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 Istanbul Consulate General jurisdiction
The Istanbul Consulate General's demarcation covers Marmara, the Aegean, the Black Sea coast and the Mediterranean up to Mersin. Apply to the Istanbul Consulate General if you legally reside in this area. The provinces below are generally understood to fall under Istanbul, but the exact Istanbul–Ankara boundary (including whether Mersin itself sits with Istanbul or Ankara) is not published as a definitive province list — confirm your jurisdiction on exteriores.gob.es before applying, as you must apply where you reside.
Honorary consulates cannot process visas. Spain's honorary consulates at Antalya, İskenderun, İzmir and İzmit do not process student visas. Even if one is in your province, your application goes to the Istanbul Consulate General (or the Ankara Embassy, depending on your demarcation) by email.
Not in this demarcation? If you reside outside the Istanbul demarcation, your application goes through the Ankara Embassy instead. You cannot apply in Istanbul if you live in an Ankara-jurisdiction province.
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. Available in Spanish or English on the Consulate'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 in Spanish, Turkish, or English explaining the purpose of your trip and study plans in detail.
5
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an authorised centre (Instituto Cervantes-accredited for Spanish language courses). Must state the programme name, 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, or a letter from the school confirming accommodation address.
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 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
The Turkish criminal record (adli sicil belgesi, obtainable via e-Devlet) plus certificates from all countries you have lived in 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 translation into Spanish by a notarised translator. Not older than 3 months at submission.
11
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by 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 demarcation
Document proving you legally reside in the Istanbul Consulate General's demarcation.
Foreign nationals with long-term Turkish residence permits: All your documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator before submission — even documents from your home country.
Short-term residence card holders are not eligible to apply without prior written approval from the Consulate General. Contact the visa section before requesting an appointment.
Apostille + sworn translation — the correct sequence
For the criminal record certificate and medical certificate, 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
Have the apostilled document translated by a sworn notarised translator (yeminli tercüman).
4
Submit
Original + Apostille + Spanish translation, plus photocopies of each. Both document and Apostille must not be older than 3 months at submission.
Application submission tips
- Request your appointment by email to the visa section: cog.estambul.vis@maec.es, 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 separate appointment
- The visa fee is €80 (or the equivalent in Turkish lira), payable per the Consulate's instructions
- Submit documents in A4 size, sorted in the order 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 Bursa — do I apply in Istanbul or Ankara? +
Bursa (in Marmara) falls under the Istanbul Consulate General's demarcation, so you apply directly to the Istanbul Consulate General. Confirm your exact jurisdiction on exteriores.gob.es before applying.
Is there a BLS visa centre in Turkey? +
No. Student visa applications in the Istanbul demarcation are made directly to the Consulate General by email to the visa section (cog.estambul.vis@maec.es). Spain's honorary consulates at Antalya, İskenderun, İzmir and İzmit do not process visas.
My acceptance letter is in English. Is that OK? +
The acceptance letter should be in Spanish or translated into Spanish. An English-only letter may be queried. To be safe, ask your school for a Spanish version or have it translated by a sworn translator before submission.
Does the medical certificate need to be from a specific hospital? +
It must be issued by a "fully equipped hospital" — a GP clinic letter is not sufficient. The certificate must include the doctor's name, signature, and hospital stamp, and contain the standard WHO phrasing about public health diseases. After obtaining it, you need the Hague Apostille from the Governorship (as an administrative document) and a sworn Spanish translation.
I'm a foreign national on a long-term Turkish residence permit. Can I apply here? +
Yes — if you hold a long-term Turkish residence permit and legally reside in the Istanbul Consulate General's demarcation, you may apply here. All your documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Short-term residence card holders cannot apply without prior consulate approval.
How early should I apply? +
Apply at least 3–4 months before your course start date. Under RD 1155/2024 the visa is issued about 1 month after a favourable stay authorisation. Add Apostille stamping (up to 2 weeks) and sworn translations. Time-sensitive documents like medical certificates and bank statements expire within 3 months, so don't prepare them too far in advance.