May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Some official pages may not yet reflect every rule introduced in May 2025 (RD 1155/2024). The following apply regardless: 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, have at least 2 blank pages and not have been issued more than 10 years ago; 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 (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. For stays over 6 months you must collect your TIE (foreigner ID card) within 30 days of arriving in Spain.
Provinces under Ankara Embassy jurisdiction
The Ankara Embassy covers the part of Turkey outside the Istanbul Consulate General's demarcation (Istanbul covers Marmara, the Aegean, the Black Sea coast and the Mediterranean up to Mersin). The provinces below are generally understood to fall under Ankara, but the exact Istanbul–Ankara boundary is not published as a definitive province list — confirm your jurisdiction on exteriores.gob.es before applying, as you must apply where you reside.
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 the Ankara Embassy — contact the Baku office first as it is the more practical option.
Honorary consulates cannot process visas. Spain's honorary consulates in Turkey — Antalya, İskenderun, İzmir and İzmit — do not process student visas. Applications are made to the Ankara Embassy or the Istanbul Consulate General, depending on your demarcation, by email.
Iraq Kurdistan Region: Since 3 April 2025, residents of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq apply at the Spanish Embassy in Baghdad directly.
In the Istanbul demarcation? If you reside in Marmara, the Aegean, the Black Sea coast or the Mediterranean up to Mersin, 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 consulate checklist, without a folder or binder.
1
National visa application form
Completed and signed in Spanish or English. Available on the Embassy's official page.
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 not have been issued more than 10 years ago.
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 authorised centre (Instituto Cervantes-accredited for Spanish language courses). 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
Proof of sufficient funds
You must show 100% of IPREM = €600 per month (€7,200 per year), plus 75% of IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional one. 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.
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10
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
The Turkish criminal record (adli sicil belgesi, obtainable via e-Devlet) plus certificates from all countries where you have resided for the past 5 years. Each requires: (1) Hague Apostille — for the criminal record (a judicial document) this is issued by the courthouse Justice Commission Presidency, not the Governorship — + (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 (from the Governorship / District Governorship, as an administrative document) + sworn Spanish translation. Not older than 3 months.
12
Proof of legal residence in the Ankara demarcation
Document proving you legally reside in the part of Turkey covered by the Ankara Embassy.
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 requesting an 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 (adli sicil belgesi) via e-Devlet. Medical certificate from a fully equipped hospital.
2
Get the Hague Apostille stamp
The authority depends on the document type: criminal records and other judicial documents are apostilled by the courthouse Justice Commission Presidency (Adli Yargı Adalet Komisyonu Başkanlığı); administrative documents such as the medical certificate are apostilled by the provincial Governorship (Valilik) or District Governorship (Kaymakamlık). 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.
Application submission tips
- Request your appointment by email to the Embassy's visa section, attaching your complete document list — there is no BLS International centre in Turkey
- Apply where you legally reside — confirm your jurisdiction on exteriores.gob.es before applying
- Each applicant needs a separate file and appointment
- The visa fee is €80 (or the equivalent in Turkish lira), payable per the Embassy's instructions
- Submit all documents in A4 format, sorted as listed on the consulate checklist, without a folder or binder
- Honorary consulates at Antalya, İskenderun, İzmir and İzmit do not process visas
Frequently asked questions
I live in Konya — do I apply in Ankara or Istanbul? +
Konya is generally understood to fall under the Ankara Embassy's demarcation, so you apply to the Ankara Embassy. Confirm your exact jurisdiction on exteriores.gob.es before applying.
I'm from Azerbaijan. Can I apply at the Ankara Embassy? +
Azerbaijan falls formally within the Ankara Embassy's accreditation, so the Ankara Embassy 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.
How much money do I need to show? +
You must prove funds of at least 100% of IPREM — €600 per month, i.e. €7,200 per year — plus 75% of IPREM for the first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional one. The bank statement must be signed and stamped by the bank and show a single account. It must not be older than 3 months at submission. No notarisation of the statement is required.
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? +
Under RD 1155/2024 the visa is issued about 1 month after a favourable stay authorisation. On top of this, factor in Apostille processing time (up to 2 weeks) and sworn translation time. 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.