Your Student Visa Roadmap

A simple planning guide for studying in Spain for more than 90 days

Planning a long-stay student visa can feel overwhelming—especially if it’s your first time dealing with consulates, official documents, and timelines. This roadmap breaks the process into clear steps, so you know what to do and when to do it. Keep in mind that requirements and processing times can vary by country and consulate, so this is a practical planning guide you can adapt to your specific case.

Example timeline (recommended planning)

12–16 weeks before your course start date

  • Choose your city, school, and full-time programme dates.
  • Check the official consulate checklist for your country and confirm how appointments work.
  • Confirm if you need a police certificate and whether legalization/apostille and certified translations apply.

10–12 weeks before

  • Enroll and secure your spot at the school.
  • Arrange medical insurance that meets consulate requirements for the full stay.
  • Start collecting financial documents (and sponsor documents if applicable).

8–10 weeks before

  • Receive school documentation (admission/enrollment letter, programme details, invoice/receipt).
  • Finish translations/legalizations if required.
  • Book your consulate appointment (many places have limited availability).

6–8 weeks before

  • Submit your application at the consulate/visa center.
  • Track your file and respond quickly if the consulate requests additional documents.

After approval

  • Confirm your course start date and arrange accommodation.
  • Travel to Spain with printed/digital copies of your key documents.
  • If your authorized stay is longer than 6 months, plan the TIE appointment after arrival.

Final tip: the biggest advantage you can give yourself is time. Starting early reduces stress, avoids last-minute costs, and gives you space to handle extra requests from the consulate. If you want, HolaSpain can help you choose an accredited school and organize the enrollment documents so your application is as clear and consistent as possible.