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Spain - Student Visas

International Education, Semester Abroad

NOTE: The information below, under "STUDENT VISAS," was obtained from the Student Visa page on the Spanish Embassy's web site. The information was current as of June 7, 2005. It is provided here for your convenience.

Brackets [ ] are used to indicate comments inserted in the text by this office.

IMPORTANT: Students should consult the web site of the Embassy of Spain in the United States for up-to-date information about how to apply for a student visa. Do not rely solely on the information below, as visa application requirements can change without advance notice.

To get to the Student Visa web page for the Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C.:

go to the Spanish Embassy's home page
click "Consulates" on the left-hand side of the screen
scroll down and click "Consulate General of Spain in Washington D.C."
click "Visa Services"
click "Student Visas"

The Consulate General office in Washington, D.C. has jurisdiction over:

Maryland
North Carolina
Virginia
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia

If your permanent residence is in one of the jurisdictions listed above, you must apply for your student visa through the Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C.

If your permanent residence is in another state or territory, you should apply for your visa through the Consulate General's office that has jurisdiction over your state of residence. The Embassy's Jurisdiction web page lists states alphabetically along with the Spanish Consulate that serves each one. Alternatively, you can obtain a list of states that each Spanish Consulate serves:

go to the Spanish Embassy's home page
click "Consulates" on the left-hand side of the screen
the states served by a Consulate are listed under its "Jurisdiction"

How long does it take? The length of time it takes for a Consulate to process your student visa application varies, depending primarily on the time of year and the number of applications received by a given Consulate. As a result, some Consulates process student visa applications fairly quickly while other Consulates take several weeks to process applications. For instance, the web site of the Spanish Consulate in New York states that it takes their office a minimum of four weeks to issue a student visa. Plan accordingly! Check the web site of the Consulate that serves your state of residence and call the Consulate's visa section for help with the visa application process.

Contact Randolph-Macon's Office of International Education for more information about applying for a student visa.

The information below was copied from the Student Visa web page of the Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C.

Check the Consulate's Student Visa web page for changes.

See how to do so above.

Student Visas

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING CERTAIN MONTHS ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF VISA APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED EVERYDAY ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS, THEREFORE WE STRONGLY RECOMEND THAT YOU ARRIVE AT OUR OFFICES BEFORE
9:00 AM

REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA

A student visa is mandatory for any foreigner wishing to study in Spain for 3 months or longer.

This Consulate General [that is, the one in Washington, D.C.] has jurisdiction over the following States: Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

If your permanent residence is in one of these States you must apply at this Consulate. If your permanent residence is in another State contact the Consulate that has jurisdiction over your State. We will not accept applications from students whose permanent adress is not part of our jurisdiction.

The visa is processed in your country of residence prior to your departure. You cannot get the visa in Spain, and you cannot have it sent to you. The visa is affixed in your passport before you depart the U.S., and must be presented at the border Officials upon your entry into Spain. [NOTE: See R-MC's Passports web page for more information about applying for a U.S. passport.]

Due to the overwhelming demand for student visas, it is important that you allow enough time for the Consulate to process your visa.

To apply for a student visa the following requirements are necessary [NOTE: There is an "Application Form" link on the Embassy of Spain's "Visa Services" web page. According to the visa section of the Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C., you may use that application form (titled "Solicitud de visado Schengen / Application for Schengen Visa") to apply for a student visa. Take two completed application forms with you when you apply for your visa and retain a photocopy for your records.]

Personal appearance is required in order to submit the documentation. We understand that this is difficult for some students, but this regulation can only be waived if a student's parent presents the application in place of the student.
Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months. Make sure your passport is signed.
1 recent picture, passport size. No senior pictures cut down to size or photocopies of other pictures, these must be passport photos. [NOTE: See the Passport photographs section of R-MC's Passport web page.]
Original letter addressed to this Consulate General verifying enrollment as a full-time student in an official University or School in Spain, and verification of full payment of tuition. THIS LETTER MUST ALSO state that the student has medical insurance coverage while the student is in Spain. If there is no insurance information on this letter, the student will need a letter from their insurance company verifying that he/she is covered internationally. [NOTE: Each student participating in R-MC's Salamanca semester abroad program will be sent a "certificate" from the University of Salamanca, verifying his or her enrollment at the University, and a notarized letter from R-MC that states: "Randolph-Macon College will pay for his (or her) room, board, and tuition while he (or she) is studying at Universidad de Salamanca. The parents or guardians of our student will be responsible for his (or her) living expenses."]
If you are not a citizen of the United States, bring your “green card” or student visa and I-20 form.
Original medical certificate typed on doctor’s stationary verifying that the applicant is in good health. This letter must be signed by a doctor. [NOTE: The Spanish Consulate will not accept a handwritten note on a doctor's prescription pad. Make sure the statement is typed, dated, signed by the physician/medical doctor, and that it appears on the doctor's stationary.]
If you are going to spend more than 6 months in Spain, you must bring an original certificate of good conduct issued by the police department of the city or cities in which the applicant has spent 6 months or more during the last 5 years.
You must bring the original documents plus one photocopy of each, including your passport [NOTE: Take at least two clear photocopies of your passport with you when you apply for your visa, along with your passport, and retain at least one clear photocopy for your records. You will probably have to leave your passport with the Consulate's visa section for processing.]

You must also submit one of the following items to guarantee living expenses while in Spain:

Letter from the study abroad program assuming full financial responsibility for tuition, room and board for the student during his stay in Spain. For many students this information is included on the previously mentioned letter of acceptance.
Proof of having received financial aid or scholarship covering expenses for tuition, room, board, and personal expenses during the stay in Spain (minimum of $350 per month).
Notarized letter from parents assuming full financial responsibility for the student for at least $500 per month of stay in Spain.

[NOTE: Students should take both the notarized letter from R-MC and a notarized letter from their parents or guardians when they apply for their student visas. See a sample parent's letter of support for study in Spain.]

Applications will not be accepted more than 90 days in advance or less than 45 business days prior to departure date, passports must be left at this Consulate General for processing. Take into consideration any holidays there might be. It may take four weeks or longer to process your application. You will be advised of the processing time when you apply.

If you have time for your passport to be returned by mail, bring a pre-paid self-addressed, express or priority mail envelope from the Post Office. Other express delivery service, certified or registered mails are not accepted. Tracking of mailed items is the responsibility of the applicant.

Fees:

US citizens: Money Order payable to the Consulate General of Spain for $100.00 non-refundable visa processing fee. (Personal checks are not accepted). Although the visa is free, due to reciprocity to U.S. procedure with Spanish passports, an equivalent amount of $100.00 is charged as processing fee to US passports.

Non US citizens: Money Order payable to the Consulate General of Spain for $72.36, non-refundable fee (No personal checks).

The visas issued in this office are valid for six months. If you are staying longer, before your visa expires, you need to go to the closest police station with your passport and police record to get an extension of your visa.

End of the information copied from the Student Visa web page of the Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C.

Check the Consulate's Student Visa web page for changes.

See how to do so above.

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