The most important thing to know first
All national student visa applications from UAE residents must be submitted at the BLS centre in Dubai. The official Embassy page states this explicitly: "Applications must be submitted in person at the BLS UAE Visa Application Centre in Dubai (not at BLS premises in Abu Dhabi)." Book your appointment at uae.blsspainglobal.com.
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; 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: student visa holders can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit; a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available on completion.
Do you need a student visa?
Whether you need a Schengen short-stay visa for Spain depends on your passport nationality, not your UAE residency status. UAE nationals and residents from certain nationalities (UK, US, Canada, Australia etc.) are visa-exempt for short tourist stays in Spain under 90 days, but everyone needs a national student visa for stays over 90 days regardless of nationality. If you reside in the UAE and are planning a language course in Spain lasting over 90 days, this page covers your process.
Document checklist
Submit originals and photocopies of all documents. Foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation where applicable.
1
National visa application form
Download from the Embassy website. Complete every section and sign it. If a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
One recent passport-size colour photograph. Light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of all pages containing biometric data. Must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date and have at least 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must state the programme name, start and end dates, total cost, and confirm that tuition has been paid in full. Must be in Spanish or accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600 per month for the full duration of your stay (100% IPREM 2025). Required documents: a salary certificate from your employer (must include signatory's Emirates ID — see note below) and 6 months of bank statements. If a family member is sponsoring you, their salary certificate and bank statements are required instead, plus a sponsorship letter (Annex I affidavit). If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted.
Foreign financial documents must be legalised or apostilled as appropriate for the issuing country, then translated into Spanish.
6
Spanish health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Must cover all risks of Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles. Travel insurance is not accepted for the long-stay student visa. Must cover the full duration of your stay.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Criminal record certificate Stays over 180 days
From every country where you have resided for the past 5 years. Each certificate must be legalised or apostilled (depending on whether the issuing country is a Hague Convention signatory) and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation. Must not be older than 3 months at submission.
UAE police clearance (Good Conduct Certificate): apply through the UAE Ministry of Interior — available via the MOI smart app, Amer Centres, or authorised typing centres. Note that this is general UAE guidance; the Embassy does not endorse a specific channel. For documents from your home country: check whether that country requires apostille or chain legalisation.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a registered medical practitioner. Must certify the applicant does not suffer from any disease with serious public health implications per the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Must be legalised or apostilled and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation. Must not be older than 3 months at submission.
9
Proof of residence in the UAE
Proof of legal residence in the UAE — your UAE residency visa/stamp, Emirates ID, or a document from your employer confirming UAE residence. The Embassy also accepts students who are regularly attending classes in person in the UAE as eligible to apply here.
10
Visa fee payment
Equivalent to €80 (standard rate). Confirm the exact AED amount at BLS when booking — the rate is set by the Embassy and may vary. Paid at BLS on the day of your appointment.
Sworn Spanish translators — Embassy-approved list
The Embassy maintains an approved list of sworn translators in the UAE. Only translations by these translators are accepted — translations with a MOFA stamp from a non-listed translator will be rejected. Translations by the approved translators do not need a MOFA stamp.
Approved Spanish/English/Spanish translators (Dubai):
- María José Ibarra Domene — 050 2897483 · mariajoseibarradomene@gmail.com
- Verónica Conesa Izquierdo — 056 6056984 · veronicacone@gmail.com
- María Gómez Amich — 052 5939169 · mgamich84@hotmail.com
- Yasmina Shawi Sanchez — 056 8978941 · yasminshawishachez@hotmail.com
- Claudia Lang-Lenton Arrizabalaga — 056 6448495 · claudia.lenton@gmail.com
- Laura de Lorenzo Alba — 050 2385033 · laurade.89@gmail.com
- Maria Flor Mateo Romo — 050 4049188 · flor.mateo@gmail.com (Abu Dhabi)
- Sara Hanna Montero — 052 9117133 · sarahannam@yahoo.es
- Dina Hind Zarif Cócera — 052 9898301 · dinahindzarif@gmail.com
Only use translators from the Embassy-approved list above. Spain recognises only translations by sworn translators appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs — the list above is that approved list. Translations by non-listed translators may not be accepted. Note: approved translators' translations do not need to be separately legalised; however, the original document itself still requires MOFA and Spanish Embassy legalisation before being translated.
Legalisation — UAE documents vs. home-country documents
UAE is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the legalisation chain depends on where your document was issued.
UAE-issued documents (police clearance, medical certificates, employer letters): must be legalised through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFAIC), then by the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, then accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation from the approved list. MOFA attestation alone is not sufficient — the Spanish Embassy legalisation step is required.
Home-country documents (e.g. a PCC from your passport country): the standard process for the issuing country applies. If your home country is a Hague Convention signatory (e.g. India, UK, US, Australia), an apostille from that country's competent authority is sufficient — no additional UAE step is required for the home-country document. Then add a sworn Spanish translation.
BLS submission tips
- Submit at BLS Dubai only — not at BLS Abu Dhabi or the Embassy in Abu Dhabi
- Book your appointment at uae.blsspainglobal.com — walk-ins are not accepted under any circumstances
- You must book your own appointment directly — appointments made through intermediaries will not be accepted
- BLS fees paid online are non-refundable — rescheduling is not available; cancel and rebook if you need to change your date
- BLS submission hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8:00am–3:00pm · Collection: 3:00–4:00pm · Closed Friday, Saturday, and public holidays
- Emirates ID number must appear on employer NOCs and salary certificates — missing this is a common rejection reason
- Enquiries: info.uae@blshelpline.com
- Track your application after submission at uae.blsspainglobal.com
Frequently asked questions
I live in Abu Dhabi — can I submit at BLS Abu Dhabi? +
No. The official Embassy page explicitly states that national student visa applications must be submitted at the BLS centre in Dubai — not at BLS premises in Abu Dhabi. Regardless of where in the UAE you live, you must travel to the BLS Dubai centre to submit your application.
I have an Indian passport but live in the UAE — do I apply here or in India? +
If you are a legal resident of the UAE, you apply here at the Abu Dhabi Embassy via BLS Dubai. The rule is based on your country of residence, not your nationality. If you are only visiting the UAE and not a resident, you must apply at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
Do I need a Schengen visa to visit Spain before my course starts? +
It depends on your passport nationality. UAE nationals and residents from visa-exempt countries (UK, US, Australia, Canada etc.) can enter Spain as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. Residents from non-exempt countries (India, Pakistan, Philippines etc.) need a Schengen short-stay visa even for tourist visits. Your UAE residency visa does not grant you visa-free access to Spain — it's your passport nationality that matters.
Why does my employer letter need an Emirates ID number? +
BLS UAE requires that any NOC or salary certificate from an employer includes the signatory's full name, their position in the company, and their Emirates ID number — or a copy of the Emirates ID attached. This is a UAE-specific requirement that catches many applicants off guard. Ask your HR department to include this information explicitly when issuing the letter.
Which translator should I use for my sworn Spanish translation? +
You must use a translator from the Embassy's approved list — listed in the section above. Translations by non-listed translators will not be accepted, even with a MOFA stamp. Translations by approved translators do not need a MOFA stamp. Verify the current list on the BLS UAE website before commissioning any translation.
How long will the process take from start to finish? +
Allow at least 3–4 months. The criminal record and medical certificate process (obtaining, legalising, translating) takes several weeks. BLS appointment slots can fill up. The Embassy has 1 month to decide from submission. Start preparations at least 2 months before your course start date — earlier is safer.
Can I work in Spain on a student visa? +
Yes — since the May 2025 reform (RD 1155/2024), student visa holders studying at accredited institutions can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit. You still need to demonstrate sufficient financial means at the application stage.