Your next chapter in Spain can start in a classroom.
Find a programme that fits your goals. We guide you through admission, your visa file and the move, with no Spanish employer needed to begin.
Visa decisions belong to the Spanish authorities. No outcome can be guaranteed.
What is the Student Visa?
It lets people from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland stay legally in Spain for more than 90 days to follow an eligible course. It lasts as long as your studies, with renewals depending on the type of programme.
What you usually need
- Admission to an eligible programme, with enrolment fees paid
- Enough money to live on: at least 100% of Spain's monthly IPREM index, unless your accommodation is prepaid for the whole stay. Tuition does not count towards this
- Health insurance from a company authorised in Spain
- A valid passport and, for stays over six months, criminal record and medical certificates
- Your application filed at least two months before your course starts
Guidance based on the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion's published information sheets. The rules in force on the day you apply are the ones that count.
Student Visa in Spain, explained by hermes HR. Watch it in the language you selected.
How we walk with you
- Choose a courseWe narrow the options around your background, budget and goals.
- Get admittedWe help you with the application and the provider's admission process.
- Prepare your fileTranslations, legalisation, insurance, proof of funds: we review what you need.
- Apply for the visaWe prepare you to file at the consulate that serves your area.
- Move to SpainGuidance on arrival, your foreigner ID card and settling in.
- Keep goingSupport during your course, including renewals and your options afterwards.
Student Visa or hiring from abroad?
"Contratación en origen" means a Spanish employer hires you while you are still abroad. It has two main routes. The real difference: with a Student Visa, the first move is yours.
| Student Visa | Initial work and residence permitAutorización inicial por cuenta ajena | Collective hiring abroadGestión colectiva (GECCO) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who starts it | You, once a provider has admitted you | A Spanish employer applies for you | Employers, through an annual government order |
| Job offer needed first? | No | Yes, a signed contract | Yes, a place in the employer's hiring programme |
| Main hurdle | Admission, fees, proof of funds, insurance | The job must fit Spain's employment situation (for example, a hard-to-fill occupation) and the employer must qualify | The occupations and places set by the order, often seasonal work |
| Who picks your direction | You choose the field, course and city | Set by the job on offer | Set by the employer's programme |
| Your main costs | Tuition, living costs, insurance, travel and official fees | No tuition. Visa, travel and settling-in costs vary by case | No tuition. Conditions depend on the programme |
| Work in Spain | Up to 30 h a week in eligible cases, alongside your studies | Yes, under your contract | Yes, under the programme's contract |
| What you gain | A qualification, new skills and first-hand knowledge of the Spanish job market | Immediate employment and income | Organised work, often for a fixed period |
Which one is right for you? A Student Visa can be simpler to start when you have no employer yet, but it is not always faster or cheaper: you pay for your course and must show funds. If you already have a job offer, hiring from abroad may suit you better. We will tell you honestly which route fits.
30 h
Can I work while I study?
Often, yes, up to 30 hours a week. It depends on what you study, and the work must fit around your course. Going over the limit can cost you your authorisation.
Higher education
University degrees, master's and higher vocational training (FP de Grado Superior): your authorisation also covers employed and self-employed work, with no extra procedure, if it is compatible with your studies.
Intermediate vocational training
FP de Grado Medio includes company training automatically. Any other paid work needs a separate authorisation.
Professional certificates
Full level 2 and 3 certificates follow a training-stay route. Company training within the programme is covered. Other paid work needs a separate authorisation.
Fully online courses
These do not qualify you for a study visa on their own, so they give you no right to work in Spain.
hermes HR does not guarantee you a job. You are free to look for work with any company you prefer, within the conditions of your authorisation.
Find your programme
Programmes selected by hermes HR from training providers in Spain. Your degree or certificate is awarded by the provider, which we will name during your consultation, before you enrol or pay anything.
No programmes match these filters
Remove a filter or try a broader word. You can also ask us directly and we will look for an option.
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Questions we hear most
Do you guarantee that I will get the visa?
No. The Spanish authorities decide each case. We help you prepare a complete, consistent application, which is what is within our control.
Can I get a study visa with an online course?
A fully online course does not qualify on its own. Programmes must be in person or hybrid, and non-university studies need at least 50% in-person attendance. Each card in the catalogue shows this.
How long does the visa take?
Consulates have up to one month to decide after you file a complete application, and no answer in that time counts as a refusal. You must apply at least two months before your course begins, and your preparation can take longer, so start early.
Can I bring my family?
For higher education, your spouse or partner and children can apply if they meet the requirements, including extra proof of funds. Their authorisation does not allow them to work.
What can I do when I finish my studies?
Once you have your qualification, you may be able to switch to a residence and work authorisation if you have a suitable contract, or to a permit for job seeking or starting a business. Conditions apply.
Is this service free?
Our job search and placement service is free for candidates. Guidance on admission, documents, the Student Visa and relocation is a separate service that may have a fee, agreed with you in writing beforehand. Course tuition is also separate.
Who awards my qualification?
The education provider, not hermes HR. We will give you the provider's name and full details during your consultation, before you enrol or pay anything.
Ready to Start Your Journey in Spain?
Tell us about your background and goals. We will help you choose a course and explain the visa procedure, step by step.
Our job search service is free for candidates. Admission, documentation, Student Visa and relocation guidance may have a fee under a separate agreement. These are different services, and neither guarantees a job offer or a visa.