Studies
How to Apply for a Study Stay Authorization from Spain in 2026
Learn how to apply for a student residence authorization in Spain in 2026. Requirements, documents and deadlines explained step by step by ESAR EURO.
23 Mar 2026
6 min
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If you hold a tourist visa or a Schengen area residence permit, you can apply for the student stay authorization directly from Spain. From 2025, with the entry into force of the new Immigration Regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024), the process has been considerably simplified: you can now obtain the authorization for the total duration of your studies without renewing it every year, and work up to 30 hours per week without needing an additional permit. In this updated 2026 guide, we walk you through the requirements and steps to submit your application, and answer all your questions.
What is the study stay authorization?
It is the administrative act by which the Spanish State authorizes a non-EU foreign citizen to legally remain in Spain for more than 90 days with the exclusive purpose of pursuing regulated studies at an authorized institution.
New features of the 2025 Regulations:
- The application must be submitted at least 2 months before your tourist visa or Schengen residence permit expires.
- The application must also be submitted at least 2 months before the start of the course or program.
- The authorization can be granted for the full duration of the program, with no annual renewal required.
- Language courses offered by accredited institutions are recognized as higher education, provided the language is different from the applicant's mother tongue.
- Tuition payment in installments is accepted, as well as accredited fee exemptions. Full payment before applying is not required.
- Higher education students may work up to 30 hours per week without needing an additional work permit.
- Once you finish your studies, you can modify your authorization to a residence and work permit if you have a job offer. Major update: you can start working from the moment you submit the modification request, without waiting for the Immigration Office to issue a resolution.
Requirements to apply for the authorization from Spain:
1- Valid legal stay with more than 60 days of remaining validity.
Your tourist visa or other stay authorization must be valid and have more than 60 days of validity at the time of submitting the application.
2- Valid passport with at least 1 year of remaining validity.
The passport expiry date must be more than one year from the date of application submission.
3- Proof of legal entry into Spain.
Entry stamp in the passport. If there is no stamp (for example, because you entered from another Schengen country), you must provide an entry declaration stamped by the police certifying the date of arrival in Spanish territory.
4- Admission letter from the educational institution.
Official document issued by an authorized educational institution in Spain certifying your enrollment or admission to the program.
5- Sufficient financial means for the period of stay.
You must prove you have at least 100% of the monthly IPREM (~€600/month in 2026) through bank statements, regular transfers, or other supporting documents.
6- Health insurance with coverage in Spain.
It must be comprehensive, without co-payments, without waiting periods, and with repatriation coverage, covering the entire Spanish territory and the duration of your stay.
7- Background check certificate.
Issued by the authorities of the country of origin or the country where you have resided during the last five years. It must be apostilled and, if applicable, translated into Spanish.
8- Completed and signed EX-00 application form.
Must be submitted in duplicate. You can download it here
9- Not listed as an inadmissible person in the Schengen area.
You must not appear in the Schengen Information System (SIS) or any registry of persons not admissible in European territory.
Steps to apply for the authorization from Spain:
Here we summarize the process in 6 complete steps.
Obtain your admission letter
The authorized educational institution must issue you the official admission letter. It is the key document in the process.
Gather the documentation
Passport, EX-00 form, proof of financial means, health insurance, criminal background certificate (if applicable).
Request a prior appointment at the Immigration Office
Through the Mercurio platform or the electronic headquarters, request an appointment at the Immigration Office in the province where you will study.
Submit the application in person
You must appear in person with all original documents and copies. Submit at least 1 month before your current situation expires.
Wait for the resolution
The usual timeframe is 1 to 3 months. Although in some provinces like Madrid and Barcelona it may take longer.
Apply for the TIE at the Police Station
Once approved, you have 1 month to apply for your Foreigner Identity Card at the corresponding Police Station.
What obstacles might I face if I submit my application personally without an immigration lawyer?
Submitting the application on your own is possible, but if you have just arrived in Spain, you will face significant practical challenges that can put the entire process at risk.
1- Getting an appointment at the Immigration Office.
As a newcomer to Spain, you do not yet have a digital certificate, which means you cannot submit the application online. This forces you to go in person, and in many Immigration Offices it is very difficult to find an available appointment. The time you have to submit the application is limited, and every day without an appointment reduces your window. An immigration lawyer, on the other hand, does not need an appointment to submit the application.
2- Receiving and managing Immigration Office notifications.
When the Immigration Office issues a notification — such as a request for additional documents or a favorable resolution — it does so electronically. Without a digital certificate, you cannot access it online and must wait for the postal letter, which can take between 15 days and one month. Furthermore, if you have changed your address shortly after arriving — very common in the first months — the letter may never reach you, potentially causing you to miss a deadline and lose the entire process. With a lawyer, notifications arrive instantly and no deadline is ever missed.
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In short, working with an immigration lawyer makes the process more flexible, more secure and stress-free from day one in a new country, handling deadlines, notifications and appointments on your behalf.
Submit your application stress-free and with full peace of mind.
With ESAR, no deadline is missed, no notification goes unanswered, and your process moves forward safely from day one.
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