Student visa for Spain, for students from Iran

The route is the long-duration study stay (estancia de larga duración por estudios). Note it remains a stay, not a residence permit, which is precisely why the Madrid fee surcharge bites.

What the 2025 reform changed, and it is a real improvement: for higher education the authorisation is now granted for the entire official length of your programme, valid from one month before studies start to fifteen days after they end. A four-year degree gets one four-year authorisation instead of four annual renewals. Non-higher-education courses remain capped at one year.

The money: €600 a month, 100% of the IPREM, which is frozen at its 2023 level because no new budget was passed. That is €7,200 for a twelve-month course. If accommodation is prepaid for the whole stay, the requirement halves to €300 a month. Accompanying family members need 75% of IPREM (€450) for the first and 50% (€300) for each additional person. Tuition is not counted inside these amounts, show fees separately on top.

Also required: private medical insurance with minimum €30,000 cover including repatriation, and a criminal record certificate if the stay exceeds 180 days.

Apply at the consulate at least two months before studies begin. The legal deadline for a decision is one month from submission; in practice appointment availability, not the decision, is the bottleneck. The fee is around €80, charged in local currency.

On arrival, if your stay exceeds six months you must apply in person for the TIE card within one month of entering Spain.