A student visa to Spain can be obtained not only when enrolling in school or university, but also if you plan to study Spanish in language courses.
A study visa is issued for a year with the right to extension in Spain. But this visa is not a residence permit, which means it does not count towards citizenship.
Features of a student visa to Spain for language courses
If you are planning to immigrate to Spain, the option of a student visa to Spain for language courses may be the best option.
Let’s look at several significant advantages of applying for a study visa to Spain.
Age. There is no age limit for this type of immigration. If you want to study Spanish at 40 or 50 years old, you will be approved for a visa.
Opportunity to work. While in Spain on a student visa, you have the right to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. At the same time, there is a condition that work should not interfere with study time and should not appear as a source of income when extending a visa.
Possibility to transport your family. With a student visa, your spouse and minor children can legally stay with you in Spain throughout your studies as family members. They receive the right to stay in Spain without working.
Transformation into a residence permit. After 3 years of staying in Spain on a student visa while studying language courses, you will be able to modify your visa to Residence permit without the right to work; with the right to work, if you have found an employer and entered into a preliminary contract, or obtain a residence permit for settled residence.
Language schools in Spain to obtain a student visa for language courses
A language school needs to be selected especially carefully. There are criteria that cannot be ignored. For example, a school must provide lessons of 4 hours a day, 5 days a week and be certified by the Cervantes Institute.
Groups in language schools consist of 7-10 people. The teacher manages to pay attention to everyone and monitors the success of all students.
Lessons last 55-60 minutes. You can enter such a school with a zero level, after a year of such training you will already be able to speak fluent Spanish and understand the speech of local residents.
The cost of studying at language schools to obtain a student visa is the same as the cost of a year of study at a university – 3,000 – 4,000 euros.
Requirements for a language school to obtain a student visa to Spain for language courses:
The language school must be accredited by the Cervantes Institute and provide you with a minimum of 20 teaching hours per week. The training course itself must last more than 180 days if you then plan to transform the visa into a residence permit.
We will help you choose language courses to obtain a study visa to Spain.
How to apply for a student visa to Spain for language courses
You can apply for a student visa in Spain for language courses both in Spain and in Russia. To apply for a visa in Spain, you must enter the country on a multiple entry visa or tourist visa, and during this period submit documents to Estranjería. An important point: if you submit documents in Spain, then your visa on which you will be there must remain at least a month until the expiration date. The processing time is on average 3-4 weeks.
Documents for a student visa to Spain for language courses
- Extract from bank account in Spain. The account must show funds for a year of residence based on the Spanish cost of living. In 2021, you should have 6,800 euros per person.
- Medical insurance. Insurance is issued by a company accredited in Spain, and the policy itself must be complete;
- School enrollment. Confirm enrollment in a training course with a workload of at least 20 hours per week. Provide also the training course program and receipt of full payment;
- Availability of housing. Show documents for your own housing, a rental contract for an apartment or room for the duration of the visa. An agreement on living in a hostel will also be suitable.
- Certificate of good conduct. It is issued at the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in your city.
- Medical certificate. You must confirm that you do not have any dangerous diseases for the health of others; a certificate can be obtained from private and public clinics at your place of residence.
- Visa application. It must be filled out and signed in duplicate. The application form can be downloaded and filled out in advance or done at the Consulate.
All documents issued in Russia must be translated into Spanish and certified at the Consulate or contact sworn translator in Spain. Notarial certificates must be affixed with an apostille.
Stages of obtaining a student visa to Spain for language courses
- Choose a language school;
- Rent a house in Spain, conclude an agreement;
- Get an insurance policy;
- Collect a complete package of documents;
- Pay state fees;
- Apply for a visa in Russia or Spain;
- Get a resident card in Spain within a month.
Deadlines for obtaining a student visa to Spain for language courses
A response on a student visa to Spain for language courses usually arrives within 2 weeks. Then, if the answer is positive, you need to enter Spain within 3 months and receive a resident card in Estranjería within 1 month.
