Students not from the EU / EEA / Switzerland: Upon arriving in Spain

If you are planning to stay for less than 3 months and you have been able to enter the Schengen area without a visa (because you are exempt) or with a type C visa (valid for tourists, business, and family visits), for now, you don't need to do anything else during your stay.

At the end of 2026, the ETIAS authorization will be implemented, which will be an entry requirement for nationals exempt from the visa requirement traveling to any of these 30 European countries.

Entry evidence to Schengen area or Entry Declaration into Spanish Territory

Remember that at the border control you should join the line for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens.

Starting in spring 2026, it will no longer be possible to get an "Entry Stamp" in your passport at the airport Police Station. Instead, the Entry/Exit System (EES) has been activated, a new digital border management system at the EU level that records the entry and exit of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area for a short stay.

If, for any reason, you have entered Spain from another Schengen State (without border control) and your entry into the Schengen area has not been registered by the SES, or if you are traveling to Spain for a temporary mobility with an authorization from another EU member state, you should make an "Entry Declaration into Spanish Territory" within the first 72 hours of your arrival in Spain, at the National Police Station in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao or Donostia/San Sebastián.

In any case, we recommend keeping the proof of your trip to Spain (boarding passes, bus or train tickets, etc.), since the Spanish immigration authorities may ask for them if the SES doesn’t work properly.

Situations you may find yourself in:

a) You have applied for and obtained a study visa/permit in your country of origin covering the entire length of your stay in Spain:

The visa will vary depending on the length of your stay:

• Stays of 6 months or less: the consulate will have issued you a 180-day visa (incorporating a study permit) covering your entire stay, so you will not need to complete any further formalities.
• Stays of 6 months or more: the consulate will have issued you a Study Visa (type D) valid for 90 days. In this case, you will need to apply for a Foreign ID Card (TIE) within the first 30 days of arriving in Spain.

b) You have travelled to Spain without having applied for a student visa/permit in your home country:

It is possible to apply for a study permit while in Spain (provided you have entered the country legally by some other means). However, this option is not recommended as there is a risk that, once in Spain, your application for a study permit may be refused.

You will find all the information on this type of permit on the Immigration Ministry’s website (Sheet 1). We also recommend that you read the criteria and exemptions published in 2025.

How can I obtain a permit in Spain?

• In person at the Immigration Offices in Vitoria-Gasteiz,Bilbao or Donostia/San Sebastián.
  INSTRUCTIONS on how to make an appointment and what documents to submit (PDF, 2,1 Mb)
• Online: to obtain a digital certificate and complete the procedure online, you will need a Foreign ID Number (NIE). If you are unable to obtain one, you can engage a solicitor to carry out this procedure on your behalf.

Bear in mind that:

• You must be at least 18 years of age. 
• Your long-term permit for conducting advanced studies must cover the entire period for which you will studying in Spain. 
• This type of permit allows you to work for a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Once the study permit has been granted:

The situation will vary depending on the length of your stay:

• Stays of less than 6 months: provided the permit covers the entire length of your stay, you will not need to do anything else.
• Stays of over 6 months: within 30 days of receiving the permit, you must apply for a Foreign ID Card (TIE).

As of August 11, 2026, Management Criterion 2/2026 has been published, regarding the authorization of residence for national research and its application to foreign people pursuing doctoral studies in Spain. According to this criterion, Doctoral students in Spain: 

• Should not apply for a study stay authorization/visa. 

• Must apply for an authorization of residence for national research

The procedure has been published at the Migration Ministry website (sheet 68) and the UGE-CE website (see the document Instructions presentation authorization doctoral students). Read both procedures since they are complementary.

The initial application can only be made through the UGE-CE electronic site. 

If in doubt, you can contact the IWC by sending a message to info.welcomecentre@ehu.eus.