Spain Student Visa from Nigeria

Do I Need a Visa to Study in Spain?

For studying in Spain, you will almost always need a Student visa. The main exception is if you will be spending less than 90 days in Spain to complete the course. However, Nigerians cannot freely enter Spain, so will need a Schengen visa to do so. For stays longer than 90 days, a Student visa will be required, either the Short-Term Student visa or the Long-Term Student visa, depending on the length of your course.

As well as studying, the Spain Student visa is also a great opportunity for young Nigerians to experience Europe. You will also be permitted to travel to any of the Schengen countries on your Student visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This is the range of European Union nations that is part of the broader Schengen Agreement, which allows for free movement.

The sections below break down the three types of visa relevant for Nigerians that want to study in Spain. Make sure to apply for the one that is most suited to your circumstances and the length of time you will be in Spain.

Schengen Student Visa (Less Than Three Months)

As Nigerians usually do not have visa-free travel to Spain, you need to get a Schengen visa to come to Spain for 90 days or less. This visa type is also used for tourism, business, visiting family, accessing medical treatment, partaking in training placements and completing volunteering activities.

The Schengen visa has a different application fee to other Spanish Student visas. It costs €90 for an adult’s applications and €45 for any children that you are bringing with you.

Short-Term Student Visa (Three to Six Months)

The Short-Term Spain Student visa is ideal for Nigerians that want to come to Spain for 90 to 180 days to complete a short course or training programme. Like the Schengen Student visa, this permission cannot be extended and cannot be used to apply for a Spanish residence card. You will also not be allowed to work in Spain. As such, make sure that your course will not exceed six months so that your permission does not expire half-way through your studies.

Long-Term Student Visa (Over Six Months)

The final Student visa type is for long-term study that will last for six months to years. This type of Student visa is ideal for enrolling in a Spanish undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degree.

The Long-Term Student visa also comes with the opportunity to convert to a work permit once your studies have finished and you have spent at least three consecutive years as a student in Spain. Make sure to obtain and properly renew your foreigner identity card to be eligible for this benefit.

Student Visa Requirements for Nigerians

Spain has strict rules governing its Student visa. Nigerians will need to match the following eligibility criteria:

• You are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national. This will apply if you hold Nigerian citizenship.
• You have at least €600 per month and at least 900 euros across your entire stay (even if your stay is less than a month) of savings.
• Your private medical insurance covers your entire stay.
• You have been accepted into a Spanish educational institution.
• You have a clear criminal record.
• Short-term Student visas need you to show a return ticket home.

Further eligibility criteria will apply depending on the Student visa that you apply for. Most importantly, you need to make sure that your course is of an appropriate length. If you are coming to Spain for a post-graduate course, such as a PhD or Master’s degree, you will need to show that you have an appropriate undergraduate degree from Nigeria.

Language Requirements

The Spain Student visa also requires you to show that you have sufficient language skills to complete your course. If it is taught in Spanish, you will need to take the Diploma de Español Como Lengua Extranjera language test.

There are additional accepted tests if you are studying a course taught in English. These include IELTS, PTE Academic, and C1 Advanced.

Required Documentation

To show that you fit the eligibility criteria, your student visa application will need to include a range of documentation, including the following:

• A letter from the educational institution confirming your admission.
• A completed visa application form.
• A valid passport. It must have validity at least three months beyond your intended stay or a minimum of one year if you are applying for a long-term study visa.
• Two recent passport-style photographs.
• Documentation showing you have health insurance. Travel insurance will not be accepted.
• A medical certificate showing you don’t carry any infectious diseases.
• Proof of accommodation throughout your stay in Spain.
• Six months of recent bank statements to show that you have sufficient funds to support your studies.

Some Nigerians under the age of 18 also come to Spain for their education. Although such individuals can often get a Student visa, they also need to provide further documentation in support of their application. Usually, this will include the following:

• Their birth certificate.
• Their parent or guardian’s valid identity document, such as a passport.
• Parental consent to study in Spain, such as a letter.
• A declaration from the applicant’s school approving their absence.

Nigerian minors will also need a court judgement confirming that the parent giving permission has responsibility over the applicant in certain circumstances, such as if the parents are divorced.

Proving you have the Financial Means

Spain requires you to have access to 100% of the Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM) throughout the entirety of your study in Spain. As above, bank statements are one way to show that you have sufficient funds. However, there are a number of ways to reduce the funds you need to have available. The amount saved will be deducted from the overall requirement. Examples include the following:

• A letter from the university confirming that it will cover accommodation and meal costs.
• Proof that you have a scholarship for all of your studies in Spain.
• A sponsorship letter from your parent or guardian that must confirm the course’s starting date and remuneration, alongside six months of recent original bank statements. These documents will need to be legalised and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

How to Get a Student Visa in Spain

You will need to follow the visa application process to get your Spanish Student visa. Firstly, you need to submit your application at least 2 months before your course’s start date, preferably early, in case there are delays in your visa processing. Applications made from inside Spain require you to submit Form EX-00, making a request to the Government Delegation or Sub-Delegation in your province. Make sure that this is done a minimum of a month before the end of your stay in Spain. Alternatively, you can apply from Nigeria by submitting the National Visa Application form to the Spanish consulate in Lagos.

Both application methods require you to make an application in person. In some cases, a visa interview will be required and can be scheduled online or by phone. During the interview, you will need to submit supporting documents and answer questions that confirm that the purpose of your trip is to study. You will also need to provide fingerprints and have a biometric photograph of yourself taken. The Spanish consulate reserves the right to call you in for further interviews if they have additional questions.

Spanish Student Visa Fees and Processing Time

The standard Student visa fee is €90. However, there is some variation in the exact fee to be paid depending on the country from which you are applying. Get in touch with the Spanish consulate in Lagos to understand exactly what fee Nigerians have to pay.

The maximum processing period is one month. However, immigration authorities reserve the right to go beyond this period if they need to interview you or request additional documentation. Once you receive approval of your visa application, you have a maximum of two months to collect your visa in person from the day you are made aware of the decision.

Reasons for Rejection of Your Spanish Student Visa Application

There are two main reasons that your Student visa might be rejected by immigration authorities: you are not an eligible candidate or your application has errors. Listed below are factors that might make you an ineligible candidate:

• You have a criminal record or have previously broken Spanish immigration rules.
• You haven’t been offered a place on an eligible course.
• You have insufficient financial stability.
• Your documentation, particularly your passport, has expired.
• You have travel insurance rather than private medical insurance.

Such eligibility issues will make it exceptionally hard to get a student visa even if your application is perfect. Meanwhile, common issues with the application can mean that eligible candidates are refused a student visa. Examples include the following:

• You have provided false information.
• You are vague about your purpose for coming to Spain, or you fail to convince immigration authorities that you will be legitimately studying.
• You don’t provide complete documentation.

Appealing a Spain Student Visa Rejection

Should your Student visa application be rejected, you will receive written confirmation of the decision alongside the reasoning for the rejection. If you think that you should be eligible for a Student visa, you can launch an appeal within one month of the day you received notification of the refusal.

Another option is to launch a judicial review. This process requires you to show evidence that your visa application was not processed fairly and that the evidence you provided of your eligibility was not properly considered.

Finally, you may decide to resubmit your application, having amended any issues mentioned in your refusal letter. Please note that your resubmitted application will only be approved once you have paid the application fee. As such, this method becomes expensive if you resubmit your application multiple times.

Keeping Your Foreigner Identity Card Valid

Nigerian holders of the Long-Term Student visa that have remained in Spain with a valid Foreigner Identity Card for three years or longer can convert to a work permit once they have completed their studies. This is a perfect opportunity to get into the Spanish workplace straight away. Time spent in Spain on a Foreigner Identity Card can also count towards the requirements for other residency types. Finally, and most importantly, a valid Foreigner Identity Card allows you to remain in Spain legally.

You will need to meet a number of eligibility criteria to renew your Foreigner Identity Card, including the following:

• Your studies are ongoing.
• You have passed the courses required to continue your studies.
• You have not committed crimes in Spain.
• You have not, or do not plan to, switch to another course.

You will need to apply for a different Student visa if you wish to switch programmes. The timeframe in which you must do that will depend on the Spanish region that you are studying in.

For your application for a renewal to your Foreigner Identity Card to be processed, make sure to submit it between 60 before and 90 after its expiry.

How Can IAS Help with Your Spain Student Visa Application?

The Student visa is an excellent opportunity for Nigerians to come to Europe to study. It requires you to apply for the correct type of Student visa and submit a high-quality application that proves beyond doubt that you are eligible. Your application also needs to give immigration authorities confidence that you will not break the rules and overstay your visa.

Student visa applicants often get support from immigration lawyers such as Immigration Advice Service. We have helped many Nigerians to realise their dream of studying in Spain. We can help you to understand which Student visa is right for your unique circumstances and guide you through the application process. Our bespoke service gives you an excellent chance of being granted a Student visa.

Call us today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 to be connected with a member of our team who can get you started with the application process. You can also visit our website to learn more about the range of Spanish visa services that we offer.