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Procedures for regularizing your stay
Information about:
Applicable regulations
Studying temporarily
Useful addresses
 
   
More Information:

Oficina de Mobilitat i
Programes Internacionals
C/. Adolf Florensa, 8
Barcelona (08028)
A/E: nie@ub.edu

You should request an appointment for NIE advice
. : . HERE . : .

 

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Students or Researchers

NON-EU CITIZENS EU CITIZENS TIE OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

NON-EU CITIZENS

WHO MUST APPLY FOR THE LEGAL PERMIT TO STAY AS A STUDENT?

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

To be able to remain legally in Spain you will need to obtain a legal permit to stay as a student. 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.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN THE CARD?

1. From your country of origin or place of legal residence:

Before coming to Spain, you must obtain the "stay visa for studies" (type D)* at the Spanish consulates of your country of origin or legal residence. You will have to provide documentation showing proof of your acceptance into a study programme. Look up the nearest consulate on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Immigration Affairs: Spanish Ministry of Immigration Affairs.

Once you arrive in Spain, you must visit the police station within 30 days to apply for your student card. (TIE).

Important!

If your studies in Barcelona will be for a duration of 6 months or less, it is possible that the Spanish embassy will issue a study visa with the following observation ESTUDIOS TOTAL 180 DÍAS. This type of visa can be extended** without having to return to your country of origin to apply for another visa.

*Any other type of visa does not give the right to process the student card.

**The extension must be submitted to the Immigration Office (Passeig Sant Joan, 189, Mesa 7 - 08037 Barcelona) if you are a student in Barcelona, without the need for an appointment. The requirements established in this respect for the normal renewal count as a difference, presenting the certificate of criminal records from the countries of residence for the last 5 years, legalized and translated into Spanish or Catalan.

2. From within Spain:

If you are already in Spain as a legitimate visitor (as a tourist, for example), you can apply for a study permit (Autorización de estancia por estudios) without having to first obtain a separate visa.

Once you get the favorable Resolution, the Student Identification Card (TIE) must be processed at the Police Station.

NOTA: the University of Barcelona's Office of Mobility and International Programs (OMPI) can provide information, advice and assistance with the presentation of documents. Nevertheless, it cannot send applications or documents to the Immigration Office.

Authorization for Study Stays
Application Form
Police station map

EU CITIZENS

EUROPEAN MOBILITY

EU students who are accepted to do all or part of their studies in another European country, may apply to continue their studies in Spain. In this case, you are not required to obtain a visa. You must apply for a study permit (Autorización de estancia por estudios), either before coming to Spain at the Spanish Consular Office in your place of legal residence, or after entry into Spain at the Immigration Office in Barcelona, within 30 days of arrival. The procedure must be completed in person by the applicant.

Important note: all foreign official documents must be previously legalized and, if necessary, must be translated into Spanish or co-official language of the territory where the application is being made.
Further information here.

For bachelor's or master's students from a EU country coming to study at the UB within a multilateral intra-EU mobility programme between several universities, the Office of Mobility and International Programs (OMPI) will be responsible for processing the communication of mobility to the Barcelona Sub-delegation of the Government.

This procedure can be completed before coming to Barcelona or, at the latest, within one month of your arrival in Spain.

Master's students must contact the Secretary of their course; ERASMUS + students should go to the International Relations Offices at their Faculty.

NIE - STUDENTS OR RESEARCHERS

WHAT IS THE NIE?

The NIE or Foreigner's Identification Number is the unique and exclusive number that allows the administrative identification of foreigners (both EU citizens who belong to the European Union and non-EU citizens). It is granted automatically when starting any procedure with a Public Administration.

The NIE appears on both the European Union citizen registration certificate and the TIE.

TIE - STUDENTS OR RESEARCHERS

WHAT IS THE TIE?

The TIE or Foreigner's Identity Card constitutes a physical document of an identification nature that serves to certify the legal residence of the foreigner holding it.

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.

VERY IMPORTANT:

  • The Spanish legislation affecting international students (Organic Law 4/2000, 11th january) stipulates that fees must be paid when an application is made for the authorization of an extension, modification or renewal to a visa covering your legal status in Spain. This means that you will need to pay this fee before you submit an application for the renewal of your card and bring the receipt of payment of that fee with the other papers that we ask you to present. Note that it will not be possible for us to accept your application until you have done this.
    How do I pay?
    First, go to payment of Immigration's fees
    Mark Box 1.3 in the section Pròrroga de autorización de estancia por estudios.
    The figure for the fee to be paid will appear automatically (16.98€).
    When you've filled in all the documents, click on the command obtener documento. This will generate a pdf document which you can print and take to any bank to make the payment.
    You have to submit the fee form to our office at the time when you apply for the renewal of your card.
  • Medical Insurance: You have the option of purchasing one with a insurance company who has signed an agreement with the UB: Ferrer & Ojeda Asociados Correduría de Seguros, S.L.
  • Procedure:

1. Telematic way:

- With digital certificate through the MERCURIO platform

- With digital certificate in an official registration website: REDSARA

2. Face-to-face:

- General Registry of the Government Delegation in Catalonia
C/.Bergara, 12
Schedule: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:30, Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00
Summer time: (from June 16 to September 15) from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:00 and Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00.

- Auxiliary Register no. 1 of the Subdelegation of the Government in Barcelona
C/.Mallorca, 278
Schedule: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00

- Post Offices, in an open envelope addressed to the Immigration Office in Barcelona (C/.Bergara, 12 Barcelona).

NOTE: Office of Mobility and International Programs (OMPI) can provide information, advice and assistance with the presentation of documents. Nevertheless, it cannot send applications or documents to the Immigration Office.

Application Form
Procedure and documentation
 
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 Police Station.

Application Form
Procedure and documentation
 

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

Studies and work - Students or Researchers

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 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
 
EXCHANGING A STUDENT PERMIT FOR A FULL RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMIT


The Government of Catalonia has been granted executive competence in the matter of initial work authorizations for non-Community foreigners, whose employment relationship takes place within the territorial scope of Catalonia. The rest of the authorizations related to foreigners resident in Catalonia continue to be the responsibility of the State.

This transferred competence affects the initial work authorizations for the account of others and self-employment, the modifications of the initial work authorizations and the quota of foreign workers.

Procedure
 
EMPLOYMENT SEEKING RESIDENCE PERMIT

The Job Seeking visa, or Employment seeking residence permit, is an authorization based in Spain that would allow you to access a job suitable to your field and level of studies or, if you deem it possible, to create a start-up once you have finished your official high-level studies.

This is a non-lucrative residence permit which means that you will not be able to work with it. Once you have found a job, it would be the company itself who process the visa change from Job Seeking Visa to Worker Visa.

The maximum durationof the permit would be 12 months, from which you would not be able to extend after those are done, and it would start counting ever since the expiration date of your previous visa.

You can request for the visa between 60 days before and 90 days after the aforementioned expiration date. The application, within the allotted time, extends the valid period of the previous visa until the resolution to the process is given.

Requirements

  • Be title-holder of a Student Visa.
  • Own a Spanish-based high-level official study diploma (undergrad, official master, doctor's degree). IMPORTANT!! The Government Sub-delegation in Barcelona doesn't accept specific master's and postgraduate degrees
  • Medical insurance that would cover the duration of your stay.
  • Own enough economic means forthe duration of your stay.
Procedure
 
 
INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Brexit

From July 6 to December 31, 2020, UK citizens residing in Spain must process the change of document that regularizes their legal stay in Spain. From 1 January 2021, citizens of the United Kingdom who wish to come to Spain will need to process the corresponding visa.

Instructions and documentation

Andorran citizens

According to the Convention between Spain, France and Andorra relating to the entry, movement, residence and establishment of their respective nationals, made by referendum in Brussels on December 4, 2002(BOE núm. 153, de 27 de juny de 2003):

Andorran citizens who come to study in Spain must apply for a study permit and the rules established in the general foreigner regime will apply.
The permit will be valid for one year and will be renewable (for another year) as long as the studies continue.

Procedure and documentation

Applicable regulations

Organic Law 4/2000, 11th january, about the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration.

R.D. 557/2011, 20th april, in which the Regulation of the law Ll.O. 4/2000 is approved, about the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration, after the reform of the law Ll.O. 2/2009:
  • Title III: The Stay in Spain
  • Chapter II: Authorization to stay for studies, student mobility, non-work practices or volunteer services.
 
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Última actualització o validació: 04.12.2023
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