Non-EU students

Non-EU citizens who want to study in Spain must regularise their legal status, depending on the duration of their stay.

Stay of up to three months

1) 1) European Directive EC No. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 lists in Annex II the countries whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of up to three months. They have to fulfil the legal requirements included in the Schengen Code and, in case they need to extend their stay, they can apply for a maximum of three more months. For more information, please consult the information leaflets on the Immigration Portal.

2) European Directive EC No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 lists in Annex Y the countries whose nationals must have a residence visa (type C) to enter the Schengen area. For more information, see the website of the Spanish Home Office.

La Directiva europea CE núm. 539/2001, de 15 de març de 2001, inclou a l‘annex I els països els ciutadans i ciutadanes dels quals han de tenir un visat d’estada (tipus C) per entrar a l’Espai Schengen. Per a més informació, consulteu el web del Ministeri de l’Interior. 

Stays of up to six months

There are visas (type D) for studies that allow you to stay in Spain for periods of up to 180 days. This type of visa does not allow you to apply for a foreigner's identity card (TIE), but it does include a foreigner's identification number (NIE).

Stays of more than six months

Citizens who want to spend more than six months in Spain for study purposes must apply for an open type D study visa.

‘This type of visa is valid for three months and you have one month after entering the Schengen Area to apply for a foreigner's identity card (TIE)’.

Very important: Students who entered Spain as tourists must apply for the initial authorisation of stay for study purposes.

The initial authorisation of stay for study purposes is a temporary residence permit, valid for the duration of the study stay in Spain.

The permit is granted for a maximum of one academic year and is renewed annually, provided that the studies have not ended, that there is continuity in these and that good use has been made of the previous academic year.

The document is the title that proves the holder's legal right to stay in the country.

Procedure for initial authorisation of stay for study purposes

Application form

Map of police stations in Barcelona

Very important: Students who have come to the European Union on a 90-day (open) study visa have a maximum of 30 natural days to start the TIE application process. For this purpose, it is essential to keep the flight tickets (boarding pass) or to obtain the EU entry stamp in the passport when passing through customs.

The visa can be obtained at the Spanish consulate or embassy nearest to the person's location. Embassies and consulates (exteriores.gob.es)

All foreign public documents must first be legalised and translated into Spanish or the co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted.

The TIE or foreigner's identity card is a physical identification document that serves to accredit the legal residence of the foreigner who holds it.

The card is valid for a maximum of one year and is renewable, as long as the studies continue, the established requirements are met and the previous academic year has been completed.

Instruccions SEM 1/2023 pel que fa a autoritzacions d’estades per estudis

SEM 1/2023 Instructions regarding authorisations for study stays

Very important: If you have requested the initial authorisation for a study stay, it is compulsory to have a favourable decision before applying for the TIE.

Very important: Students who have come to the European Union on a 90-day (open) study visa have a maximum of 30 calendar days to begin the TIE application process. For this purpose, it is essential to keep the flight tickets (boarding pass) or to obtain the EU entry stamp in the passport when passing through customs.

If you do not have an entry stamp, you have 72 hours to go to any national police station and ask for a declaration of entry.

The TIE application process must be carried out at the national police station corresponding to any town in the province where the student is registered as a resident.

To carry out this procedure, it is necessary to request an appointment through this link:

Automatic process to request an appointment (administracionelectronica.gob.es).

The Foreigners' Section of the Mobility and International Programmes Office offers the possibility of arranging an appointment via nie@ub.edu, indicating your personal details.

Required documents: 

1. Official application form (EX-17) (original + 1 copy).   
2. Photocopy of passport   
3. Photocopy of the type D student visa (open)   
4. Photocopy of the EU entry stamp or airline ticket (boarding pass)   
5. Copy of the enrolment application and payment receipt (or scholarship holder's credential).   
6. Letter of duration of studies (the letter of admission to studies can be used, as long as it specifies the duration).   
7. Passport-size photographs (3)   
8. Certificate of census registration 
9. Fee 790 Code 012: Option ‘TIE documenting the first granting of authorisation for temporary residence, stay or cross-border workers’. 
 

To collect the TIE card at the police station, you must make an appointment, which can be arranged at the Foreigners' Section of the Mobility and International Programmes Office, by emailing nie@ub.edu.

• First of all, it is necessary to apply for the extension of stay for study purposes.

Very important: Before applying for the renewal of the TIE, it is mandatory to have a favourable decision of the extension of stay for studies, which must be processed no later than 60 days before the expiry date and, at the latest, up to 90 days after the expiry date of the TIE.

The recommendation is to submit the extension application within 60 days before the TIE expiry date.

In Barcelona, the Foreigners' Registration Office (Registre General Bergara - Government Delegation in Catalonia | Barcelona Guide | Barcelona City Council) is responsible for processing extensions of residence permits for study purposes.

Applications for renewal of the study permit must be submitted electronically (through the Mercurio platform or through the Electronic Register), or in person at any registry office  or at the General Registry of the Government Delegation in Barcelona, at the address 12 Bergara Street (Barcelona). 

Documentation:

1. Fee 790 052: The fee must be paid before submitting the renewal application and a copy of the proof of payment must be submitted together with the rest of the documentation.

Payment of the fee does not imply that the renewal is automatically granted, but a favourable decision on the application will not be possible until the corresponding fees have been paid.

2. Official form Ex-00 (original + 1 copy)

3. Passport (page with personal data)

4. Foreigner's Identity Card (TIE) on both sides.

5. Enrolment document and payment receipt (or scholarship holder's credential): a duplicate of the bank transaction can be provided.

6. Academic transcript from the previous academic year. If you are writing your doctoral thesis, a letter from the coordinator of the doctoral programme.

7. In the event of a change of address, the new census certificate must be presented.

8. Financial means 

These must be accredited by one of the options listed below:

Option 1. Bank account: have sufficient financial means to cover the costs of your stay and return to your country and, if apthose of your family members, in accordance with the following amounts:
- For your support, on a monthly basis, 100% of the IPREM. Official value of the IPREM.
- For the support of your family members, monthly, 75% of the IPREM for the first family member and 50% of the IPREM for each of the remaining persons.

Option 2. Bank account: show the average monthly income for the last 6 months. In this case, the total balance of the bank account must be at least half of 100% of the IPREM in one year.

Option 3. Scholarship and/or scholarship holder's credentials.

Option 4. Support from a family member outside Spain (only spouse, parents/guardians, brothers or sisters).
Current public or private document stating that the declarant is responsible for the costs of the student's stay in Spain.

Option 5. Support from a family member legally resident in Spain.
Manifestation by means of a public document (notarial deed) of the family support.

9. Document accrediting that you have medical insurance to cover medical expenses, when required, associated with an accident or illness during your stay in Spain.

As of 25 June 2013, the Social Security health card will not be considered as proof of medical insurance for the renewal of the NIE. A ‘document accrediting entitlement to medical care’ will be required.

This document can be requested at the offices of the National Social Security Institute. If you are unable to provide this document, you will need private medical insurance.

You can contact the insurance company with which the UB collaborates: Ferrer & Ojeda Asociados Correduría de Seguros, SL.

• Secondly, once you have received a favourable decision to extend your permit, you must make an appointment at the police station to have your fingerprints taken for the new TIE card and bring the following documents with you:
  1. Official form (sheet EX -17) (original + 1 copy).
  2. Photocopy and original of the main page of your passport.
  3. Photocopy and original of the previous TIE card
  4. Favourable resolution of the application for renewal (if not available, the screen shot of the favourable processing information of the website of the Foreigners' Office).
  5. Appointment confirmation details
  6. Passport-size photographs (3)
  7. In case of change of address, the certificate of census registration.
  8. Fee 790 Code 012: Option ‘TIE documenting the renewal of the authorisation for temporary residence, stay or cross-border workers’.

The Foreigners' Section of the Mobility and International Programmes Office offers the possibility of making an appointment for the renewal of the TIE, through the e-mail address nie@ub.edu.

Students who hold a study permit issued by another EU Member State and who are participating in a European Union or multilateral programme that includes mobility measures or are covered by an agreement between the UB and other European higher education institutions have the right to enter and stay in Spain for a period of up to 360 days in order to carry out part of their studies at the UB, provided that the permit from the other Member State is valid for the duration of their stay.

Main recommendation

After our experience in managing these mobility programmes, and in view of the numerous incidents we have encountered, our recommendation, following instructions from the Government Subdelegation in Barcelona, is that students should contact the Spanish consulate in their country of origin and apply for a student visa for the period of their stay at the University of Barcelona.

However, if the student has a residence permit from the country of origin (TIE or visa) covering the whole mobility, then we can process the intra-European mobility at the Government Sub-delegation in Barcelona

As this is an online procedure, all the necessary documentation will be collected by the Master's Secretariat or the ORI (International Relations Office) of the faculty, scanned and sent by email to: nie@ub.edu.

The procedure must be completed within 30 days of arrival in Barcelona.

Necessary documentation:

1. Mobility communication form

All the details of both the study centre (top part) and the student must be included.

It is signed by the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation Policy. The seal of the university centre must be affixed.

2. Copy of the valid passport (all pages).

Since the communication must be made within a maximum period of one month from the entry into Spain, we need:
 - Stamp of entry into Spain (which appears in the passport). If you do not cross through the border control, you can ask for it at the National Police at the airport, or

- Ask for an entry declaration at the police station at Rambla Guipúscoa, 74, or Passeig de Sant Joan, 189.

Very important: It can be requested no later than 72 hours after entering Spain.

3. Copy of the authorisation (TIE or visa) issued by the authorities of the European Union State of origin.

If the validity of this authorisation does not include the entire journey, the mobility cannot be approved.

If the authorisation is not valid enough, the only options for the student to stay in Barcelona on a regular basis, according to what the Subdelegation has informed us, of are the following

1. Apply for another authorisation provided for in the foreigners legislation (e.g. authorisation of stay for initial studies), or 
2. Communicate the mobility until the expiry date of the authorisation of the EU State. Afterwards, the student must apply for renewal in the EU Member State where the first mobility stay took place and, if granted, apply again for mobility for the remaining period of time. 

4. Documentation of the mobility programme

Documentation of admission to the mobility programme at the UB (e.g. Erasmus Mundus), specifying the dates of all the countries in which the student will undertake the mobility.

5. Proof of financial means 

The IPREM is taken as the calculation index. In 2024, the IPREM is 600 €/month. If the amount of the grant does not reach this amount, a European bank account can be presented.

6. Proof of health insurance with no waiting periods or limitations of coverage

If the programme includes health coverage, this must be specified in the certificate. One of the following options can be presented:

a) European Health Insurance Card.

b) Foreign health insurance policy that meets the requirements of health coverage with no waiting periods and unlimited coverage (minimum €100,000). If the document does not specify this coverage, a certificate signed by the foreign insurer can be presented (model attached).

c) Insurance policy from the brokerage firm Ferrer & Ojeda: http://www.ferrerojeda.com/es-ES/MOVILIDAD-IN.aspx.

In accordance with Article 5 of Royal Decree 557/2011, non-EU citizens who wish to enter the Spanish State from a country outside the Schengen Area, while they are applying for the extension of the residence permit or do not yet have the new foreigner identity card (TIE), must apply for a return authorisation.

The return authorisation will be valid for no more than 90 days from the expiration of the residence or stay authorisation, if it is requested prior to the expiration date.

In the event that the application is submitted after the expiry of the residence or stay permit, the return permit shall be valid for no more than 90 days from the date it is granted.

The application and issuance of the return authorisations is carried out in the police stations of the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (National Police Force) and is done by requesting an appointment through the website.

More information:

Return authorisation - Information sheet
Form EX 13
Procedure and documentation

Family members from a non-EU country who are going to stay in Spain must obtain a type D visa for family members of students before leaving their country of origin. Applications for the visa can be made at the Spanish consulate or embassy nearest to your home town.

Embassies and consulates (exteriores.gob.es)

Without this visa, it is not possible to obtain the authorisation to stay for study purposes required for legal residence in Spain.

It is important to foresee the length of stay, since there is a type D visa that is only valid for 180 days (type D for studies up to 180 days) and once in Spain it is not possible to renew the visa or apply for authorisation to stay for studies with the limited visa. If you are planning a stay of more than six months, it is necessary to obtain a type D student visa (open) before leaving your home country.

Very important: Once in Spain, it is not possible to change visa. The only valid visa is the one that the non-European international citizen obtains at the Spanish embassy or consulate before coming to Spain. Only family members with a type D student visa (open) can apply for an authorisation of stay for study purposes upon arrival in Spain.

• The study stay permit is a temporary residence permit valid for the duration of the study stay in Spain. The permit is granted for a maximum of one academic year and is renewed annually. The document is the title that proves the holder's legal right to stay in the country.

When entering the European Union, you have a maximum of 30 natural days to begin the process of applying for a residence permit for study purposes. For this process, it is essential that you keep your flight tickets (boarding pass) or that you obtain the EU entry stamp in your passport when you pass through customs.

• TIE for family members of students.

  The Foreigners' Affairs Section of the UB's Mobility and International Programmes Office can arrange an appointment at the National Police station for the initial TIE and its renewal by emailing nie@ub.edu.

The required documentation is as follows:

1. Official form (EX-17) (original + 1 copy).
2. Photocopy of passport
3. Photocopy of the type D student visa (open)
4. Photocopy of the EU entry stamp or airline ticket (boarding card)
5. Passport-size photographs (3)
6. Certificate of census registration
7. Marriage certificate and/or birth certificate
8. Photocopy of the receipt or authorisation of stay of the person entitled to the student family regime (in the case of family reunification).
9. Fee 790 Code 012: Option ‘TIE documenting the first granting of authorisation for temporary residence, stay or cross-border workers’.

All documents must be submitted in the official language (Spanish or Catalan); if this is not possible, duly legalised originals (page 37) in other languages accompanied by a sworn translation will be accepted.

Renewal of the TIE for family members of students:

The required documentation is as follows:

1. Fee 790 052: The fee must be paid before submitting the renewal application and a copy of the proof of payment must be submitted with the rest of the documentation. Payment of the fee does not automatically grant the renewal, but a favourable decision on the application cannot be taken until the corresponding fees have been paid. If you have problems downloading this PDF, you will find the document at the bottom of this page.

2. Form Ex-00

3. Passport (page with personal data)

4. Student Family Residence Authorisation Card

5. Residence permit card of the holder entitling him/her to family student status

6. Marriage certificate or birth certificate

7. In the case of children, certificate of schooling in the Spanish State.

8. Financial means: The responsible family member must prove or accredit that he/she has the financial means to support his/her family.

9. Medical insurance contract covering, during the stay in the Spanish State, medical expenses, if applicable, associated with an accident or illness.

Non-EU students who have a residence permit for study purposes may work without the need for additional authorisation, provided that their permit states authorisation to work.

This authorisation allows them to work up to 30 hours a week, provided that it is compatible with their studies.

The expiry date of this authorisation is subject to the end date of the contract and/or the expiry date of the TIE (foreigner's identification card), although it is renewable.

If during your stay you are required to undertake a work placement that forms part of the curriculum and is part of a collaboration agreement between a company and the UB, you do not need to apply for a work permit.

However, if you wish to combine studies and work, you will need to obtain a work permit, bearing in mind three things:

• Contracts must be part-time and working hours must not coincide with class hours.
• If the contract must be full-time, its duration may not exceed three months and may not coincide with school periods.
• The duration of the work permit must coincide with the duration of the contract and may not exceed the duration of the study stay permit.

Procedure 

Application form

In the case of any changes in the residence permit for study purposes to residence and work as self-employed, the Generalitat de Catalunya has been granted executive powers in the area of initial work authorisations for non-EU foreign nationals whose employment relationship is fulfilled in the territorial scope of Catalonia. The rest of the authorisations related to foreigners residing in Catalonia continues to be the responsibility of the State.

This transferred competence affects initial work authorisations for employed and self-employed workers, modifications to initial work authorisations and the quota for foreign workers.

Procedure

This authorisation may be requested by foreigners who have been holders of a previous study stay authorisation and who have completed their studies in a higher education institution authorised in Spain, and who have reached at least level 6 according to the European Qualifications Framework, corresponding to university degree accreditation. (This heading includes ‘university education, higher artistic education, higher vocational training, higher professional education in the plastic arts and design, and higher sports education).

With this authorisation, you can stay in Spain for a maximum non-extendable period of 24 months in order to look for a suitable job, in relation to the level of studies completed, or to undertake a business project.

Family members may accompany the student when they have already accompanied him or her or during his or her stay for studies in Spain.

During the validity of this residence permit, in order to look for work or to undertake a non-profit business project, there is no authorisation to work.

The deadline for submitting the application is between 60 days before and 90 days after the expiry of the residence permit for study purposes.

Procedure 

Requered documentation:

• Passport
• Form EX01 
• Proof of payment of fee 790/052 (option 2.1) 
• Diploma of official higher education (or certificate in lieu of diploma)
• Medical insurance
• Statement of responsibility specifying the means of proof of sufficient financial means  
• Digital certificate (to submit the application electronically)