How much money do I need to show for a Spain student visa?+
€600 a month (€7,200 a year) for the student, which is 100% of the 2026 IPREM. With family, add €450/month for the first family member and €300/month for each additional one. Tuition you have already paid does not count. Your own funds, a scholarship or a notarised financial sponsorship declaration are accepted; the Porto Alegre consulate does not accept remote-work income.
Can I work on a Spain student visa?+
Yes, up to 30 hours a week, as long as it fits around your studies. In higher education it is automatic, as an employee or self-employed, with no extra paperwork. For other studies, including Spanish courses, you need a separate work permit (€122.30) with the same cap. Going over the cap ends the permit, and the work is limited to the region (autonomous community) where you study.
Does a Spanish language course qualify for a student visa?+
Yes, if it is taught in person at an Official Language School (EOI) or an Instituto Cervantes-accredited centre and you are 18 or older. It lasts up to 1 year with a single extension, which requires passing the EOI course, holding (or being registered for) the DELE, or the SIELE. The regulation sets no minimum weekly hours. You can only apply at the consulate, not as a tourist.
Can I apply for a student stay while in Spain as a tourist?+
Yes, but only for higher education and only if you are 18 or older. You must file at least 2 months before the course starts and 2 months before your legal stay ends: in practice, by around day 30 of your 90 tourist days. Once filed, you stay legal until the decision. You apply online through Mercurio or at the immigration office (oficina de extranjería) of the province where you will study. Secondary school and language courses cannot be filed this way.
How long does a Spain student visa take?+
At the consulate, the legal deadline is 1 month from a complete application. In Spain, up to 2 months, or 15 days if your school files for you. Either way, no answer within the deadline means a refusal. So apply at least 2 months before the course starts, and allow time beforehand for apostilles and translations.
Can I bring my family on a student visa?+
Only if you are in higher education and have at least 90 days left on your permit. Your spouse or partner, minor children and dependent adult children can join you. The means go up by €450/month for the first family member and €300/month for each additional one. Family members cannot work in Spain.
Does time as a student count towards Spanish citizenship?+
No. The 2 years required of Brazilians must be legal residence, and a student stay is not residence: the clock starts with your first residence permit. For EU long-term residence, student years count at 50%; for national long-term residence, they do not count.
Can I stay in Spain to work after graduating?+
Yes. With your diploma, you can switch to a residence and work permit without a visa and with no minimum years of study, filing from 2 months before to 3 months after your permit ends; filing keeps you legal. With a bachelor's degree or higher, you can also get a job-search permit for up to 24 months, which cannot be renewed.
Is a doctorate covered by the student visa?+
No. Since management criterion DGGM 2/2026, doctorates no longer go through the student stay: PhD candidates apply for the research residence under Ley 14/2013 (art. 72.2.b), handled by the UGE-CE. If your programme is a doctorate, that is the route to plan for.
What health insurance do I need for a Spain student visa?+
A policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with cover similar to the Spanish public health system's basic services and valid for your whole stay. Spanish consulates in Brazil require no limits, no co-payments, no waiting periods, no reimbursement model, and full payment upfront. If you work, your Social Security registration covers you.
How much does a Spain student visa cost?+
About R$ 570 at the consulate, charged in reais (based on €90) and adjusted to the exchange rate every quarter. In Spain, the initial application fee is €10.94 (form 790-052), an extension €17.49 and the first TIE card €16.08 (form 790-012).
Do I have to renew my student visa every year?+
Not in higher education: the permit covers the official length of the whole programme, and you just prove enrolment each year. For other studies, each permit lasts up to 1 year, and you file the extension in the 2 months before it expires.