WorkingRussia
Ivanvisa in 1 month
He applied in spring and the visa came through in a month. He now studies and works part-time in a Valencia bar.
Study and live in Spain legally
A student visa, the right to work and a clear route to residence — through real studyA student visa, the right to work under the law and a clear route to residence — through real study. We have laid the whole path out step by step for people coming from outside the EU.
Visa comparison
Why a student visa rather than Digital Nomad
Three differences that make the student visa simpler almost every timeFor people outside the EU there are two legal routes into Spain. Three differences make the student visa simpler almost every time.
Student visaDigital Nomad
No income requirement
it is enough to show funds in your account; no income to prove.
you must prove income of ≈ €2,850/month (200% of the minimum wage, 2026).
No contracts, no declared income
no contract needed.
an official contract with a foreign company, or client agreements and traceable income.
Different on tax
substantial employment income need not be declared as a condition of status.
in effect tax-resident status, taxed on worldwide income.
Simpler and more predictable at the entry pointA student visa is not tied to income or contracts and does not pull you into the tax regime for high employment income — a simpler and more predictable way into Spain.
Tax noteCollapse
On the Digital Nomad route a tax resident is taxed on worldwide income (IRPF up to 45–54%; the Beckham regime at 24% is mainly for employees). Figures are for 2025–2026, for reference only, and are not tax or legal advice; tax residency depends on your actual situation (including a stay of 183+ days).
The visa
This course requires a student visa D
Only the student visa D — for full-time courses longer than 6 months — gives a residence card, the right to work and a route to residenceSpain has several visas, but only the student D — for full-time courses longer than 6 months — gives a residence card, the right to work and a route to residence. Short visas give none of that.
Your option
Student visa, type D
- A TIE residence card
- The right to work on an official contract
- Grounds to stay and a route to a work permit
Not suitable for moving
Student visa up to 180 days
No residence card, no right to work, no grounds to stay
Tourist (Schengen)
Up to 90 days per half-year. You cannot study or stay
The visa is issued by the Spanish consulate in your country of citizenship or residence. The final timing and the decision rest with the consulate.
The legal route
What studying opens upWhat studying opens up: a route to living and working in Spain
Full-time education is legal grounds to be in the countryFull-time education is legal grounds to be in the country. From there a legal trajectory opens up. Below is how it works under the law.
- 1
Student visa D
A full-time course over 6 months gives grounds for a visa D
A full-time course longer than 6 months gives formal grounds for a type D visa.
- 2
The right to work while studying
Up to 30 hours a week on a contract (RD 1155/2024)
Up to 30 hours a week on an official employment contract (RD 1155/2024).
- 3
A contract in any profession
Not only in hospitality
After vocational training you can work outside hospitality too.
- 4
Modification into a work permit
After the course the card becomes a permit with the right to work
Once the course is finished the student card can be modified into a permit with the right to work — subject to conditions.
A route to permanent residence
Work permit → renewal → long-term residence
From there, subject to conditions: a 1-year work permit → renewal → long-term residence.
A visa built on real study holds up better
The consulate and the inspectorate see genuine study rather than paperwork for a stamp — which is why the visa holds up at renewalThe D visa rests on real education: 640 hours on campus, a course built to the official SEPE standard and an IEAE diploma at the end. That is why it holds up at renewal and modification — the consulate and the inspectorate see genuine study, not paperwork for a stamp.
Legal noteCollapse
Every step depends on meeting the conditions and on decisions by Spanish immigration authorities and the consulate. This describes a legal mechanism, not a guaranteed outcome. Figures are for 2025–2026, are for reference only and are not legal or tax advice — everything depends on your situation.
Go through my case
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A free assessment
Let us look at your situation
5 questions, one minute — we will send an assessment for your country. Free
- Whether a visa D is realistic from your countryWhether a student visa D is realistic from your country specifically
- What it costs in full: course, visa, the moveWhat it costs in full — course, visa, the move, with no hidden extras
- Which documents you need and what follows the courseWhich documents you need and what follows the course — work and life in Spain
- All above board: an accredited instituteAll above board: an accredited institute in Valencia and a legal D visa
Step 1 of 5Residence
Which country do you actually live in?
Start typing the name — search will help.
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Documents
Documents: what we handle and what you prepare
The institute preparesin 2 working days
- Carta de admisiónAn official invitation on institute letterhead.
- Study contract640 hours, dates, full-time format.
- Course programmeHOTR0508 modules with hours (RD 1256/2009).
- Proof of paymentWe format it correctly even when a relative pays for the course — the consulate accepts that.
You preparethe standard consulate package
- A valid passport
- Proof of funds
- Health insurance
- A criminal record certificate
How to apply
How it all goes — step by step
- 1youCourse and first instalmentChoosing the course and the first instalmentyouyour place is heldyour place is heldyour place is held
- 2the institutePackage from the instituteThe document package from the institutethe institute2 working days2 working days2 working days
- 3youBooking an appointmentBooking an appointment (cita previa)youqueue up to 2 monthsqueue up to 2 monthsqueues of up to 2 months — we start early
- 4youSubmitting at the consulateSubmitting at the consulateyoudocuments + packagedocuments + packageyour documents + the institute package
- 5the consulateThe consulate's decisionThe consulate's decisionthe consulateabout a monthabout a monthabout a month
- 6youVisa and the moveVisa and the moveyouin time for the intakein time for the intakein time for the intake
- 7youTIE and registrationTIE and registrationyouthe first 30 daysthe first 30 daysthe first 30 days in Spain
Finances
How much money to show the consulate
How the finances work: the balance in your account and paying for the course
You show · it stays yours≈ €5,400≈ €600/month × 9 monthsThe IPREM minimum
showing ≠ spending
≠showing ≠ spending
You pay · the course fee€3,760for the whole courseThe only payment to the institute
- Showing more than the minimum is safer for the visa
- No extra charges during the course.
- Travelling with family — each person adds their own amountTravelling with family — each person adds their own amount (less for the first than for you, less again for the next).
- Insurance and the consular fee are separate, and modest.
You show the money in your account, you do not hand it over. The only real payment is the course.
Exact 2026 figures, the calculation for a family and which statements the consulate accepts
Who has already done this
Students who have already moved and are studying
They come from Russia, Armenia, Turkey, China and other countries.
StudyingArmenia
Anidocuments with the institute
She put the package together with the institute and arrived right at the start of the intake.
StudyingTurkey
Mertvisa first time
He got the visa first time and moved to Valencia for the autumn intake.
StudyingChina
Lindocuments in 2 months
She spent about two months on the documents and is now on the barista module.
Individual graduates' stories; employment is not guaranteedIndividual graduates' stories; employment depends on the student and is not guaranteed.
Support
You will not be left to do this alone
We take you through every stage — from the first document to the TIE in Spain.
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English
Full support in English.
Español
Support in Spanish.
Français
Support in French.
العربية
Support in Arabic.
Русский
Support in Russian.
In touch at every stage:messengeremailcall
FAQ
Frequent questions
Short answers to what people most often ask about the visa, work and status.
A refusal is not a dead end. It can be appealed or reapplied for once the reason is addressed. We will work out what went wrong and prepare again.
Still have questions? We will go through them on a consultation.
Book a consultationA personal assessment
Ready to work through your situation?
Send an application — we will come back with an assessment for your country and tell you the first step.
How much to show in your account — the exact calculation
PDF: how the financial proof for a D visa is calculated, current figures and the typical mistakes in a bank statement.
Download the guide (PDF)Reference information, not legal advice.
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The Spanish consulate decides on the visa. This information is for reference and does not guarantee approvalThe Spanish consulate decides on the visa. This information is for reference, is not legal advice and does not guarantee approval.
The visa is the first stepThe visa is the first step. Next comes the profession.
Once the visa is clear — look at the course programme and sign up for the next intake.
Once the visa is clear — look at the course programme and sign up for the next intake.