Student visa to study Spanish in Murcia, Spain
The following information is designed to assist students and education abroad advisers as they guide their students to obtain a student visa to study Spanish in Murcia. Please note that students and advisers should confirm specific procedures with each relevant consulate. We are just offering general information here.
Would you like to study Spanish in Spain and need a student visa? At Instituto Hispánico de Murcia, a school accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, we provide the enrolment documents to support your application.
Here you will find answers about requirements, application deadlines, enrolment certificates and health insurance. Before starting the process, check the instructions provided by the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence. Visa approval rests with the relevant authorities.
Questions & answers
Do I need a visa to study Spanish in Spain?
This depends on your nationality, immigration status and the length of your stay.
If you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you do not need a student visa, although registration requirements may apply.
For other students, a stay of more than 90 days generally requires an appropriate visa or authorisation. For shorter stays, check whether you need a Schengen visa and observe the limit of 90 days within any 180-day period.
Can I apply for a visa with a Spanish course at Instituto Hispánico de Murcia?
Our Instituto Cervantes accreditation means that our face-to-face Spanish courses can form the basis of an application, provided that all other requirements are met.
This route requires that Spanish is neither your native language nor an official language of your country of nationality. Contact us before booking our long-term Spanish course to confirm which programme is suitable.
What documents do I need to apply for a student visa?
Always check your consulate’s document checklist. It usually includes:
• Application form, photograph and passport.
• Proof of admission and payment of enrolment fees.
• Proof of sufficient financial means.
• Health insurance.
• Medical certificate.
• Criminal record certificate, where required.
• Payment of application fees.
Official translations, apostilles or legalisation may also be required. Prepare your complete application before submitting it.
How far in advance should I apply for my visa?
Submit your application at least two months before the course starts, unless a justified exception is accepted under the applicable regulations.
Start preparing your documents and checking appointment availability well before then.
Where do I apply, and how long does it take?
Contact the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence. It will explain where to submit your application and how to book an appointment.
Appointment availability, checks and requests for additional documents can affect processing times. Avoid planning your trip on the assumption that approval will be granted by a guaranteed date.
What health insurance do I need for a student visa in Spain?
You need health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. It must remain valid throughout your stay and provide benefits comparable to the basic services covered by Spain’s National Health System.
Check that it includes inpatient and outpatient care, with no co-payments, deductibles or waiting periods, in accordance with your consulate’s requirements.
Travel insurance or insurance linked to a bank card does not necessarily replace this health insurance.
What does “no co-payments or waiting periods” mean?
No co-payments means that you do not pay an additional amount when using services covered by your policy.
No waiting periods means that you do not have to wait for an initial period before accessing the cover you have purchased.
Also check the exclusions, requirements for medical authorisation, and the network of available healthcare professionals and centres.
Does IHM offer health insurance for international students?
Instituto Hispánico de Murcia works with ASISA to provide its students with information and access to ASISA Health Students, a health insurance policy designed specifically for international students.
It provides inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, specialist consultations and emergency care, with no co-payments or waiting periods, through the policy’s dedicated healthcare network. It is designed to meet the health insurance requirements for immigration procedures, subject to its policy terms and conditions.
Find out about the cover and how to apply on our ASISA health insurance for student visas page.
Do I have to arrange my insurance through IHM?
No. You may choose another insurer, provided that the policy meets your application requirements and covers your entire stay.
Our collaboration with ASISA provides access to an option specifically designed for international students, at a very competitive price.
What insurance documents do I need to submit?
Check the consulate’s instructions regarding the certificate of coverage and proof of payment. Make sure the certificate identifies the insured person, the coverage dates and the benefits included.
The insurance must cover the period required by the consulate, starting from your planned arrival in Spain; do not limit the cover to your course dates.
Will I receive an enrolment certificate for my visa application?
Yes. Once we have received full payment for the course and the necessary information, we will issue an enrolment certificate stating the programme, teaching hours and dates.
The first and second issues are free of charge. The third requested amendment costs €50, in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions.
The certificate confirms your enrolment; it does not guarantee visa approval.
What happens if my visa is still pending when the course starts?
Notify us in writing before the course starts. Otherwise, the course will be considered to have started. Do not assume that your dates will be postponed automatically.
We will explain the available options and the conditions applicable to your booking. Changing your dates may require new documents and notification to the consulate.
What happens if my visa is refused?
Send us the complete official refusal decision and a bank account ownership certificate, and request a review of your booking in writing.
Any refund is subject to the terms accepted at enrolment, including administrative charges, notification deadlines, any course periods counted as having elapsed, and bank charges. Accommodation is subject to separate conditions. Read the enrolment terms and conditions before making payment.
Can I apply from within Spain or extend my stay?
This depends on your current authorisation and programme. An initial application and an extension are different procedures.
If you entered Spain as a tourist, do not assume that you can obtain authorisation to study Spanish from within Spain. Consult a professional or your nearest Spanish consulate about your circumstances before booking or extending your course.
Can I receive professional advice on visas and immigration?
Yes. We work with an immigration specialist who is independent of our school, offering personalised advice on visas, study stay authorisations and extensions in Spanish, Arabic, French and English.
This is an optional service, with fees separate from the course, arranged directly with the professional. Visit our immigration legal assistance for international students page.
How can I start arranging my course?
Email us at hola@ihdemu.com, stating your nationality, country of residence, planned dates and course duration.
We will guide you through our programmes, enrolment and the documents we can provide. You can also read our information about health insurance for students.
Confirm the requirements for your application with the relevant Spanish consulate.
