Find your application center:

• Most countries: Apply directly at the Spanish Consulate / Embassy
• Some countries (like India, Russia, UK, parts of Africa): Apply through BLS International or VFS Global visa processing centers
• Check Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for your country:
  • Services categories – Visados
  • Consular services – Visados Nacionales – Visados de estudios

Book that appointment early! Appointment slots can fill up weeks in advance, for typical start dates in Fall or Spring Semesters. Some consulates let you book 6 months ahead – if given the chance, take it!

What happens at your appointment:

1. Submit your documents (originals + copies)
2. Pay the visa fee (cash or card, depends on location)
3. Quick interview (basic questions about your studies)
4. Get a receipt with your tracking number
5. Wait 2-4 weeks (sometimes longer in peak season)
6. Return to collect your passport with the visa sticker

You’re from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland?
Lucky you! Pack your bags and come on over. No visa needed. Just remember: if you’re staying more than 3 months (which you will for an MBA), you’ll need to register locally once you arrive. We’ll explain that later.

Everyone else?
You’ll need a student visa before you travel. Don’t worry – it’s quite manageable if you start early and stay organized.

Let’s be transparent about fees upfront (all amounts in euros):

Student Visa: €60–80*
When: At your consulate appointment

TIE Card (your Spanish ID): €16.08
When: After arrival in Madrid

EU Citizen Registration: €12.00
When: If you’re EU/EEA/Swiss

Bank Certificate (if needed): €9.84
When: Optional – for opening accounts

*Americans pay more (around $160/€135) due to reciprocity agreements. Canadians pay about €80. Check with your specific consulate.

Here’s the reality – visa processing takes time. Start at least 3 months before you plan to travel. Here’s your roadmap:

3 Months Before Travel

• Request your admission documents from IAU Madrid
• Get your criminal background check (this can take weeks, be careful!)
• Book your consulate appointment (slots fill up fast)
• Buy health insurance that meets Spanish requirements

2 Months Before Travel

• Submit your visa application at your local Spanish consulate (or BLS/VFS center)
• Pay your tuition – you’ll need proof of payment for your visa
• Breathe. Processing usually takes 2-4 weeks

1 Month Before Travel

• Receive your visa (fingers crossed!)
• Book your flights
• Arrange accommodation for at least your first month

First Week in Madrid

• Register your address with the city (empadronamiento)
• Book your TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero – Foreign National Identification Card) appointment
• Open a Spanish bank account
• Get your Social Security number if you plan to work

Everyone needs these:
Passport valid for at least 1 year (2 years is better), preferably 2+ blank pages, issued within the last 10 years
IAU Madrid acceptance letter and back-up documentation (we provide this)
Proof you’ve paid tuition (we provide this too)
Bank statements showing €600 per month of stay (€7,200 for 12 months). This is further explained below in the section titled: Proving You Can Afford This
Health insurance – and this is crucial – with NO copays, NO deductibles, NO waiting periods
Accommodation proof for at least your first month

Non-EU citizens also need:
Criminal background check from your home country (apostilled and translated to Spanish)
Medical certificate (some consulates only)
Visa application form and passport photo
Visa fee payment

Pro tip about that criminal record:

Start this NOW. It needs to be:

1. Issued by your national authorities
2. Apostilled (special certification for international use)
3. Officially translated to Spanish This process alone can take 4-6 weeks.

Spanish consulates are super picky about health insurance. Here’s what works:

Must have:

• Coverage for your entire stay in Spain
• Zero copays (you pay nothing when you see a doctor)
• Zero deductibles
• No waiting periods
• Coverage equivalent to Spain’s public healthcare

Companies that get it right: Adeslas, Sanitas, Asisa, and Mapfre know exactly what student visa applicants need. Their certificates explicitly state “sin copagos, sin carencias” (no copays, no waiting periods).

Don’t try: Travel insurance or your home country insurance with “international coverage.” Consulates will reject these.

Spain wants to know you won’t go broke here. The magic number for 2025 is €600 per month (based on something called IPREM – Spain’s official minimum income indicator).

For a 12-month MBA: Show €7,200 in your bank account

Bringing family? Add:

• 75% more (€450/month) for your spouse
• 50% more (€300/month) for each child

What counts as proof:

• Recent bank statements (last 3 months)
• Scholarship letters
• Parents’ bank statements (with a sponsorship letter)
• Financial aid documentation

Week 1: Get Official

1. Empadronamiento (Register your address)

This proves where you live. You’ll need:

• Your passport and visa
• Rental contract or letter from your landlord
• The form (available at the office)

Book online here.

2. Pay for your TIE card

• Go to this link.
• Select “TIE inicial”
• Pay €16.08
• Print the receipt (you’ll need it!)

3. TIE Appointment (Fingerprints)

Book your appointment here.

Bring:

• Form EX-17
• Your passport and visa
• Entry stamp or boarding pass
• IAU admission letter
• Insurance certificate
• Empadronamiento certificate
• Tasa payment receipt
• Passport photo

You’ll get a temporary paper. Your actual TIE card arrives in 30-45 days.

Week 2: Banking & Work Prep

Opening a bank account:

• With TIE: Easy, just bring your card and empadronamiento
• Without TIE yet: Some banks accept just passport + student letter
• Popular with students: Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, ING; Revolut for Digital Banking (?)

Social Security Number (if you’ll work/intern): Apply online here.  You can use their identity verification system with a selfie + passport scan.

Great news for 2025! Your student authorization automatically lets you work (for a company or freelance) as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies. No extra permits needed!

But remember:

• Your job must be “compatible” with studying (basically, you can’t skip classes for work)
• Internships that are part of your MBA are always allowed
• Your spouse/children cannot work on a family visa

Not paying tuition before applying. Many consulates now require proof of payment, not just acceptance.

Wrong insurance. If it has copays, deductibles, or waiting periods = instant rejection.

Applying too late. Some consulates require applications 2 months minimum before travel. Don’t cut it close.

Forgetting to keep your boarding pass. If Spanish immigration doesn’t stamp your passport (common with EU flights), your boarding pass is your only entry proof for the TIE appointment.

Panicking about the 90-day visa. Your visa might say “90 days” but your program is a year. That’s normal! The visa gets you into Spain; the TIE card lets you stay for your studies.

Q: What if my visa gets rejected?
A: Rare if your documents are complete. Main reasons for rejection: incomplete insurance, insufficient funds, or missing the paid tuition proof.

Q: Can I travel during my studies?
A: Yes! Your TIE card lets you travel freely within the Schengen zone and return to Spain.

Q: What if I want to stay after graduation?
A: Spain offers post-study work permits. We’ll help you navigate that when the time comes.

Q: Do I need to speak Spanish for the visa application?
A: At your home country’s Spanish consulate? Usually not – they typically have staff who speak the local language. Some consulates outsource to visa centers (BLS or VFS) that definitely speak English and local languages. Once you’re in Madrid for the TIE appointment, basic Spanish helps, but you can bring a friend to translate.

We’ll provide you with:

1. Official acceptance letter (in Spanish and English)
2. Proof of tuition payment (crucial for your visa!)
3. Accreditation letter explaining that your degree comes from International American University (Los Angeles), accredited by TRACS and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
4. Program details including dates, course load, and campus location

Request these as soon as you’re admitted – you’ll need them for your visa application.

Madrid Immigration Office (TIE appointments)

Police Fee Payment

Madrid City Registration

Social Security

Forms Download

Start early. Seriously. The visa process isn’t hard, but it’s slow. Every step takes longer than you think – apostilles, translations, appointments, processing times. Give yourself buffer time.

Keep copies of everything. Digital and physical. You’ll be asked for the same documents multiple times.

Join the IAU Madrid student WhatsApp/Facebook groups. Current students are your best resource for real-time advice and moral support.

Don’t stress about perfect Spanish. You’re here to learn, and Madrid is incredibly welcoming to international students.

Remember: Thousands of international students do this every year. You’ve got this! And we’re here to help every step of the way.