Visa and Student Card Procedures

If you are coming to study, the first step is to apply for the student visa from your country of origin. In this guide, we explain when to make an appointment at your consulate, the key documents (admission to the center, medical insurance, financial solvency, passport, background checks), and the recommended deadlines to submit the application with enough margin.

Upon arrival in Spain, if your stay is longer than 6 months, you must process your TIE (Foreign Identity Card) in the first month, which includes your NIE and will serve as your identification here. We guide you step by step: registration, fingerprint appointment, fee 790_012, EX-17 form, and photos. In the guide, you’ll find a detailed breakdown and a list of documents so nothing is missed.

Additionally, you’ll find a summary of the complete process, from the consulate application to the collection of your card, with clear instructions to avoid delays. Keep reading the guide for a detailed step-by-step and, if you need personalized help, request information from the “Request Information” section on this page.

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This guide is designed for all types of profiles: people who had to interrupt their education, professionals with university degrees, young people looking for their first job, or adults wanting to redirect their careers. Whatever your starting point is, we hope this material serves as your first step toward achieving your goals. Click the button below to download it now!

The documents generally required for applying for the study stay authorization are the following:

• EX-17 application form.
• Passport or national identity document from the country of origin, valid (original and copy).
• Proof of enrollment (or admission letter).
• 3 passport-sized photos.
• Receipt of payment of the fee, model 790 (code 012) (the form for payment is provided by the police station).
• Current registration certificate (obtained from the City Hall without an appointment).

Generally, the same day the documentation is submitted, fingerprints will be taken, and a provisional NIE number will be provided. While the application is processed and the final card is issued, the receipt with the provisional NIE number is valid for proving your legal presence in Spain. Depending on the autonomous community, the police station will take between 15 days and 3 months to deliver the final authorization.

The residence card is valid for one year and is renewable as long as your studies continue and are at the same academic level. It is important to understand that you can change schools but you cannot change your academic level unless there is a justification from the institution where you studied. If you want to change your academic level, it is a good idea to consult with us first or speak with a professional to see if it is possible. For example, if you have a master’s degree and want to extend it with a language course (Spanish), it is possible if your previous master’s degree was in another language such as English. Also, keep in mind that, according to the new immigration law, an extension with language studies is only allowed once.

The application, in official model (EX-11), original and copy, should be submitted to the competent authority for processing (Foreigners Office or, if necessary, Police Station) or any other official registry, with the following documentation:

• Valid passport or travel document. Only copies of the photo page, visa, and personal information page are required.
• Photocopy of NIE (both sides).
• Authorization from parents or guardians, in the case of minors.
• Documentation proving sufficient financial means for the stay in Spain. The minimum balance should be the result of multiplying about 600 € by the months of stay. It must be the document stamped by the bank. Alternatively, a bank statement from a Spanish bank stamped with the last 6 months’ movements, with a value of about 600 € and a final balance of about 3200 €, can be presented.
• Documentation proving you have medical insurance covering your medical expenses during your entire stay in Spain. Repatriation is not required in the case of NIE renewal.
• Three recent passport-sized photos, color, with a white background.
• Certificate of completion of the course and enrollment in the new course, as proof that you have met the requirements for continuing your studies.
• Current registration certificate (obtained from the City Hall without an appointment).

In cases where entry was made with a visa and its duration is less than three months, you can extend your stay if the Spanish Consulate or Embassy issued a student visa with the annotation “ESTUDIOS TOTAL 180 DÍAS.” This extension cannot exceed three months within a six-month period. You must follow the same renewal procedures for NIE, with the only difference being that you must present the criminal background certificate from the countries of residence for the last 5 years, legalized and translated into Spanish or Catalan.

If your visa extension is denied, you will be informed of the reasons formally, with all the guarantees for appeal.

To learn more about your renewal process, follow these steps:

• Go to the following link: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/infoext2/
• Click on CONSULTAR CON FORMULARIO
• Insert your NIE number / application submission date (dd/mm/yyyy) / year of birth
• Click CONSULTAR

To obtain our certificate of completion, you must take a level test and attend at least 80% of the classes. Please note that to obtain the Certificate of Completion for the course, you must schedule an appointment with our examiner to take the exam. You can request an appointment by email at info@bcnlip.com or directly at reception. For course renewals, we offer a discount and free enrollment. Ask our reception team for more information.

Remember that we have special prices for long-term courses. If the renewal is denied, the school will refund the full course amount, retaining the enrollment fee.