Universitat de Barcelona

Office of Mobility and International Programs

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Inici OMPI

Procedure for obtaining a student residence card

Més informació:

Oficina de Mobilitat i
Programes Internacionals
Pavelló Rosa
(Recinte de la Maternitat)

Travessera de les Corts 131-159
08028 Barcelona
Telèfon: 93 402 17 09
Fax: 93 403 53 87

Students and Researchers

To be able to remain legally in Spain you will need to obtain a student residence card (NIE) This document allows you to live in Spain during your period of study, and also allows you to travel throughout the European Union and in countries that have signed agreements with Spain or the European Union for the free movement of persons.

Who must apply for the card?

Anyone who wishes to study in Spain and is not a national of any European Union country (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom) or Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and wishes to stay six months or more.

How can I obtain the card?

Before arriving in Spain you should apply for a student visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country or your country of legal residence. Applicants should submit the documents that show that they have been admitted to a program. For further details on consulates, consult the following Web page: http://www.maec.es/es/EYC/Paginas/embajadasyconsulados.aspx

You should apply for a student visa (type D). Other visas do not allow you to apply for a student card.

Important!

If the studies you wish to pursue in Barcelona last 6 months or less, the consulate or Spanish embassy may issue you with a student visa bearing the statement “ESTUDIOS TOTAL 180 DÍAS”. With this type of visa it is impossible to apply for a student residence card once in Spain; the visa is only valid for a 6-month stay. After the 180 days, the permit expires and the student must return to his/her country. Foreign students will not be able to apply for a student permit if they enter the country with a tourist visa.

Once in Spain, you should visit our office within 30 days of arrival to apply for your student residence card.

Application Form

Procedure and documents

What about European Union Citizens?

If you are a citizen of a European Union country (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom) or of Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, you are entitled to free movement and residence in Spain.

Notwithstanding the above, all European Union citizens wishing to reside in Spain for a period of time exceeding three months must register at the Central Registry Office for Foreigners in order to be issued a certificate of registration.

To obtain this certificate, applicants need not have made a prior appointment but must apply in person at the Central Registry Office for Foreigners at any of the provincial administrative offices listed in the table below:

CITY OR TOWN	ADDRESS
BARCELONA	PASSEIG JOAN DE BORBÓ, 32
BADALONA	AV. DELS VENTS, 9-13
CASTELLDEFELS	PLAÇA DEL 8 DE MARÇ, S/N
CERDANYOLA DEL VALLÈS	C/ VERGE DE LES FEIXES, 4
CORNELLÀ DE LLOBREGAT	AV. SANT ILDEFONS, S/N
GRANOLLERS	ISABEL DE VILLENA, 30
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT	CARRER DEL MIGDIA, S/N
IGUALADA	C/ PRAT DE LA RIBA, 13
MANRESA	C/ SOLER I MARCH, 5
MATARÓ	AV. GATASSA, 15
MONTCADA I REIXAC	C/ MAJOR, 38
PRAT DE LLOBREGAT	C/ CENTRE, 4
RIPOLLET	C/ TAMARIT, 78
SABADELL	C/ BATLLEVELL, 115
SANT ADRIÀ DE BESOS	AV. JOAN XXIII, 2
SANT CUGAT DEL VALLÈS	C/ VALLES, 1-3
SANT FELIU DE LLOBREGAT	C/ CARRERETES, 9-11
STA. COLOMA DE GRAMANET	C/ IRLANDA, 67
TERRASSA	C/ BALDRICH, 1
VIC	C/ BISBE MORGADES, 4
VILADECANS	JAIME ABRIL, 2
VILANOVA I LA GELTRÚ	C/ COL·LEGI, 28 BXOS.
RUBÍ	C/ TERRASSA, 16-18
SANT BOI DE LLOBREGAT	PARC. MARIANAO, S/N




	Application Form
	Procedure and documents

Andorran citizens

In accordance with the Agreement between Spain, France and Andorra on the entrance, free movement, residence and settlement of nationals between these countries as drawn up ad referendum in Brussels, December 4, 2002, and as recorded in Spain’s official state gazette the Boletín Oficial del Estado, number 153 of June 27, 2003:
All those Andorran citizens wishing to study in Spain shall require a permit for their period of stay as students and shall be bound by such regulations as are applicable to foreign nationals in Spain.

This permit shall be valid for a period of one year and may be renewed, should applicants continue their course of study, for a period of one year.

	Application Form
	Procedure and documents

How long is the card valid for?

The card is valid for one year from the date of issue and can be renewed if you continue your studies.

How do I renew my card?

You should come to our office before it expires. You can renew your card up to 60 days before the expiry date.

	Application Form
	Procedure and documents

What happens if I need to travel abroad and my card has expired?

If you have to leave the country and your card has expired or is being renewed, you can apply for authorization to be able to re-enter the country. This authorization allows you to leave and re-enter the country within 90 days. You can apply for this authorization directly at the Subdelegació del Govern (Murcia, 42).

	Application Form
	Procedure and documents

Does my Student Card entitle me to work?

If during your stay you have to do practicals as part of your curriculum, and they are part of a cooperation agreement between a company and the UB, you will not need to apply for a work permit. However, if you wish to study and work at the same time, you will need a work permit. You should bear in mind the following points:
		You should sign a part-time contract (that is, for a maximum of 30.8
		hours/week); work hours cannot interfere with your class hours.
		Full-time contracts cannot extend beyond three months or interfere with
		university terms.
		Work permits will be valid for the same duration as the contract and
		cannot extend beyond the period during which you are authorized to study.
	Procedure
	Application Form
	Documents

Exchanging a Student Residence permit for a full residence and work permit

The new legislation relating to foreigners means that foreign students or researchers who have had a student residence card for at least three years and who have not received any scholarships nor subsidies from any public or private organizations as part of cooperation or development agreements in their home country may now exchange their student residence permit for a full residence and work permit. The application for this exchange can be submitted during the three months previous to the expiry date of the study permit at any Social Security or Generalitat de Catalunya registry office.

	Procedure
	Application Form
	Documents


	© Universitat de Barcelona	Edició: OMPI Última actualització o validació: 20.10.2009