Independent index: figures taken from official tariffs, not from agents
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Not an investment or income route — you need enrolment

Spain
student visa

The cheapest formal entry into Spain among every programme in this index — but the status only lasts for the study period and barely counts toward citizenship.

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Funds from
€600/mo
Time to status
2–3.5 mo.
Right to work
up to 30 hrs/wk
Stay requirement
for the duration of studies

The requirement is enrolment, not capital

The financial threshold is tied to the IPREM and multiplied by the programme length, not a fixed annual sum for everyone.

REQUIREMENT
AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
Enrolment at an accredited institution
AMOUNT—
An official enrolment letter for a full-time programme — the baseline condition, without which the visa is not considered.
Financial means, legal minimum
AMOUNT100% IPREM/mo = €600
A 10-month academic year — from €6,000; a 12-month programme — from €7,200.
Financial means, recommended level
AMOUNT€8,000–10,000/year
Consulates approve applications more consistently with a margin above the legal minimum.

What the full cost consists of

Government fees are symbolic — the real cost is the study itself and the funds you must document, not the paperwork fees.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Consular visa fee
RATE€60
most nationalities
Consular fee (US)
RATE€135 (~$160)
reciprocity-based
Consular fee (Canada)
RATE€80 (~$95)
reciprocity-based
Medical certificate
RATEmarket rate
mandatory for everyone since 20 May 2025

How the process runs

01
Enrolment and medical certificate
Getting the official enrolment letter and a medical certificate — mandatory for every applicant regardless of duration since May 2025.
02
Filing at the consulate
Only at the consulate covering your permanent residence; apply 2–3 months before the programme starts.
03
Review
4–8 weeks — the consular section consults other authorities if needed.
04
Entry and filing for the TIE
Within 30 days of entry — filing for the foreigner ID card (TIE).
05
Receiving the TIE
Another 4–6 weeks for production and issuance.

A good fit if

You have a genuine enrolment offer or a clear plan to apply to a Spanish university or language school.
Your budget is limited: this is the cheapest formal entry into Spain among the programmes in this index.
Part-time work up to 30 hours a week alongside studying works for you.
You do not need a direct path to permanent residence or citizenship right now.

A poor fit if

You have no genuine intention to study — the visa is not a substitute for a work or investment programme.
Your goal is citizenship or permanent residence on a reasonable timeline: student years barely count toward naturalisation.
You plan to work full-time — the 30-hour weekly cap is strict.
You need status longer than one educational programme — renewal requires new enrolment.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

How much money do you actually need to show?

The legal minimum is 100% of the IPREM per month (€600), multiplied by the programme length: €6,000 for a standard 10-month academic year. Consultants recommend showing €8,000–10,000 a year — applications with margin above the minimum are approved more consistently.

Can you work while studying?

Yes, up to 30 hours a week — raised from 20 hours in 2025. Full-time employment is not allowed.

Does this visa lead to permanent residence or citizenship?

No direct path. The standard naturalisation route is 10 years (2 for a number of fast-track nationalities, see the Non-Lucrative Visa page), and student years count only partially, if at all.

Is a medical certificate mandatory?

Yes, since 20 May 2025 — for every applicant regardless of programme length. The requirement was looser before.

What if the programme is shorter than a year?

As of October 2025, official guidance clarified that financial requirements are assessed by actual study duration, not always a full year — a 6-month programme only requires 6 months of funds.

Does the visa fee differ by nationality?

€60 for most countries, but US nationals pay €135 (~$160) and Canadian nationals €80 (~$95) — reflecting reciprocity with those countries.

Sources

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — official visa information, including the student visa↗Assist / ApplyBoard — detailed breakdown of IPREM thresholds for the 2026–27 academic year↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.