Student Resources  

    Student Visas

You do not need a student visa if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Students of all other nationalities need to apply for a student visa in person at the Spanish consulate in their country.

Visa facts

- A tourist visa (90 days) does not allow you to study in Spain. You must apply for a long term student visa (more than 90 days) and request multiple entries.

- If you enter Spain on a tourist visa, you cannot apply for a student resident permit (NIE) to extend your stay beyond 90 days. You will be required to return to your home country to apply for the student visa. Do not assume you will be able to obtain a student visa from a Spanish Embassy or Consulate outside your home country.

- Because requirements may be different for your country, please contact the Spanish Consulate directly. For a detailed description of the requirements to apply for a student visa, the address and phone number of the Spanish consulate in your country, and to download the Schengen visa application, please visit the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at www.maec.es.

- The visa process always takes at least six weeks, so we advise you to apply as soon as you receive your admission documents, as early as three months in advance. Applications are not accepted, in principle, later than 4 weeks before the date of departure.

- Please be aware that in some countries, you must make an appointment to submit your application, and that student visas must always be picked up in person by the applicant.

- All documents must be submitted at the same time. If any of the required documents are missing, the application will not be accepted.

Since all applications are sent to Madrid for review, your local consulate cannot give you any information on the status of your visa until it is returned to it. Nor can the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics make any inquiries on your behalf.

- Spouses of Barcelona GSE students must apply for a student visa too if they wish to reside in Barcelona. The couple must be legally married and must apply together. Spouses are normally granted a visa if the couple can provide proof of financial means for two people (see below).

Student visa requirements

In order to apply for a student visa, you must submit the following documents. All documents must be originals.

1. Schengen Visa Application Form, plus 1 photocopy. Before copying, the form must be signed and filled out in print. Illegible or incomplete forms cannot be accepted. Information on date of arrival and departure from Spain in #30 and #31 on the form is essential.

2. Original Passport signed by the bearer and still valid for at least 1 more year from the date of visa application, with at least one blank page to affix the visa.

3. Two recent standard passport photographs, one glued to application (DO NOT STAPLE THE PHOTOGRAPH).

4. Admission letter from Barcelona Graduate School of Economics attesting you will be a full-time student.

5. Proof of financial means for the period of stay in Spain. Proof could be:
• Letter from an institution stating financial aid or scholarship for at least 1,000 US$ per month for room and board.
• Notarized letter from parents/custodians, assuming financial responsibility while student is in Spain. Suggested wording: “I hereby certify that I am the (father/mother/other) of (your name), will support him/her with a monthly allowance of at least US$ 1,000 per month while he/she is in Spain, and that I am financially responsible for any emergency that may arise.”
• OR current statement of student’s bank account showing the equivalent of at least US$ 1,000 per month of stay.

6. Proof of Medical/Accident Insurance with international coverage. Written confirmation from insurance company of a valid health/accident insurance policy with full international coverage in Spain and rest of Schengen countries with a minimum coverage of US$ 30,000 or the equivalent. Or travel/accidental insurance coverage for the entire trip.

7. Medical Statement: a doctor’s recent statement (issued within 3 months from the application date), on doctor's or medical center's letterhead, indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental health to travel and study abroad.

8. Certificate Criminal Record (”certificado de buena conducta”) issued by the Police Department from the city/cities where you have resided for more than six months in the past five years.

9. Non-refundable visa processing fee of 65 US$ (as of Oct. 2007).

Consulates

To apply for a student visa or to get answers to other questions regarding your stay in Barcelona, you may need to contact a Spanish Consulate in your country. For a complete list of Spanish Embassies and Consulates abroad and a wealth of other information, please consult the Spanish Foreign Ministry website.