STUDENTS VISAS FOR SPAIN

Student Visas

STUDENTS VISAS Who is considered a student? Foreigners coming to Spain with the only purpose of studying or undertaking research, training or a non-lucrative job in any Spanish educational or scientific, public or private, officially recognized centre. VISA NECESSITY Foreign students who want to carry out studies in Spain, must apply for the corresponding visa at the Diplomatic or Consular Offices before their arrival. Evidence of previous studies must be supplied. Nationalities that do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days, do not need a student's visa if their stay does not exceed this time. NEED FOR STUDENT VISA Once they are in Spain, foreign students must apply for an authorization to stay during the specified time, at the Foreign Office or Police Station. WHERE TO APPLY At the local Foreign Office or Police Station. What are the requirements to obtain a Student Visa? The following requirements must be met: - All documents for entry and stay in Spain are in order, including the visa to undertake or extend studies. - The student has been regularly accepted in any private/public educational or scientific centre to undertake/extend studies or undertake non-lucrative jobs in research or educational centres. - The study plan implies attending for no less than 3 months, including the approved studies, research or educational itinerary. - Should the student be under-aged and is not accompanied by his parents, they will need to provide written authorization for the student's trip, as well as for his studies. This authorization must include the details of the school and the duration of the stay. - Students must prove and guarantee that they have the financial means to live, support their studies, their stay and return to their country, as well as, if necessary, that of their relatives. HOW LONG DOES THE STUDENT VISA LAST? It is granted for the whole duration of the course IS THE STUDENT VISA RENEWABLE ? Yes, the Student Visa is renewable. WHEN DOES THE STUDENT VISA VALIDITY EXTINGUISH? - When the activity for which it was granted comes to an end. - When the period for which it was granted is over. CAN FOREIGN STUDENTS WORK IN SPAIN? Basically, foreign students cannot carry out any profitable activity, but it will be allowed if it does not limit the studying aims. CAN FOREIGN STUDENTS'RELATIVES COME TO SPAIN? Students who have obtained a visa for studying can apply for the corresponding stay visas for their relatives to enter and stay in Spain, during the period of their studies or research. They do not need a staying period prior to the foreign student. Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Validation VALIDATION OF QUALIFICATIONS (REVALIDATION-RATIFICATION) New service: Once your degree has been validated, we collect the authorisation of the Ministry of Education and we send it to your home by means of urgent courier. Request this service. If you have a University degree and want it to be valid in Spain, you will have to validate it with the Spanish equivalent. The validation of a higher education degree obtained or given abroad by Spanish authorities, involves the official validity of the document in Spain. Validation means complete equality of academic effects between the foreign and the Spanish degree. University degrees, master degrees and doctorates can all be validated. In Spain the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports grants or denies validation of foreign higher education degrees. The process starts by submitting, on an official form, the documents and a petition. These documents can eventually be complemented with the applicant's academic or scientific curriculum as well as with the corresponding subjects programs. Such programs will have to show the contents of each subject, as well as to which extent they were studied. A further complement would consist of supplying the academic documentation showing that the student passed all the previous studies required to complete the degree. Regarding validation procedures, once the petition with all the required documentation has been submitted, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, must submit the file to the University Board Academic Committee, which has up to three months to grant validation. Should there be an international agreement or treaty to which Spain belongs, the last step is unnecessary. The resolution of a validation grant for foreign higher education degrees is legalized by means of a credential issued by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, after the corresponding tax payment. Sometimes full homologation requires passing complementary examinations. All documents supplied must be legalized. The legalization process is different according to the country that issued the degree. It is also possible to homologate (convalidate) unfinished University studies (loose courses or examinations) if you wish to finish your studies in Spain, thus obtaining a Spanish degree. For a more detailed study of your own needs, contact us and tell us about your situation. Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Work permits in Spain for Workers from outside the E.C.M. - Working for others (a company or a person) UPDATED 11.2.2002 - Governed by a quota Foreigners who are not citizens of the E.C.M. and want to undertake some kind of lucrative activity, on their own or for others, have to apply both for a Work; and a Residence permit. The kind of permit to be applied for depends on the type of lucrative activity which is going to be undertaken. If the work is for others, the following permits must be applied for in the following order: - Type B (initial): For a determined activity and geographic area .- Type B (updated): Permit allowing to carry out any activity in the whole country. - Type C : Permit allowing to carry out any activity in the whole country. If working for others on a temporary job basis, the following permits must be applied for: - Type A: Issued for limited time jobs, such as building, industrial or electric plants, building of infrastructures, setting up of equipments,etc. - Type T: Issued to carry out temporary or campaing activities or services. It can be limited to a defined activity and geographical area. If, on the contrary, you want to set up your own business, or work on your own, the following work permits must be applied for: - Type D: (initial) Issued to underake a specific activity in a determined area of the country. - Type D (renewed) To undertake out any activity in the whole country. - Type E: To undertake any activity in the whole country. Furthermore, there is a special regime for the following Work Permits. - Type F: For people who live in border areas of neighbouring countries, to which they return every day, undertaking work or professional lucrative activities on their own or for others in neighbouring areas of the Spanish territory. Such people will be limited to their geographical area. - Type G: This permit authorizes a lucrative activity should there be a change in the job's conditions and company on which he depends should this be a non-E.C.M. or does not belong to the European Economic area when: - The change is on behalf of and directed by the company, to execute a contract between the company and the person established in Spain who receives the service. - The change is to another job in the same company in Spain or to another company belonging to the same group. WHO CAN APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT The employer if the work activities are on behalf of others or if they are performed in the State border areas (TypeG) - The representative firm, if the firm is not in Spanish territory. - The foreigner himself, if the job is on his own behalf, or in the case of a permit renewal. TO WHOM MUST WORK PERMITS BE SUBMITTED? In Spain: to the Register of the corresponding Government Office, to the Foreign Office, if the output of a work permit depends on them. They can also be submitted to the Register of any Administration Office if such office belongs to the State Administration as well as to any Administration of the Autonomous Communities or local Administration Offices if the latter have signed the necessary agreement. They can also be submitted to Post Offices. Abroad: before the Diplomatic or Consular Authorities in the foreigner's residence country Services and Formalities at Spain-visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Immigrant quota Last December 27, the Government Council has passed the new contingent 2003 for foreign workers, which came into force last January 2003. By means of this Contingent, the Organic Law 4/2000 reformed by Law 8/2000 (which establishes the possibility of granting work permits to foreigners by means of various procedures, taking into account the personal circumstances, characteristics of the position and the current national employment situation in Spain) will be executed. The Contingent of immigrant workers who are not in Spain proposed by the government for year 2003 is of 10.575 steady jobs, a number which may vary during the year, or according to the companies' needs and of the agreements with trade unions. Outside the Contingent, there is a plan of granting 13.762 permits to temporary workers. The number of steady jobs is very similar to the one proposed by the government for year 2002, 11.000 positions proposed, but there are fewer temporary offers. After the faults and negligence found in Contingent 2002, it has been realised the need to give the mechanism procedure of flexibility, with the purpose of meeting the companies' real needs in faster and more efficient manner. Contingent 2003 has to take into account not only the offers performed by means of the quota system but also other forms of hiring foreign workers allowed by Foreign Law and that up the moment had not been taken into account. Those that have authorisation to work in Spain and are not limited by the Contingent, that is to say those that with only a pre-contract of employment may come to Spain are, among others: Foreigners born in Spain, the children or grandchildren of Spaniards, those who have under their charge ascendants or descendants of Spanish nationality, spouses of Spaniards, communitarians or legal residents, foreigners with authorisation to stay due to studies, those enrolled in Spanish ships or those performing educational professional practices. The hiring procedures for the Contingent are carried out in three stages, a first stage of analysis of the needs of the trade market according to its activities and sectors, a second stage of distribution of the Contingent at a provincial level, and lastly, the selection and hiring of foreign workers in their countries of origin at the corresponding Spanish consulates, through companies or Businessmen Associations presenting more than five offers. Furthermore, it is a mandatory requisite that the worker be present at the moment of signing the contract. Once the employment contract has been signed in the countries of origin at the corresponding Spanish consulates, the worker is granted a residence visa, which allows him to immediately incorporate himself to the trade market. He/she also obtains his/her enrolment and membership in the social security system. The granting of the residence visa, after the signing of the contract in the country of origin, will be valid as a work permit. In a period not superior to 30 days from entry in Spain, the foreign worker must apply for the corresponding resident permit at the corresponding Government Subsidiary Office We will soon inform on our web page of the content of the definite document and specific procedures to follow. For specific information about your personal case, documents required to workers or companies ask our lawyers. Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Residence permits. Stay permits Any foreigner who is not the holder of a residence permit and is authorized to stay in Spain for no longer than 3 months within a six-month's period, is on a stay situation. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT If a foreigner is granted a temporary residence he/she is authorized to stay in Spain for a period superior to ninety days and inferior to five years. There are several cases in which, to apply for this permit, it is necessary to express, for the first time, intentions of making Spain one's place of residence. This permit can also be applied for by foreigners who having previously lived in Spain, do not need to meet the requirements needed to obtain a permanent permit. PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT Permanent residence implies living and working in Spain with the same rights as Spaniards. Permanent Residence Permits are granted to foreigners who can prove a five (5) year legal and continuous residence in Spain, provided that there were no irregular exits from the country. Continuity will not be interrupted by: . Period of absence on holidays outside Spain. . Absences for up to six (6) months, provided that such absences do not exceed the sum of one year. . Justified absences for family or health reasons. As an exception, the law establishes some criteria by which the said 5 years' residence period is not required to obtain permanent residence. They refer to foreigners who are specially linked to Spain. Among these cases, a permanent Residence Permit will be granted to foreigners who were originally Spanish and lost their Spanish nationality. These foreigners will not have to first apply for a temporary residence Permit. The foreigners' law contemplates other cases for you, as a foreigner, to obtain a residence permit in Spain. Have you been in Spain for several years without a residence permit? It is possible to regularize your situation by proving you have roots in the country, or even without any proofs. Exceptional circumstances can grant a temporary residence permit to: . Shifted people . People in the Internal Affaires Ministry are authorized to stay in Spain once their request to obtain refugee status has been denied or their formalities have not been accepted. . People with humanitarian reasons. . People who co-operate with Administrative and Judicial Authorities against organized crime. A way to obtain residence is co-operation by supplying data as the victim of, a witness to, or are suffering damages as a consequence of organized crime, or by denouncing any of the authors or accomplices of those who do "Illicit trafficking of Human Beings". EXEMPTION FROM A RESIDENCE VISA When a foreigner wishes to apply for the initial grant of a residence permit and has not got the necessary visa, the foreigners' law exceptionally allows him/her to apply for an exemption from a Residence Visa. . Are you married to a Spanish citizen? . Have you got a Spanish underaged dependant children? . Are you a Spanish citizen who lost your Spanish nationality? . Do you come from an area where there are wars, political, ethnical or other kinds of conflicts'? . And several other cases. There are specific cases in which neither a Residence Visa, nor a Visa exemption is necessary to obtain a residence permit. For related Legislation go to (link) Foreigners' law You can make your enquiries to Spain-Visas.com lawyers. Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Spanish Citizenship and Spanish Nationality Spanish nationality can be obtained by means of one's origin, by choice or residence. WHO ARE SPANISH BY MEANS OF ORIGIN? 1. People born of a Spanish mother or father 2.People born in Spain of foreign parents, if at least one parent was also born in Spain (Children of Diplomats and Consuls accredited in Spain are not included) 3. People born in Spain of foreign parents if neither of them has Spanish nationality or if neither of the parents' legislations confer a nationality to their children 4. People born in Spain and whose filiation is not determined. Regarding this point, underaged whose first known residence place is in Spain, are considered as born in the country. 5. Foreigners under 18 adopted by Spaniards acquire Spanish nationality by means of origin, that begins with the date of the adoption. ACQUISITION OF SPANISH NATIONALITY BY MEANS OF RESIDENCE IN SPAIN Who can obtain Spanish nationality by means of residence in Spain? According to Spanish legislation any foreigner legally established as a resident in Spain, can apply for Spanish nationality. The required periods of time are different according to the nationality, or other personal circumstances. ACQUISITION OF SPANISH NATIONALITY BY MEANS OF CONSOLIDATION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means that those who have held a Spanish Nationality for a number of years, and have used it correctly and in good faith, pursuant to a Rule inscribed in the Register, are allowed to remain a Spanish National, even if the Law that granted him the nationality changes. People concerned must have maintained an active attitude in the possession and use of Spanish Nationality, meaning that they have behaved considering themselves Spanish, both benefiting of their rights and doing their duty towards the Spanish State. A person who finds him/herself in these circumstances has to enrol at the Register providing proof to nationality or how it was acquired given the circumstances valid at the time it was granted. ACQUISITION OF SPANISH NATIONALITY BY CHOICE WHO CAN CHOOSE TO BE SPANISH? - People whose relationship or birth in Spain has been determined after the age of 18. The period for this option is of two (2) years beginning from the coming of age. - People who are or have been under the custody of a Spaniard. - People whose father or mother was a Spaniard by origin and born in Spain - People over 18, adopted by a Spaniard, have an option to Spanish nationality by means of origins as long as this is requested within the next two years following adoption.. LOSS OF SPANISH NATIONALITY HOW IS SPANISH NATIONALITY LOST? Spanish nationality is lost by emancipated people who while habitually living abroad: - Voluntarily acquire another nationality - Exclusively use the foreign nationality they had before emancipation. Loss of nationality will be effective after a period of three years, counting from the moment of acquisition of a foreign nationality or emancipation of the Spanish one. According to the above-mentioned, the acquisition of Latin American nationalities does not cause the loss of the Spanish nationality by origin. A standing act of renounce to Spanish nationality will have to be put forward by the person concerned. Emancipated Spaniards who specifically renounce to their nationality, if they have another nationality and habitually live abroad. Spanish nationality is not lost if Spain is on War. People who are not Spanish by means of origins, also lose their nationality when: - Final judgment convicted them to lose it, according to what is established in criminal laws. - When they voluntarily join armies or have political posts in a foreign country against the expressed prohibition of the Government. - When, for a period of 3 years they make use of the nationality to which they had said to have renounced when they acquired the Spanish nationality. RECOVERY OF SPANISH NATIONALITY Can Spanish nationality be recovered? Yes, if the following requirements are met: Being a legal resident in Spain. This requirement is not applicable to emigrants, their children, and Spanish women who lost their Spanish nationality by means of marriage, before establishment of the Law 14/1974. (In the rest of the cases, the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, under exceptional circumstances, may grant exemption from this requirement. Declaring before the person in charge at the Register the person's wish to recover Spanish nationality. Registering the recovery of the nationality in the Civil Register. WHEN IS A PREVIOUS AUTHORIZATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT NECESSARY TO RECOVER SPANISH NATIONALITY? Previous authorization from the government is necessary both to recover and to acquire, as the case may be, the Spanish nationality, for: People, who, for a period of three years, make use of the nationality they had declared to have renounced when they acquired the Spanish nationality. People who voluntarily join the army or hold political positions in a foreign country against the government's specific prohibition. When the final decision states that the person concerned has incurred in falseness, concealment or fraud in the acquisition of the Spanish nationality causes the annulment of said acquisition. Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience. Returned Emigrants RETURNED EMIGRANTS The state will take special care of the economic and social safeguard of Spanish workers abroad, and will aim its politics to their return (Spanish Constitution article 42 - 1978) Based on this article of the Spanish Constitution, the Spanish Government has encouraged protection policies for Spanish workers residing abroad as a consequence of emigration. Such policies are in the benefit not only of emigrants, but also of their children, and establish performance programs in the benefit of returned emigrants. THERE IS ALSO A RETURN GUIDE. THESE AIDS CAN BE: CARE AIDS Aids aiming to social/labour integration, professional guidance and employment promotion. Promotion aids: educational, cultural and social. RETURN GUIDE Formalities prior to return: - Recovery of Spanish nationality - The obtaining of documents proving labour activity - Discount on return journeys - Exemption regime to import furniture - Cars - Passport Formalities after return: - Identity Card - Enrolment - Validation of foreign driving license - Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates - Certificates of different surnames - Bank accounts abroad - Returned emigrant certificate - Unemployment - Medical Assistance - Education Special agreements with the Social Security: Pensions Other kinds of social protection Education Services and Formalities at Spain-Visas.com. - ON-LINE ENQUIRIES (When you ask one of our lawyers who are specialists in foreign law) We inform you step by step of all necessary formalities to obtain a visa that may interest you, of all the documents you need to submit at your Consulate. This may show you new opportunities depending on your case. We may also write the documents you need to submit. See a sample case of our service - INFORMATION SERVICE. We inform you of the progress of your file and of any law enforced which may concern your case (positively or negatively). - CHECK-UP OF DOCUMENTS. Our company operates from Spain and the documents for the visa must be submitted at the Consulate. However, to make sure that you are submitting the right documents, you may send us a photocopy or fax of all the documents you are planning to submit at the consulate, to spare yourself problems in the future. - LEGAL ASSISTANCE before the government (formalities for documents) and at the Courts. All our lawyers are members of a professional association and have many years of experience.