention signatory, the document must be legalised through that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish consulate there.
How long will processing actually take? +
The Embassy has up to 2 months from submission to issue a decision, and may extend this if additional documents or an interview are required. On top of this, factor in Apostille processing time (up to 2 weeks), sworn translation time, and courier return of your passport. Start at least 3–4 months before your course start date.
My acceptance letter is only in English. What do I do? +
Have it translated into Spanish by a sworn translator before submission. Alternatively, ask your school to issue a Spanish-language version — most language schools in Spain can do this on request.