Renewing your Spain student visa in 2026

What changed under the May 2025 reform

Renewal was one of the areas most affected by Royal Decree 1155/2024, which came into force on 20 May 2025. Two changes in particular matter for language school students:

Higher-education students (university, master's, doctoral, higher vocational training) are not subject to the one-renewal cap. Their authorisation can be renewed to match the length of their programme. The DELE/SIELE requirement is specific to the language-school category.

Who can renew, and how many times

The renewal rules differ sharply by study type. The reform did not restrict university students' ability to renew, but it tightened the rules for language academy students significantly.

The DELE or SIELE exam requirement

From May 2025, language school students renewing their authorisation must submit results from one of two official Spanish proficiency exams:

The law does not specify a minimum level. In practice, you need to have sat the exam and have results to submit. Immigration lawyers familiar with the reform suggest that a level aligned with the time you have spent in Spain (roughly B1 after one year of intensive study) is a reasonable benchmark, though this is not a formal requirement. Participation with results is the threshold, not a specific pass level.

Many Instituto Cervantes-accredited schools are themselves DELE or SIELE examination centres, which simplifies logistics. Ask your school when you enrol whether they host exams.

When to file

Timing the renewal correctly matters. File too early and the application is rejected as premature. File too late and you fall outside the grace period and must leave Spain.

The safe window is simple: file 30 to 60 days before your authorisation expires. This gives the Oficina de Extranjería time to process (resolution is promised within two months), keeps you comfortably legal, and avoids any late-filing sanction.

Documents you need

The renewal document package is similar to the initial visa, with a few key differences. You do not need to start over with apostilles and sworn translations from scratch (the background check is usually not required at renewal), but several documents must be fresh.

Fees

The 2026 fees for a Spain student visa renewal break down as follows:

Total out-of-pocket for a renewal is typically €700 to €900, well below the cost of the original visa application (which also includes apostilles, sworn translations, and consulate fees). The renewal is filed in Spain, so there are no apostille or consulate fees.

How to file

There are two routes, and students can pick either one:

Route 1: Telematic filing (recommended)

Most renewals are now filed electronically through the Sede Electrónica of the Administración Pública. You need a digital certificate (certificado digital) or a cl@ve identity. Once you have either, you upload the application form (EX-00), scanned documents, and fee receipt through the system. Submission is instant, you get a timestamped acknowledgment, and the file goes to your province's Oficina de Extranjería for review.

The digital certificate itself takes an appointment at a Hacienda office or a one-off verification online, and is well worth getting for any Spanish bureaucratic process.

Route 2: In-person at the Oficina de Extranjería

You can also file in person at your local Oficina de Extranjería. You'll need a cita previa (prior appointment) booked at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es under "Policía - Expedición de Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero" or similar. Slots in Madrid and Barcelona are typically scarce and are best booked a few weeks ahead. Bring originals and photocopies of every document.

Processing time and outcome

The Oficina de Extranjería is legally required to resolve renewal applications within two months of submission. In practice, resolution can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months depending on the province. Madrid and Barcelona tend to be slower than smaller provinces like Granada or Salamanca.

Three outcomes are possible:

Silencio administrativo (administrative silence after 3 months) is technically positive for renewals, meaning the application is treated as approved if the deadline passes without a response. In practice, you will want an explicit resolution to present at the Policía Nacional for your new TIE card.

After your renewal is approved

Once the renewal is approved, you need to schedule two additional steps:

What happens after your second year

For language school students, the two-year cap is firm. Several options exist at the end of the second year:

For higher-education students: Article 190

Students completing a university programme, master's, doctorate, or higher vocational training have substantially more options than language school students. Article 190 of RD 1155/2024 allows a direct modification from student status to a residence-and-work permit (cuenta ajena for employees, cuenta propia for self-employed) without returning home. The conditions:

This is a significant simplification from the pre-reform rule, which required three years of residence before a student could become a worker. Higher-education students can also apply for a post-study job search authorisation of up to 24 months under Disposition Adicional 17 of Law 14/2013, useful if employment is not secured immediately after graduation. These routes are not available to language school students.

Summary

Renewing a Spain student visa under the post-May-2025 rules is manageable if you plan ahead. Language school students should book their DELE or SIELE exam during year one, gather documents 2 to 3 months before authorisation expiry, and file the renewal telematically between 60 and 30 days before expiry. The two-year cap is firm, so students wanting to stay longer should be planning an exit strategy (return home, switch to higher-education, or different visa category) from the start of their second year. Higher-education students are not subject to the cap and have the added option of converting to a work permit under Article 190 once studies are complete.