What documents do I need for a Spain student visa from the US?
From the US you need: the national visa application form, a passport photo, a passport issued within the last 10 years with two blank pages, your acceptance letter with proof you paid enrolment fees, proof of financial means at 100% of IPREM per month (about EUR600, roughly $700), private health insurance meeting the consulate's rules, a medical certificate under 3 months old, and proof you live in that consulate's area. Courses over 180 days also need an apostilled and translated FBI background check. You apply in person through BLS at least two months before your course starts.
The checklist, in the order to tackle it
- 1. Acceptance letter from the Spanish institution, plus proof the enrolment fee is paid
- 2. Passport: issued within 10 years, two blank pages, valid for the stay
- 3. FBI background check (only if over 180 days), fingerprint-based
- 4. Apostille: US Department of State for the FBI check, Secretary of State for any state documents
- 5. Sworn Spanish translation of the check and its apostille
- 6. Medical certificate, under 3 months old, signed by a physician
- 7. Private health insurance certificate meeting the consulate's rules
- 8. Proof of funds: 100% of IPREM per month of stay
- 9. Passport photo, colour, white background
- 10. Proof you live in the consulate's jurisdiction (driver's licence or state ID)
- 11. National visa application form, completed and signed
- 12. Money order for the fees: no cash, cards or personal cheques, and not USPS money orders
What changes with course length
- 90 days or fewer: US citizens travel visa-free, so no student visa at all
- 90 to 180 days: student visa with a medical certificate, but no background check
- Over 180 days: adds the FBI check, and you apply for a TIE residence card within a month of arriving
Rules specific to applying from the US
You must be physically in the US to apply, and you have to wait in the US for the decision, so don't plan travel across that window. Applications go in person through BLS International, and requirements differ noticeably between the eight US consulates, more than they do between UK consulates. Read your own consulate's checklist and treat any general guide, including this one, as a starting point.
Streamline the whole process
Visado puts every step in the right order for your course date and walks you through them one at a time. Nothing missed, nothing late.
Start my free planFrequently asked
Do I need a visa for a summer course in Spain?
If it's 90 days or fewer, US citizens can normally travel visa-free. Longer than that needs a student visa.
Can I apply for the Spanish student visa while abroad?
No. You need to apply from the US and remain in the US while the application is processed.
Do bank statements need translating into Spanish?
Not always. San Francisco, for example, accepts bank statements in English. Check your own consulate before paying for translations.