The key changes to Spain's Student Visa in 2025

If you’re looking to move to Spain, you may have primarily been looking into two options – the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa, but there is one visa you may not have considered, which is the Student Visa.

This could be a great option to initially move to Spain or even if you just want to move here temporarily because it’s relatively easy to get and doesn’t have the high financial requirements of the other visas – providing you can afford to pay for the course.

It’s not just for young people either, you can apply for it any age. You could opt for higher education courses or language courses, which are very popular.

Spain’s new immigration law, which recently came into force on May 20th made several changes to the Student Visa, however, so it’s worth being aware of those if this is an option you’re considering.

The main changes are to do with the type of course you’re studying. Basically now there are different rules for those on higher education courses, such as Master's or PhD, and those on a regular course like a one at a Spanish language academy.

You can only apply for student visas outside of Spain

Previously you were allowed to come to Spain as a tourist and apply for a student visa, but now you must apply in your home country before you arrive. This must be done through your local consulate.

You must be 18 or older to apply

There is now a lower age limit to be able to apply for the student visa – you must be at least 18 years old. Keep in mind, there is no upper age limit, so you can come and be a mature student too.

If you’re not doing a higher education course, your time is limited

Before you could renew your student visa multiple times to stay longer in Spain, but now you can only stay for a maximum of two years if doing a language course for example, or a course that is not Master’s or PhD. This could be a one-year course and then you can renew it for a second year for a different course, or continue with the same one if it’s longer.

Students doing language courses must pass a test to renew their visa

In order to renew your visa you must show a certificate of completion and you must now pass a language proficiency test in order to renew this includes:

• DELE Certificate (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language).
• Registration for the DELE exam
• SIELE Certificate - an official Spanish test with digital certification

Changes to renewals for vocational training

If you choose to do a vocation training course, like learning to be a plumber or an electrician in Spain for example, there are now a few changes if you want to renew. You must:

• Present a certified diploma or school certificate.
• You can apply for renewal in Spain two months before your visa expires and two months before the start of the next academic year.
• Once you complete the vocational training course, you can change your visa to a work residency visa.

You cannot modify your visa if are not doing a higher education course

Previously you were able to do any type of course, not just a higher degree and then modify your visa to a different type such as a working visa and get a job here. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible if you’re just doing a language course or similar, you have to be in higher education if you want to have this option.

Changes to working permission

Up until last month, anyone on a student visa could work up to 30 hours per week to help support themselves during their studies, but now it’s only for those on higher education courses. If you’re on a lower-level course like studying Spanish culture or language, you are not automatically allowed to work, you must instead apply for special authorisation to be able to do so.

New rules about bringing family members

Again there is another change for those doing not doing a higher education course in that they cannot bring dependent family members with them.

Before, you could bring your partner or your child with you, whatever you were studying, but now this is only for those on high level degrees.