Student visa in Spain for Colombians

When preparing for a study trip to Spain, the big question that most Colombians have is what visa they need to apply for and what procedures must be completed beforehand to obtain all the authorizations that will allow them to visit this country. Below, we address all of your doubts regarding this matter.

Do Colombian citizens need a visa to study in Spain?

When preparing for a study trip to Spain, the first thing Colombian citizens should consider is that they do not need a Schengen visa to enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days. Therefore, if their stay is not expected to exceed this time frame, there is no need to worry about obtaining a visa. The only documents they will need to present at the border are a valid passport, a round-trip ticket, proof of the purpose and conditions of their stay in Spain—such as a reservation for accommodation or an invitation letter from an individual—and some type of evidence showing that they have sufficient financial means to cover their study period.

Those who wish to stay in Spanish territory for more than three months to pursue or extend their studies, engage in research or training activities, participate in student exchanges, undertake unpaid internships, or carry out volunteer services, will be required to obtain a long-stay visa. Additionally, there is a distinction between stays lasting between 90 and 180 days and those exceeding 180 days.

How do Colombians apply for a student visa in Spain?

In both cases, the visa application must be submitted in person at the Spanish Consulate General in Bogotá.

Entry to the consulate will only be allowed upon presentation of the email with the date and time of your appointment. It is very important to note that a separate application must be made for each person, even when dealing with family members. All the information about how to book an appointment, which cannot be changed later, is available.

The student visa for Spain should be applied for six weeks before the planned travel date, and the response time is usually about a month. The travel ticket should never be purchased before receiving the response to the application, as doing so could result in the loss of the ticket.

The response to the application will be received in person at the consulate or through the DOMESA DE COLOMBIA S.A. courier service—independent of the administration—that can be optionally contracted on the second floor of the same building.

What documents must be submitted with the student visa application for Colombians?

For stays lasting between 90 and 180 days, the documents listed below must be submitted with the application, both in original and separate copy:

• The completed application form, accompanied by a passport-sized photo with a white background attached to each copy.
• Download link:
• A passport with at least one year of validity. In addition to the original, a photocopy of the page with the photograph and the holder's details, i.e., the applicant, must also be provided.
• The completed study questionnaire.
• Proof of the studies previously completed and those planned in Spain through the enrollment or admission confirmation provided by the educational institution. This document should include the start and end dates of the course, the total cost, the payment method, the purpose of the training, and the number of hours per week. The syllabus or research plan must also be provided, and when it comes to unpaid internships or volunteer work, a copy of the signed agreement from both parties.
• Health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
• Hotel or university residence reservation for the entire duration of the trip. Email reservations or scanned documents of these bookings or rental contracts are accepted as proof. If accommodation is provided by a friend or family member, a letter of invitation from a Spanish citizen, a European Union citizen, or a legally residing non-EU citizen in Spain will be required instead.
• Proof of having sufficient financial resources to cover the entire stay, equivalent to 100% of the Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM) through the following completed document.

The origin of these funds must be properly justified, and if provided by a third party, such as a family member, proof of the relationship with the visa applicant must be provided through an apostilled birth certificate, along with consent for the voluntary transfer of the funds via a notarized and apostilled document.

Additionally, minors applying for a study visa must include an apostilled and notarized authorization in which their parents or legal guardian express their consent for the minor’s trip to Spain for educational purposes, specifying the duration of the trip. Information on the person who will be responsible for the minor during their stay in Spain, including their full name, ID number, address, and contact number, must also be provided.

Foreigners residing in Colombia but not holding citizenship must include their foreigner ID card in original and photocopy on both sides, and if applicable, pay the consular fees for administrative procedures. You can check which nationalities are exempt from these fees.

For stays longer than 180 days, all the above-mentioned documents must be submitted along with an apostilled criminal record certificate covering the last five years, which must be requested from the Colombian national police, and a medical certificate proving that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that poses a risk to public safety.

These certificates can be processed through any medical center using the following model: