This information is for orientation only. Extranjería rules and forms change often. Always verify on inclusion.gob.es, the Spanish consulate and your international office before travelling or submitting applications.
Bureaucracy roadmap
Admission → Type D visa (non-EU) → Entry → TIE within 30 days → Empadronamiento + NIE → Annual renewal → After graduation (status change)
In Spain three administrative pillars overlap: immigration (TIE), municipal registration (empadronamiento) and tax identification (NIE). Without empadronamiento many procedures (doctor, school, aid) become much harder.
Student checklist — where are you now?
- Before the visa (non-EU): admission at an authorised centre, health insurance with no copay for the full stay, funds (IPREM), criminal record, medical certificate if required.
- Proof of funds: roughly 100% IPREM/month for the months of study (max 12 months if course ≥ 1 year) + unpaid course fees.
- Before travel (EU): passport/ID, university letter, housing plan.
- Within 30 days of entry (non-EU): TIE application (cita previa extranjería/policía).
- Week 1–2: empadronamiento at the town hall, bank account, university registration.
- NIE: if not included in the TIE, separate procedure (fee 790-012).
- Before working: study–work compatibility authorisation — see Work.
- Every year: TIE renewal with proof of exam passes / enrolment.
Status types relevant to students
| Document / status | Who | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Type D visa (estudios) | Non-EU, stay > 90 days | Issued at consulate; enter within validity |
| TIE | Non-EU after entry | Plastic card; typically annual renewal |
| NIE | All foreigners with procedures | Tax/administrative number; not an ID document |
| Certificado de registro UE | EU/EEA/Switzerland > 3 months | Form EX-18 + empadronamiento |
| Empadronamiento | Anyone who resides | Municipal census certificate |
| Autorización búsqueda empleo | Graduates (conditions apply) | Post-study job-search permit — check current rules |
Last updated: May 2026 — Ministerio de Inclusión — Extranjería
EU / EEA / Switzerland — over 90 days
- Travel — Valid passport or national ID card.
- Empadronamiento — At the Ayuntamiento with lease or landlord authorisation.
- NIE — Request at police station or foreigners office (form EX-15 + fee 790-012).
- Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE — Form EX-18 with proof of study/work/means.
- Healthcare — TEAM/EHIC initially; if you work, Seguridad Social registration → regional TSI.
- Cl@ve — Digital identity for AEAT, Seguridad Social, cita previa.
Non-EU — Type D visa and TIE
Steps (typical path)
- Admission — University, business school or authorised centre (ministerial authorisation).
- Insurance — Full private policy (no copay, no waiting periods) for the entire visa period.
- Proof of funds — See IPREM table below; bank statements for the last 3–6 months recommended.
- Type D visa application — Competent Spanish consulate (residence); appointment and biometrics.
- Entry — Within visa validity; keep entry stamp.
- TIE within 30 days — Cita previa on sede administraciones públicas; form EX-17 (or current equivalent), photo, fee, empadronamiento.
- NIE — Often assigned with the TIE; otherwise separate procedure.
Documents (orientative consulate checklist)
- Passport + copies.
- National visa application form (estudios).
- Admission / enrolment letter from the centre.
- Health insurance (certificate in Spanish/English).
- Proof of financial means (account, scholarship, parents’ letter with statements).
- Criminal record (apostille) if required.
- Official medical certificate if required.
- Housing (lease, booking, university letter).
IPREM financial requirement (2026)
| Item | Indicative amount (2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Student (maintenance) | 100% IPREM/month (around €600) | For each month of stay requested |
| Course ≥ 12 months | Often max 12 months of funds shown | Even if the course is longer |
| First family member | 75% IPREM/month | If accompanied |
| Additional family member | 50% IPREM/month | Each |
| Course fees | Unpaid amount on CAS/letter | Not added to living funds if already paid |
| TIE / NIE fee | Form 790 (different codes) | Check amount on police website |
Last updated: May 2026 — Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — Visados
Empadronamiento (padrón municipal)
- Required for practical life: public doctor, voting, many regional grants.
- Documents: passport/TIE, lease or written owner authorisation (autorización del propietario).
- Certificado de empadronamiento — Request an updated copy for TIE, bank, university.
- Address change: new registration within a few days (municipality sets the deadline).
TIE renewal and study progress
- When: start 60 days before expiry (cita previa often fully booked).
- Documents: passport, expiring TIE, empadronamiento, enrolment certificate, insurance, fees paid.
- Switch from study to work: authorisation modification (ex cuenta propia / cuenta ajena) — employer or self-employed.
After graduation
- Permit modification — To employed work (contract + employer) or self-employed if eligible.
- Autorización de búsqueda de empleo — Window to look for work after studies (requirements and duration on inclusion.gob.es).
- Return to home country — If you do not renew, leave before TIE expiry.
Basic tax (linked topics)
- IRPF — Income tax (state + autonomous community) if you exceed thresholds.
- Tax resident — Usually if you stay > 183 days/year in Spain.
- Modelo 720 — Declaration of foreign assets if applicable (high thresholds).
- Cl@ve + AEAT — Renta and online enquiries.
University life — what to ask the international office
- Letter for visa/TIE: enrolment, course length, fees.
- Insurance: policy meeting consulate requirements.
- TIE calendar: accompaniment to cita previa in some cities.
- Work compatibility: whether the centre must sign the authorisation.
- University fee exemption certificate for renewals.
Official links
Sources
You can't enter without an online appointment - check for free slots every morning.
Quick reference
EU: NIE recommended immediately. Extra-EU: TIE after entry, empadronamiento, renewals. University: registration number and insurance required.
Universities and pathways
Public universities
Low taxes vs UK. Masters in English in Barcelona/Madrid. UNEDasiss for equivalences.
Recognition
Homologation if necessary. Ministry and regional scholarships.
- Electronic headquarters
- UNED
First documents
Registration and permit
NIE / TIE
Form EX-00, taxes, photo. First deadline renewal - long queues in Madrid/BCN.
Ownership
Ayuntamiento with contract and NIE. Certified for public health in many cases.
Deep dive (optional)
Go deeper
Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.
Identity: NIE & TIE
NIE / TIE
The NIE is your foreigner ID number for tax and admin; the TIE is the residence card when you stay beyond set periods. Book a cita previa with the National Police where applicable.
Empadronamiento
Municipal registration at the ayuntamiento underpins healthcare access, schools, and many contracts. Bring your lease, passport/ID, and TIE if required.
Cl@ve & digital certificates
For AEAT, Social Security, and many agencies you typically use Cl@ve, a qualified certificate, or an electronic DNI where eligible.
Tax (AEAT) & self-employed
IRPF & annual return
Residents report income via the personal income tax return; payroll withholding is reconciled yearly. Self-employed: quarterly prepayments plus annual filing—check current forms.
Social Security registration
Self-employment requires affiliation with the TGSS and AEAT registration—minimum bases and rates change each year.
Study & degree recognition
University admissions are set by each institution; foreign qualifications may need homologación / equivalencia through the competent ministry.
Non-EU stays & visas
TIE renewals, work authorisations, and student flows follow national law and official guidance—use consulates and the migration ministry pages, not forum summaries alone.
Healthcare cards, some taxes, and rental registration duties are managed by each autonomous community—check your CCAA portal alongside national sites.
This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.