Studying Abroad in Spain: A 2025 Guide

Studying abroad is an experience that will give you so many rewards.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allowing you to be surrounded by an entirely new culture and lifestyle, shifting your perspective on the world and maybe even yourself.

Whether you're studying abroad in Madrid, Barcelona, or somewhere else in Spain, there are a lot of things you need to do in order to prepare for the journey.

In this guide, we will be taking a look at what you need to know before your trip, leaving you confident to step into the adventure ahead of you.

¡Vamos!

🇺🇸 Please note: the specific advice in this guide is for US citizens looking to study abroad in Spain.

How to study abroad in Spain for a year

To study abroad in Spain for a year, a lot of the preparation will be on the logistical side - finding a program, getting enrolled, applying for a visa, etc. Unfortunately, there's going to be a bit of paperwork involved in the process.

If you're studying abroad through a program that your current university has, they may be able to help you with the process. From easily applying to a program with transferrable credits to which visa you need and the next steps, they've helped students go through this process many, many times.

If you're not studying abroad in Spain as part of an in-house program, the process may seem a little bit more daunting. However, rest assured that it's totally possible - just take it one step at a time. You're already here doing your research!

Generally speaking, the process for studying abroad for a year in Spain looks like this.

Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements

In order to live in Spain for a year and study, there are some eligibility requirements you will have to meet. These requirements are part of the Spanish visa process. If you don't meet the requirements, your visa may be rejected, meaning you won't be able to pursue your studies there.

We will talk more about these specific requirements further in the guide.

Applying to a Spanish school

Once you are sure you can meet the visa requirements, you need to apply for your school.

This may be through your current university, a study abroad program, or independently as you look to continue your academic career.

You'll need to apply for your program before you apply for your visa, as proof of enrollment is a critical portion of your visa application process.

Applying for your Spanish long stay visa

Once you've received your admissions letter approving your enrollment, it will be time to apply for your Spanish long stay visa.

Spain has many different visas offered to cater to many different types of travelers. You will need to apply for the study visa. This visa is for students spending more than 90 days in Spain.

Your long stay visa will allow you to legally live and study in Spain for the duration granted.

We will talk more about how to apply for your visa later in the guide.

Preparing for your move

Once you've applied for your Spanish study visa, the majority of the paperwork will be out of the way (phew!), but you haven't crossed the finish line yet.

There are things that you will need to do to prepare for your move to Spain. This includes researching about your new home, finding lodging, packing, and more.

Studying in Spain for a year: visa requirements

Note: This information is specifically for US citizens looking to study abroad in Spain. Keep in mind that the process and offerings may vary depending on the applicant's nationality.

To study abroad for a year in Spain, you will need to apply for the correct visa. In this case, you will need to apply for a long stay visa.

There are a few different categories of visas in Spain, such as transit, short stay, and long stay.

People apply for long stay visas when they are intending to spend more than 90 days in Spain. If you're studying abroad there for a year, this applies to you!

When doing your research, you may also see the Spanish long stay visa referred to as a national visa or a Type D visa. However, the three all refer to the same thing: a long stay visa for Spain.

Within those categories, there are even more defined subcategories. The one that applies to foreign students is the study visa.

If you're going to be studying in Spain for longer than 6 months, the visa you receive (once applied and approved) will show a validity of 90 days. Don't freak out! This is because you will be required to apply for a Spanish Foreigner Identity Card within 1 month of your arrival into Spain. With this official ID card, you will be allowed to live and study in Spain for the duration of its validity.

The steps to apply are as follows:

• Check that you're eligible to apply for a study visa.
• Apply for enrollment and receive an admissions letter from a Spanish educational institution (this is your proof of enrollment).
• Collect all of the necessary documentation for your visa application.
• Apply in person at a regional visa application center.
• Receive a decision.

Are you eligible to study abroad in Spain?

First thing's first, you need to make sure that you meet the basic qualifications for studying abroad in Spain.

To apply for a Spanish study visa, you have to fall within the following eligibility criteria.

• You plan to be a full time student while in Spain (minimum of 20 hours per week). Your full time status must be at an accredited school/educational center that will result in a diploma, degree, or certificate.
• You're pursuing doctoral studies.
• You're doing training activities.
• You're in secondary school (this means middle or high school) and are part of an accredited exchange school/program.
• You can financially support yourself for the entire length of your stay (this can also be through scholarships, parental financial support, etc.).

Required documents for your visa application

When applying for your study visa for a year abroad in Spain, there are several documents that you will need to collect for your application.

The visa application center that you apply through will give you a list of all of the necessary documents needed for your application. Always refer to their official list (and/or the list provided directly by the Spanish Embassy) when you're putting together your application. These official sources have the most updated and accurate information regarding visa types and requirements.

With that said, applicants generally need to provide the following:

• A completed study visa application form. This form can be found online through the Spanish Embassy's website or the appointed visa processor's site. If you (the applicant) are under the age of 18, a legal guardian has to sign the application.
• A photograph. For your application, you will need to submit a passport-sized photograph that is recent. This photo is for your visa. In most cases, your visa will be pasted into your passport. It will look like an ID card with a picture of you and details surrounding your right to live and study in Spain.
• A valid passport. Applying for a Spanish visa means submitting your passport. You will have to leave your passport with the visa application center, meaning you will be without it for multiple days/weeks. To be considered valid by the Spanish authorities, your visa needs to have been issued within the past 10 years, be valid for the entire duration of your study abroad program, and have at least 2 blank pages left in it.
• Proof of enrollment/acceptenace letter. You need to provide the original acceptance letter as well as a photocopy of it.
• Proof of financial means. You'll need to show that you can support yourself during your stay (this includes expenses such as food, lodging, and transportation back home). This can be done by providing several types of documents, though they must be official. They also must be legalized and apostilled if they are non-Spanish documents (so, English or any other language).
• Health insurance. While some countries may allow long-stay foreign students to take out travel insurance, Spain isn't one of them. Spain requires proof of health insurance for the entire duration of your trip. The insurer must be authorized to operate in Spain.
• A criminal record check certificate. You'll need to provide an original certificate as well as a copy of a criminal record check. The certificate must be issued by the FBI. This check needs to happen within 5 months of your visa application, be apostilled, and be translated into Spanish through an official translation service. Both the original certificate (in English) and the Spanish copy have to be notarized.
• A medical certificate. You'll need to provide an original and a copy of a medical certificate showing that you do not have specific diseases. The medical certificate needs to be recent, within 90 days of your visa application submission. You will need an officially translated (Spanish) copy of the certificate that is also signed and letterheaded by the doctor.

Make sure you follow the specific guidelines presented to you by the visa application center or Spanish Embassy. Also, keep in mind that each of the documents listed above may have additional criteria (such as legalizing).

In addition to everything detailed above, there are additional/differing documents required for your visa application if you reside in the US, but are not a US citizen, or if you are a minor (under the age of 18).

Your visa appointment

You will be required to attend an in-person appointment in order to submit biometrics (fingerprints), pay the application and any applicable service fees, and submit your application so it can be forwarded to the appropriate consulate/embassy.

Currently, it's mandatory to submit your visa in person. There are multuple visa application centers for Spain in the US. You may need to travel to find the one nearest to you. Your appointment must be booked in advance.

Preparing for your life in Spain

For general tips for studying abroad in Europe, make sure to check out this guide.

However, there are some tips unique to Spain that will help you make the most of your journey ahead!

• Get ready to walk. Europeans walk a lot more than Americans do. This is largely due to how their cities are built, so there is less need for a car. Definitely break in your comfy walking shoes before packing them. It's also helpful to bring a couple of different pairs of walking shoes so you can swap them out when your feet start to get sore.
• The hours are different. The Spanish lifestyle is a lot different than the American one. In Spain, everything opens later and closes later. Evening doctor appointments? It's not unheard of. Coffee shop doesn't open until 9? Also not unheard of.
• Siesta. We've all heard of the Spanish Siesta, and it's actually a real thing! Usually somewhere between 2-5 pm, everyone sort of takes a break. While napping isn't a requirement by any means, things often slow down a bit between 2-5. This is time for you to nap, read, rest, etc. It's not uncommon for shops to close for an hour or two in the afternoon.
• Dinner is late. Really late. Directly related to the topic: the hours are different. It's common for dinner to be at 10 pm, especially in the hotter months of the year.
• Expect cultural differences - and embrace them. You'll notice many differences about how the Spanish live. You should embrace the new culture around you. For example, dining out takes longer in Spain than in the US. On top of that, your server may not check on you unless you specifically ask them. These things that are normal in Spain might be considered rude in America - and vice versa!
• Discounts for the young. In many European countries, including Spain, young people can get discounts on public transportation, museums, cultural events, and more. Make sure you check to see if there is a dedicated reduction for younger people whenever you're purchasing a ticket for something.
• Be aware of pickpockets! Relative to the US, Spain is an extremely safe country. However, there are pickpockets. Pickpockets typically operate in busy, touristic locations. In fact, they usually target tourists. Keep your eye on your bag at all times and never keep your phone, wallet, or anything important in your pockets. Pickpockets are extremely well-trained in Spain and you may not even realize your phone is missing until the next time you go to use it.
• Research the climate. While most of the pictures we see of Spain look sunny and hot, the weather really depends on the time of year you'll be there and which part of the country you'll be living in. Make sure you look at the climate to get a picture of what to pack.