A visa is an endorsement placed in your passport that indicates that you can enter, exit and stay in a country — in this case, Spain — for a specific period of time. Although tourists from many countries may enter Spain without a visa, the length of their stay is limited to 90 days over a period of 180 days. Students planning to study at Saint Louis University-Madrid must know the rules and procedures for visas and passports.
Saint Louis University-Madrid students who need a visa to enter Spain must leave enough time for the complete visa application process as detailed below. SLU-Madrid does not reimburse visa costs, even if a visa is not granted.
SLU-Madrid requires students to provide evidence of their legal residency in Spain. Failure to present the appropriate student visa upon arrival, if necessary, or to maintain legal residency as a student will result in immediate withdrawal from classes and expulsion from university housing. Refunds will be issued according to the refund policy.
Consulates do not have uniform requirements for documents or for visa application submission. For this reason, the consulate that oversees the country or area from which you will be applying is the best source of information.
Students wishing to apply for a student visa to Spain must apply for this document at one of the 117 Spanish consulates worldwide or within the consular section of an embassy. Note that proximity to a consulate does not mean you are within that consulate's jurisdiction. To check which consulate you should apply to, visit the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation website.
In some cases, you may be asked to supply additional paperwork, such as proof of itinerary or proof of accommodation. Refer to your consulate's requirements and contact the Office of Admissions for additional help.
Should you need a legal translation, you can find a list of certified translators recognized by the Spanish Foreign Ministry. You can search by country (país) and language (idioma) using the search tool.
Remember that SLU-Madrid does not reimburse costs associated with applying for or obtaining a student visa, even for a rejected application.
Nine Spanish consulates serve the US in different geographic regions in addition to Puerto Rico. With the exception of California, your state will be assigned to one of the nine consulates. Verify which consulate corresponds to your state on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation website. Proximity to a consulate does not mean you are within that consulate's jurisdiction.
Confirmed students will receive additional information that details the student visa process and timeline.
Students applying for a visa of 180 days (degree-seeking students or study abroad of two semesters) or more must obtain a certificate of good behavior, which documents criminal activity or the absence thereof in the last five years. This is verified by fingerprints at the federal level via the FBI.
Apply for an FBI background check authenticated by the US Department of State with the Apostille of the Hague Convention. Choose the online option ($18) to avoid significant delays. Your criminal rap sheet will arrive within 48 hours, after which you can have your fingerprints taken electronically via Live Scan technology (about $50).
You can find a complete guide to the FBI background check process on the FBI website. Please plan to have your background check completed at least 10-12 weeks before your appointment, as it will need to be legalized by the State Department and translated by a certified translator.
If you have lived outside the United States for at least six months in the last five years, you will also need a background check from that country. Be sure to factor this into your application time frame, as you may also need translations and legalizations.
You will need to submit a separate application for the Apostille of the Hague.
The Apostille of the Hague is an authentication seal for documents obtained outside the Schengen Zone. It certifies that the document is admissible within Schengen countries.
Obtaining an Apostille from the Department of State requires an additional application, so allow up to three months for this process.
Click the link to learn more about the Apostille of the Hague.
In addition, your consulate may require certified translations; you can find a list of certified translators recognized by the Spanish Foreign Ministry. You can search by country (país) and language (idioma) using the search tool.
For Fall 2025 students, the Apostille of the Hague took six to eight weeks to return. We urge you to complete the FBI background check at least six months before the semester start date to avoid visa delays and potentially having to defer your admission.
Remember that SLU-Madrid does not reimburse costs associated with applying for or obtaining a student visa, even for a rejected application.
SLU-Madrid students who are not legal residents or citizens of the European Union must apply for a visa to enter Spain and study at the Madrid campus. This usually includes any student who plans to study for at least one semester.
If you are studying for less than 90 days and are a citizen of a country with a tourist-reciprocity agreement (such as the United States), you do not need a visa to study in Spain or at SLU-Madrid.
There are two types of student visas for Spain:
Short-stay visa (valid for stays of up to 180 days): For students studying at SLU-Madrid for under six months or one semester. This could be called a short-stay visa or a "long-stay visa up to 180 days," depending on the consulate.
Long-stay visa (valid for more than 180 days): For students who plan to study at SLU-Madrid for two or more semesters. This visa is required for students to obtain their student residency card, thetarjeta de estudiante, within a month after arrival in Spain. This ID card — and its subsequent renewals — will allow you to stay in Spain until the completion of your studies and to travel in and out of the country. SLU-Madrid's Office of Student Life will assist you in obtaining the tarjeta de estudiante.
Apply for your visa at one of the 117 Spanish consulates or at the consular section of a Spanish embassy worldwide. To confirm where you should apply, consult the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation website. Keep in mind that being geographically close to a consulate does not necessarily mean you fall under its jurisdiction, and you may need to travel to another country to apply. Visa applications must be submitted at least 60 days (and up to six months) before your program's start date. (Please note: You cannot have an appointment 60 days before your program start date without consulate permission.)
Note that requirements vary greatly between consulates, both regarding how to apply and which documents are required. Read the requirements carefully, as most frequently asked questions regarding application procedures and materials are answered on each consulate's web page.
Student visas for Spain take about four to six weeks to process from the time an applicant submits a complete application. Remember that collecting the documentation you need to present as part of your application can take time; this is especially true of document legalizations and translations. Please plan accordingly.
Generally speaking, a successful visa application will include, but may not be limited to, furnishing the following:
Completed Spanish Visa application form found on your consulate's website.
Model visa application form (PDF) for degree-seeking students starting in Spring 2026.
Model visa application form (PDF) for Spring 2026 study abroad students (one semester).
Model visa application form (PDF) for 2025-26 academic-year study abroad students.
Passport must be valid for at least one year beyond the end of your first academic year (August), and contain two consecutive blank pages.
Proof of financial means (form letter) (PDF). Please note that when a parent support letter is used, many consulates also require the student's birth certificate.
2x2 Passport-style photo ID (in addition to your passport).
Proof of full-time university enrollment.
Proof of Spanish health insurance.
Proof of sufficient funds (form letter) (PDF).
Proof of housing.
Non-refundable visa fee.
Students staying two semesters or more must also present:
Criminal record check certificate.
Bilingual medical certificate (form letter) (PDF).
Your consulate's BLS office will provide a checklist and instructions for submission and collection.
When possible, SLU-Madrid suggests waiting until you turn 18 to apply for your visa. If your birthday is less than six weeks before the start of your studies, you must apply for a student visa as a minor (under 18).
The Spanish consulate may require you to present additional documents. The requirements vary among consulates, so you must check with your corresponding consulate as to their specific protocol.
At least one of your parents or legal guardians must accompany you to the consulate to apply. The parent or guardian who does not attend must provide a notarized document in which they authorize the present parent or guardian to request the visa with you.
Contact your consulate directly for special instructions if you are a minor living in a single-parent/guardian household.
Spanish consulates routinely request additional documents, listed below, if you are a minor:
Written authorization from both parents/legal guardians to travel abroad.
Certified with the Apostille of the Hague (In countries that are not under the Hague Apostille Convention, you/your parents will have to take these documents to the Spanish Consulate for the Spanish Consul to sign and stamp the Consul's seal.)
Notarized copy of parents' passports.
Original and notarized copy of your birth certificate (issued in the last 12 months).
Spanish authorities require minors to have legal representation in Spain to process official paperwork. You are responsible for finding your legal guardian. A legal guardian must be over 18 years old, a Spanish legal resident with the corresponding documentation and be available to represent you in different matters. Your guardian could be a family member or a family friend. The legal guardianship lasts until you turn 18.
SLU-Madrid faculty and staff are not permitted to assume this role. Host families arranged by SLU-Madrid do not accept minors.
To establish legal guardianship, consult your consulate, as each may vary in terms of required documents. You may need to secure the following before arriving in Spain:
Power of attorney from both parents or legal guardians authorizing the guardian in Spain, certified with the Apostille of the Hague.
Original and notarized copy of your birth certificate (issued in the last 12 months), certified with the Apostille of the Hague.
Your guardian in Spain must provide a letter assuming your legal guardianship while you reside in Spain (in Spanish).
Within 30 days of your arrival in Spain, you must apply for a residence card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE) if you will be studying in Spain for more than 180 days. The residence card establishes you as a legal resident in Spain during your studies. The visa alone does not. To apply for a residence card, the Spanish authorities will request the three documents listed above and a legal translation of the first two documents into Spanish.
Your legal guardian in Spain must accompany you to the appointment when you present your residence card application. Your legal guardian in Spain must also accompany you to pick up your card from the police authorities once it is issued.
Within 30 days of your arrival in Spain, you must apply for a residence card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE) if you will be studying in Spain for more than 180 days. The residence card establishes you as a legal resident in Spain during your studies. The visa alone does not.
Staff in the Office of Student Life will assist you in obtaining this document, and you can find additional information on the Legal Residency in Spain page.
Your best source of information is always the consulate. Check the application requirements and process on your consulate's website.
If you have further questions or would like additional guidance, write to us at admissions-madrid@slu.edu