Citizens of other countries

• Procedures to be followed prior to coming to study in Catalonia
• Documentation to be submitted in order to obtain a study visa
• Documentation to be submitted in order to obtain a student card
• Deadlines and validity
• Addresses

Procedures to be followed prior to coming to study in Catalonia

Students from countries outside of the European Union must obtain a study visa before they leave their home country. Study visas can be processed bythe Spanish Embassy or Consulate nearest to the student’s place of residence.

Students wishing to study at a university in Catalonia must apply for the relevant study visa from the Spanish consular authority or the Spanish Embassy in their native country or their country of residence before they travel to Catalonia. This visa must be correctly issued and still valid. Students shouldallow between 8 and 12 weeks for the processing of visa applications.

Students not requiring a visa:

• Foreign nationals spending no longer than three months and with the following nationalities: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, the USA, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, the Holy See, the Seychelles, Singapore, Uruguay and Venezuela, and special administrative regions: Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China) and Macau (People’s Republic of China).

For study or research periods of more than six months, students are also requiredto:

• Have medical certificate accrediting that the student is not suffering from any illness that is subject to quarantine according to the International Health Regulations.
• Have an official certificate certifying that they have no criminal record, when applicants are above the age of criminal responsibility.
• Apply for the relevant international student card within one month of arrival in the country.

Documentation to be submitted in order to obtain a study visa

• Correctly filled out form/application.
• Passport (current).
• Officially recognised documentation accrediting admission as a student or researcher to the public or private teaching centre for carrying out or expanding on a course of study or carrying out research or training work.
• Content of the study, training or research syllabus.
• Health insurance
• Proof of the economic means required to meet the cost of the course of study, living expenses during the stay in the country and the return to the country of origin on finishing the course of study.
• Three Spanish passport-sized photos.

Documentation to be submitted in order to obtain a student card

• Passport.
• Student's visa
• Documentation accrediting admission as a student or researcher to a public or private university centre that is either authorised or recognised by the competent administrative body, stating that the activity to be carried out requires a stay of no less than three months.
• Proof of the economic means required to meet the cost of the course of study, living expenses during the stay in the country and the return to the country of origin on finishing the course of study.
• For minors, permission from the parents or guardian to travel to Catalonia to carry out the course of study in question.
• Three Spanish passport-sized photos.

Deadlines and validity

The basic regulations governing the stay of foreign nationals in Cataloniacan be found on the following website: http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/extranje/normativa_basica.html

As a guideline, the time frame for obtaining a study visa is two months from notification that the visa has been granted, and it is valid for the same length of time as the course on which the student is enrolled. This visa can be extended annually if the student can prove that they still meet the conditions requiredwhen it was granted and the conditions required by the teaching centre.

Addresses

• Spanish Ministry of Education http://www.mec.es/mecd/titulos/convalidacion.html
• Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation http://www.mae.es/
• Spanish Ministry of Home Affairs http://www.mir.es/
• Embassies and consulates http://www.maec.es/es/EYC/Paginas/embajadasyconsulados.aspx
• International Relations Offices in Catalonia http://www.mir.es/MIR/Directorio/Servicios_Perifericos/Cuerpo_Nacional_de_Policia/Oficinas_de_extranjeros/Cataluna/

Last update: 09/08/2010 Reviewed: 09/08/2010

Back    Print    Share with a friend