Visa for stays exceeding 90 days for the following study programmes:
a) Higher education.
b) Post-compulsory secondary education.
c) Mobility programme for compulsory or post-compulsory secondary school students.
d) Volunteering.
e) Training activities: language assistants; Language Studies of Spanish or co-official languages; Preparatory courses for selective tests access to specialized health training; Qualification certifications or professional qualification; and professional certificates.
Study stays of less than 90 days do not require a study visa. Depending on the applicant's nationality, a short-stay visa may be required (see “Schengen visas").
Required documents for the student
1. National visa application form
. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.
2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid at least for the duration of the planned stay and contain two consecutive blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Proof of acceptance for the study, training or volunteer activity. Original and a copy of the document proving:
- Acceptance at an authorized teaching centre to carry out a full-time study programme.
- Acceptance into a student mobility programme (in this case, the applicant must also provide proof of acceptance at a study centre, of having found accommodation with a family or at an institution, and the commitment of the organizer of the programme to bear the costs).
- An agreement with the organization responsible for the volunteer programme.
- For higher education, studies of post-compulsory secondary education and training activities, a proof of having paid the registration, enrolment or equivalent fees of the selected institution or educational centre, is also requested.
5. Proof of financial means. Original and a copy of the documents proving that the applicant (or their legal representative or the family member supporting them) has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of the student's stay and return, as well as the stay and return of the family members accompanying them. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 100% of Spain's Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM). To this amount must be added 75% of the IPREM for the first family member and 50% of the IPREM for each additional family member. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
The minimum required monthly amount for 2025 is 600.00 Euros or its equivalent in foreign currency. To this amount, you must add 450.00 Euros for the first family member and 300.00 Euros for each additional family member.
These means can be justified by one or more of the following documents:
- Letter from the university covering all the costs of accommodation and meals (often included in the letter of acceptance).
- Proof of having obtained a scholarship for the specified time.
- SPONSORSHIP LETTER. Notarized document of the applicant's parents or legal guardians, assuming all the costs associated with their studies in Spain. In this case it is necessary to submit the student´s birth certificate or legal custody, passport of the parent or legal guardian, letter from their employer specifying qualification, starting date and remuneration, and 6 months of bank statements (originals and stamped by bank). Notarized letter and birth certificate must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
- Proof of financial means with the submission of 6 months of bank statements (originals and stamped by bank).
6. Health insurance. Original and a copy of public or private health insurance policy contracted with an insurance company or institution authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system and be totally exempted from any form of co-payment, reimbursement or waiting period. In case of contracting a policy with a responsibility limit, this limit can never be below 30.000 euros.
Travel insurances will not be accepted, not even with a 30.000 euro coverage
If the applicant is participating in a volunteer programme, in addition to the medical insurance, they must provide a copy of the civil liability insurance policy taken out by the organization.
7. Criminal record check certificate. This requirement is not mandatory if the duration of the requested stay is less than six months. However, if the length of stay requested is longer than six months, a criminal record certificate, together with an official translation into Spanish, is required. It must be issued by the authorities of the country or countries in which you have resided for the last 5 years. This certificate cannot be older than 6 months, unless the certificate itself specifies a longer expiration. In the case of Canada, only the criminal record certificate issued by the RCMP containing the visa applicant's fingerprints will be accepted. You will find more information about how to obtain it here.
Criminal records certificates from local police stations will not be accepted. The Canadian Criminal Record Certificate must be with the Hague Apostille Certification issued by Global Affairs Canada, and translated into Spanish. If the criminal record certificate has been issued outside of Canada, it must be legalized by the Spanish Consular Office with jurisdiction in that country, unless the country that issued it has signed the Hague Convention, in which case it must be apostilled. You can check the list of the countries signing the Hague Convention here.
8. Medical certificate. This requirement is not mandatory if the duration of the requested stay is less than six months. However, if the length of stay requested is longer than six months, a medical certificate is required. All applicants must submit original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that they do not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
This certificate must be issued by a registered medical practitioner no later than 3 months prior to the date of application, it must be formulated in the following terms or similarly: "This medical certificate certifies that Mr. / Mrs. [...] does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated in the International Sanitary Regulations of 2005.”
9. Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Provincial health card, driver's license, etc., original and copy. If you do not hold a Canadian passport, you must submit a document proving your status in Canada (permanent resident card, work permit, or study permit with certification of studies).
The Consulate General of Spain in Montreal only accepts applications from residents of Quebec (except Gatineau), Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. If you reside in any other place, you must apply for your visa at the Consulate General of Spain in Toronto (provinces of Ontario (except Ottawa), Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and British Columbia) or at the Embassy of Spain in Canada (Ottawa and Gatineau), according to the demarcations of the aforementioned institutions.
10. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to submit copies of the identity document or passport of one of their parents, as well as of the document constituting proof of kinship. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
When the visa application has been submitted by a legal representative, the student MUST COLLECT the visa in person at the CONSULATE.
11. STUDENT VISA FOR MINORS (UNDER 18 YEARS). In addition to the documents detailed above (requirements 1 to 10), you must submit the following:
- Original birth certificate of the minor translated into Spanish and legalized with the Apostille. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country. (Original and Copy).
- Notarized copies of parents IDs/passports.
- Notarized authorization letter of both parents and legal guardians to travel to Spain for the purpose of carrying out the activity in question, with proof of the center, organization, entity, and person in charge for the activity and the planned length of stay. It must state information about people who will take care of the minor once is Spain, with their names, surnames, ID or NIE numbers and address. (This letter must be presented in Spanish).
- Notarized declaration of the person or persons taking care of the minor in Spain, with a copy of the DNI or NIE and certificate of Sexual Nature issued by the Registry of Sexual Offenders of the Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes or express authorization for the Administration to obtain said certification.
12. Payment of the visa fee. The consular fee is to be paid the day of your appointment, preferrably in cash or by money order or certified cheque to "The Consulate General of Spain in Montreal". You can check the fees in Tasas Montreal.
Language assistants
In addition to the documents required for a study visa the applicant has to provide the appointment letter issued by the competent department of the Ministry of Education of Spain with information regarding the assigned educational center's address, phone number, contact person, email, duration of the program, as well as the insurance. Language assistants are exempt from submitting financial means and medical insurance if the official appointment specifies the amount of the salary and the availability of a health insurance taken out by the employer.
Au-pair visas
In addition to the documents required for a study visa the applicant has to provide original and photocopy of Au-pair agreement duly signed by both parties (host family and student).
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district or who are regularly in the consular district for study purposes even if they are not a resident.
Applying for a study visa also entails applying for a study stay permit.
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
- Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted two months in advance of the date of the beginning of the studies.
- Place of submission: The Application must be submitted in person with a previous appointment to be scheduled by writing an email to cog.montreal.vis@maec.es . In your email you must identify yourself with your full name, indicate the date of travel, and attach a scanned copy of your passport, of a document proving your residence in this consular demarcation and of your admission at the centre of studies.
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal term to make a decision is 1 month from the day after the application is submitted, but this term may be extended when additional documents are requested or an interview is held.
- Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative (if the applicant is a minor) within a maximum period of 2 months, counted as of the day after the date on which the favourable decision is notified.
- Refusal of the visa or study stay permit: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a study stay permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: If the study stay does not exceed 6 months, the visa will be valid for the entire stay and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card.
If the study stay lasts more than 6 months, the visa will be valid for 1 year. The student must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, TIE, within 1 month from their entry into Spain, at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the Police Station of the province in which the permit was processed. After the issue of the Foreigner Identity Card, the visa will be no longer valid.
Family members of students.
Relatives of the student can only apply for long-stay residence authorization, and therefore the corresponding visa can only be issued to relatives of individuals who are pursuing higher education in Spain or specialized health training. The following family members will be able to apply for visa once the student has been granted their visa to Spain:
- The spouse, unmarried partner or duly proven stable partner.
- Minor and disabled children, and children of legal age when they are not married or have their own families.
Visas for students' family members are NOT work permits.
Required documents for family members
For each family member accompanying the student, the following documents must be submitted:
- Documents listed above as 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12. Where applicable, 10 must also be provided.
- Certificates proving kinship with the student (marriage certificate, unmarried couple certificate, or birth certificate, as applicable). Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- Copy of the student´s Passport and visa.
- Proof of financial means. Original and a copy of the documents proving that the applicant has sufficient financial means to cover all the expenses (stay and return) of the family members accompanying the students. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 75% of Spain's Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM) for the first family member and 50% of the IPREM for each additional family member.
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and a personal interview.