If you are enrolled in one of our on-campus programs and are a citizen of a country outside the European Union and European Economic Area and Switzerland, you are required to obtain a Spanish study visa to study at the Swiss School of Management Barcelona.
Applying for a Spanish study visa can be a long process depending on your country of residence. We advise that you start the process on time to secure your study visa before the start of your studies in Barcelona.
Steps to Secure your Spanish Study Visa
After your enrolment at the Swiss School of Management Barcelona, you need to take the following steps to secure your long-term Spanish study visa for programs that last longer than 6 months.
Step 1. Book your Study Visa Appointment
You can submit your visa application up to 120 days before starting your study at the Swiss School of Management in Barcelona. Search for Spanish Embassies and Consulates around the world and find an office closest to your place of residence. You may be required to book an appointment at the embassy/consulate to submit your application. We advise you to take this step as soon as you are enrolled at the Swiss School of Management Barcelona. If you are allowed to travel to Spain without a visa for a period of 90 days or have a Schengen tourist visa for the same period, you can convert your tourist visa into a Spanish study visa directly from Spain. In this case, please contact our admissions team for more information.
Step 2. Gather all the necessary Documents
Check the Spanish Embassy / Consulate websitein your country of residence for the full list of required documents required to obtain a Spanish study visa as this usually varies from country to country. You will be required to provide Spanish translation and legalization of some documents. Required documents generally include:
- Swiss School of Management Enrolment Letter
- Official Spanish Study Visa application form
- Passport or Travel document valid in Spain
- Permission from parents or legal guardians for minors if you are under 18 years of age.
- Financial Means to cover tuition and living expenses. Typically students have the following amounts in their bank accounts at least 6 months before their student visa application:
- BBA – €19,000 per year
- MBA – €20,000 per year
- DBA – €20,000 per year
- Health Insurance valid in Spain. Our admissions team can assist.
- Medical Certificate
- Police Report from countries of residence over the past 5 years
- Some Proof of Accommodation in Spain
Step 3. Submit your Visa Application
On the appointment date, t all required documents have to be submitted. You may also go through an interview process. You will be required to pay an application visa fee at this point, so make sure to know the methods of payment accepted by the Embassy.
Step 4. Notice and Pick up
You should receive notice of the decision taken on your visa application within 2 weeks to 1 month from your visa application submission. In some cases, the embassy/consulate may take longer to provide a decision. If the answer is positive, you will receive a 90-day Spanish study visa on your passport, and you will be required to get your Spanish student residence card upon arrival in Spain. Your newly issued Spanish student card will replace the student visa in your passport. If the answer is negative, you will be informed of the reasons why you were denied your visa and will have the option to reapply or appeal your case.
Step 5. Get your Spanish Student Residence Card in Spain
Upon your arrival to Spain, you will need to register yourself as a resident in Barcelona at the nearest Citizen Help and Information Offices (OAC) (this process is called “empadronamiento” in Spanish) and afterward book an appointment on the government website to get your student residence card. Your card which is called aTIE (Tarjeta de identidad del Extranjero)is normally issued after a month. Your fingerprints will be collected and you need to submit the following required documents:
- For Empadronamiento:
- Passport or travel document
- Official Empadronamiento Registration form
- Rental agreement of your apartment (Original and Copy). If the rental agreement is not in your name, you will need to get an authorization from the rentee.
- For Getting your Student Residence Card:
- Swiss School of Management Enrolment Letter
- EX-17 Official Application form
- Passport or travel document
- Proof of payment of the fee needed to process your card
- A recent passport-size color photograph, with a white background
- Evidence of home registration (empadronamiento) in Barcelona
With a valid student residence card (TIE), you will be allowed to work for up to 30 hours a week on an employment contract, take on an internship, and travel to countries within the Schengen region.
