EU / EEA / Switzerland
No visa to study or work, but stays over 90 days need Spanish registration.
Steps
- Admission & travel — EU ID or passport.
- Housing — Contract and address.
- Empadronamiento — Register at the Ayuntamiento.
- NIE + EU registration (CUE) — Police / Extranjería within the first months; you receive the green certificate with your NIE.
- Health — EHIC or local coverage as applicable.
Non-EU — national D study visa
Steps
- Admission — Accredited university or Cervantes-approved school.
- Funds (IPREM) — For 2026, €600/month of IPREM must be shown for each course month (e.g. €7,200 for 12 months).
- Medical + police certificates — Apostille and sworn Spanish translation where required.
- Private health insurance — Spanish policy: sin copagos, sin carencias; travel-only policies are usually rejected.
- Consulate / BLS — Appointment, documents, fee (often ~€80–€160).
- Entry — Within visa validity.
- TIE — If the course is > 180 days: within about 1 month of arrival, empadronamiento + police appointment for the plastic TIE.
Student work rights depend on permit type and hours—confirm with your school and official guidance; do not rely on informal limits.
Consulate checklist
- Passport (often ≥1 year validity), EX-00 form, photos, acceptance, tuition proof, bank statements (IPREM), Spanish insurance, medical certificate, criminal record (5 years), accommodation proof.
Official links
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.