Students not from the EU / EEA / Switzerland: During your stay

If you plan to stay for more than 6 months and have obtained a Foreign ID Number (NIE), then we recommend that you also obtain a digital certificate from the National Mint and Stamp Factory (FNMT), which will allow you, for example, to:

• Make in-person appointments at immigration and police offices more easily.
• Process extensions to your study permit (this must be done online).
• Obtain a National Insurance number if you wish to work or engage in an internship.
• Sign official documents in a manner that is recognised by several public authorities.

INSTRUCTIONS for obtaining a digital FNMT certificate (PDF, 1,3 Mb)

If you plan to stay in Spain for more than 6 months, you must apply for a Foreign ID Card (TIE) within one month of:

• Your arrival in Spain, if you entered on a visa that includes a ‘Study Permit’ issued in your country of origin.
• The date of the official notification granting you a ‘Study Permit’, if you applied and obtained said permit in Spain.

You can apply for and collect your TIE at the Police Offices in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao or Donostia/San Sebastián.

When you apply for your TIE, you will receive an official receipt. You will then receive your physical card between one and two months later.

INSTRUCTIONS on how to make an appointment and what documents to submit (PDF, 1,6 Mb)

Once you have applied, follow these INSTRUCTIONS to check the status of your application and collect your TIE (PDF, 1,3 Mb)

For more information, see the National Police website.

You can apply for an extension of your Study Permit during the two months prior to and the three months following its expiry date, provided you can prove that you are continuing your studies.

Up to two extensions per permit will be permitted in the case of higher education.

How can I apply for an extension of my Study Permit?

The only way to apply is online over the Mercurio platform. To do this, you will need a digital certificate (for example, from the FNMT), which in turn requires a Foreign ID Number (NIE). Please note that if your TIE (the card that accompanies your NIE) has expired, you will not be able to obtain an FNMT certificate.

INSTRUCTIONS for obtaining a digital FNMT certificate (PDF, 1,3 Mb).

You will find all the information about extending study permits on the Immigration Ministry’s website (Sheet 1). We also recommend that you read the criteria and exemptions published in 2025.

What should I do when I receive notification of the extension?

You must make an appointment with the police to have your fingerprints taken for your new Foreign ID Card (TIE).

INSTRUCTIONS on how to make an appointment and what documents to submit (PDF, 1,7 Mb)

If you have a study permit, you may work up to 30 hours per week provided this is compatible with your studies.

For more information, contact the IWC..

When do I need to apply for it?

You should apply for a re-entry permit if you have applied for an extension of your permit but have not yet received your new Foreign ID Card (TIE), and you wish to leave Spain and re-enter from a country outside the Schengen area.

You may find yourself in one of these two situations:

• You applied for the re-entry permit before your current permit expired. In this case, the re-entry permit will be valid for no more than 90 days from the expiry date of your current permit.
• You applied for the re-entry permit after your current permit expired. In this case, the re-entry permit will be valid for no more than 90 days from the date it is granted.

When do I need to apply for it?

This procedure must be carried out in person at the National Police offices in your province: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao, Donostia/San Sebastián.

INSTRUCTIONS on how to make an appointment and what documents to submit (PDF, 1,5 Mb)

For more information, see the National Police website.

Registering with your local council is the process of confirming your habitual place of residence in Spain.

For more information, contact the IWC..

Students’ families may apply for visas or long-term residence permits alongside students themselves.

For more information, contact the IWC..

During your stay in Spain, if you wish to invite a foreign national to stay at your home for up to 90 days, you can request a letter of invitation.

For more information, contact the IWC.