- The core set of 12 items is published by the consulate in Moscow under Articles 35 and 53 of Real Decreto 1155/2024: application form, photo, passport, admission and payment, funds, insurance, criminal record certificate, medical certificate, residence in the consular district, representative, parental consent for minors, fee [1][2].
- The passport must be valid for at least one year, have two blank pages and have been issued no more than 10 years ago [1][2].
- Means of subsistence: 100% of IPREM per month for the student, 75% for the first family member and 50% for each additional one. The cost of the studies themselves is not included [1][2].
- A criminal record certificate is required if the stay is longer than 180 days, covering the last five years, from each country of residence, with an apostille and translation [2].
- All foreign documents are submitted with an apostille or legalisation and a translation into Spanish [2].
What documents do you need for a Spanish student visa?
The Spanish consulate in Moscow publishes the list of documents under Articles 35 and 53 of Real Decreto 1155/2024 (the regulations implementing the Spanish law on foreign nationals). Other consulates may have their own list, so check your consulate’s page [1][2].
| Document | What matters |
|---|---|
| National visa application form | Fully completed and signed; for a minor, the legal representative signs [2] |
| Photo | Colour, recent, light background, full face, no dark glasses or glare [2] |
| Passport | Valid for at least one year, two blank pages, issued no more than 10 years ago; copy of the data pages [1][2] |
| Admission and payment | Proof of admission and payment at a recognised or authorised centre, with start and end dates [1][2] |
| Funds | 100% of IPREM per month for the student, supplements for family; bank certificate and statement for 3 months [1][2] |
| Health insurance | Policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, for the whole period, with cover comparable to the basic package of the public system [1][2] |
| Criminal record certificate | For stays longer than 180 days; from countries of residence over 5 years; apostille and translation [2] |
| Medical certificate | Stating that you have no diseases that pose a public health risk under the International Health Regulations 2005 [1][2] |
| Proof of residence | For Russian citizens: original and full copy of the internal passport [2] |
| Visa fee | Paid on submission in local currency; the amount is given on the consulate’s page [2] |
What do you need to show as proof of enrolment and payment?
You need a document from the educational institution confirming admission and payment, showing the start and end dates and, for a university, the year of study and the credits enrolled [2]. For higher education the institution must be recognised in Spain; for other types it must be authorised [1]. Payment on its own guarantees nothing, so check the centre in the registers before paying.
How much money do you need for a student visa?
The regulations set shares of IPREM, the indicator that Spanish rules on benefits and on the situation of foreign nationals refer to: 100% per month for the student, 75% for the first family member and 50% for each additional one. The cost of studies is not counted [1]. If accommodation has been paid in advance for the whole period, the amount is reduced [1][2].
IPREM is currently €600 per month: SEPE gives the figure from Ley 31/2022 on its page of 2026 amounts, next to the minimum wage [3][4]. So a student without family needs €600 for each month of stay, the first family member €450, and each additional one €300. How the consulate counts the period depends on your case; details: funds for a student visa.
When and how do you submit documents for a student visa?
You must apply no later than two months before your studies start. A shorter period is allowed only if that is how admission to the institution works, and you will have to justify it [1]. For people living in the Moscow consulate’s district, the procedure is as follows:
- Put together the set from the table above, have the documents apostilled and translated [2].
- Submit them through the BLS centre: from 1 June 2026 the consulate accepts student visa applications only there [5].
- Wait for the decision: if the stay authorisation is granted, the consulate issues the visa within one month at the latest [2].
- After entry, if the stay is longer than 180 days, apply for the TIE within one month: in this case the visa is valid for no more than 365 days [2].
What needs to be legalised and translated?
All foreign documents are submitted with a Hague Convention apostille or consular legalisation and a translation into Spanish [2]. For the criminal record certificate, the consulate in Moscow explicitly names the apostille for documents from Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan [2]. The translation is done by a sworn translator or legalised at the consulate [2]. On the procedure: what an apostille is and sworn translation.
What documents do the student's family members need?
For each family member, the consulate in Moscow asks for the core set (application form, photo, passport, funds, insurance, medical certificate, proof of residence, payment of the fee), a copy of the student’s passport or TIE and proof of the relationship: marriage, registered partnership or birth certificate, with a translation [2]. Family members of a university student are allowed to stay in Spain but not to work [1]. More: a student’s family in Spain.
What depends on the case and what don't we know?
The amount of the consular fee and the list for a particular consulate are given on its page and do change. From 1 June 2026 the consulate in Moscow accepts study documents through BLS centres [5]. Requirements for school exchange programmes and for volunteers differ from the general set. We have not found in public sources how the consulate treats disputed cases, such as tuition paid by a third party. Such cases are best checked with a lawyer or gestor. The procedure and deadlines are collected in the route card for studies, the service is described on the page student visa and estancia, and other grounds are compared on the page residence permit in Barcelona. We do not select schools or universities.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a criminal record certificate for a student visa to Spain?
How long is a student visa valid?
Do I need health insurance for a student visa?
Do documents need to be translated into Spanish?
Can I apply for a student visa without proof of tuition payment?
Official sources
- BOE · Real Decreto 1155/2024, Articles 35, 53, 57 ↗
- Spanish consulate in Moscow · Visados Nacionales: Visado de estudios ↗
- BOE · Ley 31/2022 (2023 budget), IPREM €600 per month ↗
- SEPE · Cuantías anuales: IPREM €600 per month and SMI 2026 ↗
- Spanish consulate in Moscow · Solicitudes de Visados Nacionales (BLS from 01.06.2026) ↗
Sources reviewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and government reference pages are for information only: applying the law depends on official publications, amendments and the specific circumstances. Reviewed by lawyer Francisco Romero Jiménez (ICAB 33641) on 21.10.2026.
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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.