TEFL IBERIA

SPANISH VISA GUIDE

UNITED KINGDOM

USE THIS GUIDE TO DIRECT YOU THROUGH EACH AND

EVERY STEP INVOLVED IN STARTING A NEW LIFE IN
SPAIN
 TEFL IBERIA PAGE | 02

WELCOME TO
TEFL IBERIA

If you are reading this, it is because you

are thinking of embarking on a journey
to Barcelona! We couldn’t be more
excited for you and we hope you are
feeling the same!

Before you embark on this amazing

experience there are a few important
administrative tasks to take care of. But
fear not! We are here to help you. We
have provided you with this guide to
walk you through step by step the
“student visa” process, which is
essential for your legal status in Spain.

If at any point in the process you have a

question you can contact our expert
student visa coordinators:

Jayde Lee -
coordination@tefl-iberia.com

Juliana De Diego -
coordination2@tefl-iberia.com

And we will do our best to make the

process as stress free as possible.
Let's get
¡Hasta pronto!

STARTED
 TEFL IBERIA
PAGE | 03

Why a student visa?

All European countries require non-EU
citizens to obtain a visa in order to gain
paid employment and stay in the
country long term, though the process
may vary slightly from country to
country.

The main obstacle to obtaining a work

visa is that employers must show that
the post could not be filled by
someone already in the country and
this can be both difficult and time
consuming to do.

A far easier option is to apply for a

student visa. In Spain, a student visa
allows for up to 20 hours work as a
paid intern. Of course, you must be
signed up to a programme of study to
obtain a student visa, so you may wish
to have lessons in the local language or
take part in a career development
course such as
our Developing Teacher programme.

These next steps will guide you

through how to apply for a Spanish
student visa and the documents
required.
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STEP 1 Documents Short- Long -

Required Term Visa Term Visa
Choose your visa type:

There are 2 types of visa you can choose for your Passport
trip to Spain. It will depend on how long you plan
to stay in Spain and if you plan to work.
Visa application form

Short term (3-6 months)

Visa fee to be paid
Less documents and paperwork.

Enrolment letter
You are not allowed to work.

2 x passport photos
Long Term (7 +months)

You can work up to 20 hours per Proof of funds

week.

Additional documentation required. Health Insurance

We strongly recommend applying for a 12 month Medical Certificate

long term visa, even if you are unsure if you want
to stay a full 12 months. Most students we work
Criminal background
with end up wanting to stay at least 12 months,
check
and while it is possible to renew from Spain if you
have a long-term visa, it is not always guaranteed.
The extension application is a hassle, involving lots
of paperwork and trips to the Spanish Foreign
Office!

Got questions about your

documents?
CONTACT US: COORDINATION@TEFL-
IBERIA.COM
 TEFL IBERIA PAGE | 05

STEP 2
Gather your documents

For a short-term visa (under 6 months) For a long-term visa (over 6 months)

Visa application form (download here) and All of the above

2 recent passport photos. Here is an example
copy of the application form Medical certificate stating that you have no
serious illnesses (according to The
Your passport, which must be valid for the International Health Regulations (2005). The
whole duration of your stay. With photo certificate must be accompanied by a sworn
copies of your details page. translation into Spanish. Unless you use an
approved template provided the consulate
Letter of acceptance from a recognised
course provider for full time study (20 hours Criminal background check (ACRO) for the
per week). Our Developing Teacher course is UK and anywhere else you have lived over the
valid for student visas. last 5 years. This document should either be
legalised or carry the Hague Apostille, and
A non‐refundable VISA FEE of £174.00. should also be accompanied by a sworn
translation into Spanish.
Evidence of funds: you must be able to
prove you have enough money to cover your
living costs for the duration of your stay. Keep in mind, even if you are applying for a
Living costs are calculated using a measure visa for over 180 days, you will initially be
called the IPREM, which for 2022 works out as issued a visa for 90 days. Once you have
€564.90 per month. (you will need 3 months arrived in Spain you will need to obtain your
worth of printed bank statements) foreigner card which will replace your visa for
the duration of your stay.
Health insurance: You must purchase
health insurance from a provider recognised
in Spain and include evidence of this in your
application. See our useful links at the end of
the guide for health insurance provider
Documents
recommendations.

EXPLAINED
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STEP 3
Submit your application

Once you have gathered all the required documents,

the next step is submitting your application.

Firstly, you must get an appointment with your nearest

Spanish consulate, which in the UK are located in
London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Check here for
which consulate you should go to.

To get an appointment, click here to find a step by step

guide on requesting an appointment at your
corresponding consulate.

Your application must be made in-person at the

consulate. You will need to bring all of the
documentation included in the visa requirements list.

The Spanish consulate pages can be tricky to navigate,

but you can find the relevant information by following
these links:

London Consulate Visa Information

Edinburgh Consulate Visa Information
Manchester Consulate Visa Information

What happens next?

Now it’s a waiting game and your application is

in the hands of the officials. If you have
submitted all the correct documents, you
should have your passport with the visa
attached to it sent back to you within 4 weeks.
You will then be ready to travel to Spain!
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Frequently asked questions

Do you have to go to the embassy in person or can you mail all your documents?

You must go in person.

How long does it take to get an appointment?

It varies from month to month. It is good to actively be checking if you can book an online
appointment. New appointments are released at random times.

What is the appointment like? Does it take long? Do they speak to you in English? Are they
helpful or difficult?

The appointment is very short, you just leave your documents and that’s it. Sometimes they’ll check
the documents with you. They all speak English.

What happens after your appointment?

You will be notified within one month of your application, and you should go back to the consulate to
collect your passport and visa. In some cases it might be possible for them to mail you the visa.

How long does it take to get your visa after the appointment?

You will be notified within one month.

What documents need to be translated?

If you are on a short term visa (under 180 days) you don’t need any translations.
If you are on a long-term visa (over 180 days), your medical certificate should have a sworn
translation, and your criminal background check should have a sworn translation and carry an
Apostille. See useful links below for translator recommendations.

Next stop:
BARCELONA!
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Frequently asked questions

How many hours can I work on a student visa?

Up to 20 hours per week on an internship contract.

Do I need to sign up to 6-12 months?

If you would like to work in Barcelona, yes. This is the minimum amount of time required by the
Spanish government in order to qualify for a long-term student visa, which will allow you to work.

You can study for less time if you like and get a 3-6 month student visa, but you will not be allowed to
work.

How long does it take to process a student visa?

It varies from country to country but on average you should give yourself 3 months from start to
finish.

Can I extend my student visa from within Spain?

Yes, if you have a long-term visa (6 months or more) you can extend from within Spain by signing up
to further courses.

Can I process a visa from within Spain?

Yes, you can apply from within Spain, as long as you are still within your 90 day tourist visa.

I already have a student visa with a different school. Can I renew with TEFL Iberia?

Yes, but your previous course must be related to teaching / language. You will need a letter from your
previous school to prove that you attended the classes.

Next stop:
BARCELONA!
PAGE | 09 TEFL IBERIA

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave the EU to reset my tourist visa?

Yes, but you would have to leave the EU for a minimum of 3 months to do so.

Can you also work as self-employed on a student visa?

No.

Do I need a visa to do the Trinity CertTESOL course?

No, if you intend to stay for less than 90 days.

If you have any further questions, contact our

coordinators at - coordination@tefl-iberia.com

Next stop:
BARCELONA!
PAGE | 10 TEFL IBERIA

Useful Links
London consulate visa page

Manchester consulate visa page

Edinburgh consulate visa page

Check which consulate you should go to

Spanish consulate visa guide (Scroll to bottom for English version)

Spanish visa application form guide

UK criminal background check

Medical check template

Health Insurance and Translations

We have extensively researched the market and found the best value health insurance providers and
translators. The providers we recommend are based in Spain, therefore are cheaper compared to
international providers, and are also approved by the Spanish Foreign Office.

Atlantida Health Insurance: Contact Arturo Bellettati directly at abellettati@atlantida.net.

Sworn Spanish Translators: Contact Susana Garcia directly at info@traductorjurado.org for a
10% discount for TEFL Iberia students.

Next stop:
BARCELONA!
 TEFL Iberia
Calle Valencia 275, Barcelona, Spain
www.tefl-iberia.com
2022