One of the best options for immigration to Spain is to move on a student visa. With the help of a student visa, you can stay in the country for a long time, adapt, find a job, and then change your student visa to Residence permit with the right to work.
This article applies not only to students who plan to go to study in Spain for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but also, it will be useful to everyone who wants to immigrate to Spain, regardless of age.
Moving to Spain on a student visa: what is important to know
Moving to Spain on a student visa can be a great option. A student visa is essentially permission to stay in Spain on the basis of study. A student visa is not a residence permit; the period of stay in Spain on the basis of a student visa does not count towards the required minimum.
A long-term student visa is issued for a year with the right to extension. After 3 years of stay in the country on the basis of this visa, it can easily be transformed into a residence permit. A visa can be obtained in Spain itself if you are in the country legally.
In order to get a student visa and move to Spain, you don’t have to go to university – you can enroll in language courses, postgraduate studies, or get a second higher education or business education (MBA). Most often, in order to move to Spain, people enroll in language schools. This is the easiest option, besides, without knowledge of Spanish it is impossible to study at universities. Language schools must be accredited by the Cervantes Institute and provide the required minimum workload of 20 hours per week.
A huge advantage of a student visa is that you do not need to show the same income as in the case of Residence permit for financially independent persons, but the required minimum of 6,800 euros per year per person must still be in the account.
Also, on this visa, your husband/wife and minor children can move with you as members of the student’s family.
Alegria Service company provides assistance in obtaining a student visa to Spain. Details on the service can be found here:
Moving to Spain on a student visa: right to work
Every student in Spain has the right to work part-time as long as it does not interfere with their studies. In terms of time, this is a maximum of 20 hours per week. If the student finds an employer, then with a preliminary employment contract you need to contact the immigration authorities to obtain permission. If the school is on holiday, you can work full time for 2-3 months.
You can obtain a residence permit with the right to work only after 3 years of studying in Spain, that is, staying in the country on the basis of a student visa.
University graduates after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree can request an additional residence permit for a year to search for work.
During this time, you can easily find an employer or organize your own business without interrupting your final exams.
Moving to Spain with a student visa: application procedure
- Select an educational institution. If you decide to study at a language school, it must be accredited by the Cervantes Institute.
- Apply for a visa in Russia or Spain.
- Issue a resident card.
Moving to Spain on a student visa: documents
- Bank account statement;
- full health insurance in Spain;
- confirmation of enrollment in a training course with a load of at least 20 hours per week;
- confirmation of housing availability (student residence, rented room or apartment, own apartment);
- certificate of good conduct and medical certificate.
All documents issued in Russia must be translated into Spanish and certified by the Consulate or translated Spanish sworn translator. Notarial certificates must have an apostille.
Moving to Spain on a student visa: costs
Since we assume that the applicant plans to move to Spain on a student visa, we will take into account the best option – language courses. Although the cost of studying at the university will be about the same.
- Language courses: 3,000 – 5,000 euros per year;
- Full medical insurance: 400 – 600 euros per year;
- Rent a room in Alicante: 200 – 300 euros per month;
- Account funds: 6,800 euros per year.
In total, to move and live one person you will need a minimum of 12,600 euros per year. At the same time, money from a bank account can only be used after the visa is approved.
