Master Guide To Study in Spain

Contents

Visa and Passport

Getting PR post studies

Spain is best known for its rich history and culture. Nevertheless, higher education is also a prominent attraction among millions of international students. Apart from all this, learning the Spanish language sets the trend in the international job market. Spanish delicacies are a hot favorite of many international students. So let’s have a glimpse of the top reasons to study in Spain below:

Quality Education

Spain has one of the world’s best well-organized educational systems. Furthermore, learning opportunities for students are limitless for students around the world. Spain is ranked as the third most popular destination for higher education. This obviously makes Spain one of the famous educational hubs in the world, along with the USA, the UK, Italy, and France.

Say hello to Spanish

One sharpens their language skills when studying in Spain by learning a new language. So, learning Spanish would be dual-fold for international students. Firstly, international students can add the Spanish language and proficiency level to their resumes. Secondly, learning Spanish would benefit students to understand the instruction of study in Spanish universities as course instruction is bilingual.

Sumptuous Spanish Cuisine

Spain has the world’s best delicacies to suit every taste palette. Tapas, paella, churros, tortilla, fabada are some of the top favourites among international students.

Affordable Education

When compared with the other most popular education destinations like the USA, UK, etc. Spain is comparatively economical. Reasonable tuition fees and affordable cost of living are the factors that vouch for affordable education in Spain. Many Spanish universities offer on-campus student accommodation the most viable option for international students. Even if students wish to live free-spirited, they can opt for pocket-friendly accommodations outside their university campus.

Job opportunities

International students can explore the job market in Spain right after their master’s in almost every sector like IT, medicine, engineering, teaching, or sales. Also, the average annual salary offered to fresh graduates is around €23,000. International students working part-time can earn around €450 as a minimum salary.

Spain is one of the unique attractions among the European countries to study master’s program in almost every field of study. Every year millions of international students aim to get admission to Spanish universities. Affordability, academic opportunities, and endless job opportunities are the primary reasons students must go for a master’s degree in Spain. Students can choose from a wide range of master’s courses in the fields of:

• Engineering
• Biomedicine
• Business management
• Economics
• Journalism
• Philosophy
• Literature
• Mathematics
• Law
• Astrophysics
• Chemistry
• Neuroscience

Spanish universities are one of the highly ranked universities around the globe to pursue a master’s degree. So, here’s a list of the best universities, the popular courses they offer, the duration of the program, and their total annual fees.

Top 10 universities to study Masters programs in Spain

Now that we are well aware of the top universities offering master’s programs to students around the globe, we must understand the general admission requirements for admission to master’s programs in Spanish universities. So, let’s take a look at the basic admission requirements to study master’s programs in Spain below:

Academic transcripts

Students must submit all of their academic transcripts as proof of complete education right from their schooling to the undergraduate college. Academic transcripts include comprehensive and consolidated mark sheets, degree/certificate of completion, and other relevant documents for the high-school and undergraduate programs.

English Proficiency test

When planning to study in Spain, the student must be proficient in either English or Spanish. The reason behind this is that the language of instruction in most universities is either English or Spanish. So, to check the English proficiency test requirements, students must visit the university’s official website.

If the university you are applying to offers courses in the English language, you must clear the minimum scores required to qualify for admission. Spanish universities accept IELTS/TOEFL/PTE Academic to judge the student’s proficiency in the English language.

If the university offers a master’s program in the Spanish language, then the student must prove their proficiency in the Spanish language. Spanish universities accept DELE to judge the student’s proficiency in the Spanish language.

GMAT/GRE

Although, GRE/GMAT is not compulsory to study maters in Spain. Nevertheless, a good GRE/GMAT score would always add value to the student’s profile. If you are looking forward to pursuing a master’s in a technical field of study, you can aim to give GRE. The minimum score required for GRE should be 315 or above. If you want to pursue a master’s in management or MBA, you must target the GMAT. A student must aim for at least 650 or above in GMAT.

Statement of Purpose/ motivation

The student must justify their primary source of inspiration behind pursuing the degree from a particular university in their Statement of Purpose. A Statement of Purpose has a word limit of 500-700 words. The word limit of the Statement of Purpose can vary from university to university.

Remarkable Resume

If a student has considerable work experience, it is always a plus point. Students must submit their updated resume of one-page max. An impressive resume will help the student get placed in top-notch companies after their masters.

Spain is one of the most popular countries to study master’s program is a hub of top-notch universities, lively cities, and amazing nightlife. These significant attractions in Spain attract millions of international students every year. A student visa is required to study in any country other than your home country. Post-COVID era, new entry requirements have been formalized by the government of Spain. All travellers, irrespective of the purpose of the visit, are required to fill in the Health Control Form (FCS) to enter Spain. 

Why do you require a student visa to study in Spain?

A student visa is granted to international students willing to study or train in Spain. With a student visa in hand, a student can participate in student exchange programs to pursue unpaid internships in Spain. Students coming from European Union countries and Swiss citizens do not require to apply for a student visa to study in Spain.

Types of Student Visa

Now that you know why you require a student visa, let’s understand which type of student visa is perfect. For this, we will be discussing the different types of Student visas available for international students to study in Spain. Students willing to learn in Spain must apply at the Spanish Embassy or consulate and submit relevant documents to process their student visa. Students must choose wisely from the different types of student visas available depending upon the duration of the student visa. So, here’s a list of different kinds of student visas to study in Spain:

1) 3-month Student Permit:
The student permit is granted to students from countries that qualify for visa-free entry of up to 90 days. Such students are allowed to complete short-term courses with three months max. At the same time, students from countries restricted from the visa-free entry can apply for a Schengen Student Visa. The student visa applications must be submitted at a Spanish embassy or consulate in their home country.

2) Short-term Student Visa (3 to 6 months):
The Short-Term Student Visa is granted to the students wishing to pursue courses duration of 180 days. This type of student visa is less complicated than a long-term student visa and involves lesser paperwork. One drawback of this student visa is that it cannot be extended under any circumstances. Students opting for this type of visa mostly plan to study either short courses offered by universities and colleges or Spanish language courses.

3) Long-term Student Visa (more than six months):
This Student Visa is granted to students wishing to pursue courses longer than six months. Post completing the student visa application, students must apply for a student residence card at an immigration office. The visa application process for this type of student visa is cumbersome compared to other types of student visas. In addition to detailed paperwork, students must present a medical certificate and a certificate to justify no criminal conviction.

How to Apply for a Student Visa for Spain

Students must specify the course they plan to pursue before filing their student visa application. The visa application must be submitted within two to three months before travelling to Spain so that visas can be processed timely. The student must deposit the requisite fees for processing the permit. Students applying for Schengen Student Visa are required to pay €60. Now, step logical step is to understand the necessary documents to file the student visa application.

Documents required to apply for a Student Visa

The documents required might vary depending on the consulate, student’s financial situation & circumstances, and the course the student wants to pursue. However, we have listed the documents required in general for the student visa application below:

• A valid passport
• Two completed Schengen Visa application forms
• Valid student ID
• Two recent passport size photographs
• Identity proof like driver’s license
• Health Insurance
• Bank statements as proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of living
• Letter of acceptance from the intended university

Work in Spain with a Student Visa

Students can apply for part-time jobs through a student visa in Spain. They can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week, but not more than that in part-time employment. Every employer hiring students part-time must get a work permit from the Foreign Office. Students need not require a work permit to pursue internships; that is a part of the course curriculum. The employment contract stands cancelled once the duration of the study visa lapses.

Health Control Form (HCF) for Spain

The ongoing -covid era has pushed back travel and imposed several restrictions. To contain the spread of coronavirus, a new Health Control Form(HCF) must be filled out and submitted by the students or any other travellers before entering the country. Post-registration, students are provided with a reference number and barcode, which must be presented on arrival. Travellers must provide their basic personal and contact details, current health condition, or any other pre-existing health condition in the Health Control Form.

Living in Spain is generally considered affordable compared with other popular education destinations like the USA, the UK, etc. So, students might not feel financially strained while studying in Spain. On average, you would require around 900 – 1,100 EUR to manage your living expenses in Spain. However, the living costs might vary from the city you choose to live in Spain. So, let’s get an overview of Spain’s average cost of living.

The average cost of living in Spain

Given the fact that every country has some expensive cities and economic cities. Some cities in Spain like Madrid and Barcelona are considered the most expensive cities in Spain. A student might have to shell around 900 – 1,100 EUR to live in these Spanish cities.
On the other hand, if students choose to live in cities like Valencia, Seville, or Cadiz, they can enjoy the perks of economic costs of living. Students can expect an average monthly expense of around 700 – 900 EUR. Let’s get an overview of the overall cost of living in Spain from the table below:

Average Monthly Costs of Living in the Popular cities in Spain

Accommodation costs for international students

Now that we know the average monthly expenses of famous cities in Spain let’s dive deep into the accommodation cost for international students.

Students can choose from a variety of accommodation options in Spain listed below: 

1. Student residence halls – These are the accommodation facilities provided by the university to its students. Students can save on extra expenses when deciding to stay on the university premises. Students may expect to pay around 360 to 650 EUR every month.
2. Rent an apartment – Many students opt for this option to sustain their freedom. Students can expect to shell out a  minimum of  200 EUR and a maximum of 1,000 EUR per month. Students can find apartments ready to move in on websites like Uniplaces or Resa. Students can compare and choose the best-rented apartment to live in based on their budget. They might share the apartment with their friends to reduce the rent burden.
3. Living with a Spanish family – Students can experience a homely experience while staying with a Spanish family. These families can charge rent which might vary from region to region, living conditions, and many others. Students can look out on various websites to connect with Spanish families.

Food costs

Spain is famous for its world-class cuisines. Students can explore a wide range of local cuisine, like “paella,” “escabeche,” or “merienda.” Students might have to shell out around 200 to 400 EUR for their monthly groceries. If students know how to cook, there is nothing better than that. But if they do not prefer cooking, then they can buy food from some of the economical supermarkets in Spain like Dia, Bally, Dani, and Mercadona, to name a few.
Once in a while, when students want to dine out, they can go to some inexpensive restaurants. These restaurants might charge around 10 EUR for a simple meal, whereas a three-course dinner for two might cost you about 35 EUR at a mid-range restaurant.

Transportation costs

When living close to the university, students can save on and fro costs from university to home. However, students living away from home can expect to pay around 1.5 EUR for a regular trip by public transport. Students can opt for a monthly transport pass which costs around 42 EUR in smaller cities. However, transportation passes might cost approximately 54 EUR in large cities. Students can explore the beautiful towns in Spain during weekends through the AVE speed train. AVE train trip costs around 75 EUR. Students can purchase a youth travel card to provide significant discounts for regular travel in trains. Students can also rent a car from local companies to explore the city and visit famous tourist spots.

Additional costs

Besides living costs, students might incur some additional expenses necessary to maintain a standard of living. These costs include Books, supplies, other learning materials, Health insurance, Basic utilities (electricity, water, heating, garbage), and the internet.

All International Students aiming to study in Spain are qualified for the scholarships offered by the Spanish government. Spain is one of the most popular study destinations preferred by millions of students worldwide. Spain has a wide range of degrees, from undergraduate to master’s degrees. There are around 76 Universities in the country.

Even though Spain provides affordable education options, students can opt for scholarships to reduce their financial burden. Spain is known for its quality education and well-designed educational system. So, let’s discuss the scholarship programs offered by the government of Spain for the financial year 2021-2022. So, here’s a list of scholarships provided by the government of Spain:

Scholarships

1. Spain Government Scholarships: The Ministry of Education of Spain offers a wide range of education scholarships programs to both local and international students. Students can avail these scholarship programs to study bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. Students can check for the eligibility criteria to apply for government scholarships on the official website of the Ministry of Education of Spain.

2. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) Barcelona Scholarship:

This scholarship program is offered to international students who want to specialize in the following fields of study: 

• Biomedicine, 
• Bioengineering, 
• Law, 
• Business, 
• Communication, 
• Psychology, 
• Nursing Physiotherapy, 
• Psychology 

Students of any nationality can apply for the UIC scholarship program. The UIC University offers this scholarship to students as proof of their academic excellence in the relevant field of study. The deadline to apply for the UIC scholarship program is 21st April 2021. UIC offers a discount of 20% on tuition fees for undergraduate programs.

3. European University of the Atlantic Scholarship program:

The European University of the Atlantic grants this scholarship program for the utmost 20 students wanting to study undergraduate programs. This scholarship program can cover 100% tuition fees of the intended program. The last date to apply for this scholarship program is 15th October 2021.

4. University of Granada Scholarship program:

The University of Granada offers this scholarship program for students who want to pursue a master’s program and doctoral programs. An additional way to apply for this scholarship program is through the Erasmus Scholarship at the University of Granada.

5. Spanish Studies Abroad Scholarship program:

This scholarship program was rooted in 2001. It provides scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs in Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Argentina. The students must submit a 400-500 word essay to get selected. This program grants a scholarship amount of 451.52 EUR.

6. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarship program:

This scholarship program is offered to students pursuing master’s degrees in Spain. A plus point, it supports students who are good at sports and training activities in the European Union. This scholarship program provides a monthly stipend of €1,000 for free travel, among many other benefits. 

7. EADA Business School Scholarship Program:

In Barcelona, Spain, EADA Business School is a private university established in 1984. This university grants scholarship programs to MBA and graduate student scholarships who excel in academics. This university grants a waiver of 25-50% on tuition fees of the graduate program. 

Education Loans

Owing to the growing competition and millions of scholarship applications submitted by students every year, some students might not get scholarships to fund their studies. Nevertheless, they can apply for educational loans to study in Spain. So, let’s discover some of the best educational loans available for international students to study in Spain.

How can one get Education Loan to Study in Spain?

Students from countries other than Spain can begin their educational loan process around 7-8 months before their program starts. Students must follow a logical process before applying for the educational loans listed below: 

1. First, examine all the banks providing educational loans to study abroad, their eligibility criteria, and relevant documents required. 
2. Second, compute the total funds required to cover your educational costs. In addition, enumerate the percentage of funds you will arrange on your own and the percentage of funds you will need to raise through a bank loan. 
3. Third, keep a copy of the admission letter offered by the university in Spain as proof of admission. 
4. Compare and contrast the available educational loan options based on the following factors:

• Interest rate
• Processing Fee
• Loan amount
• Loan margin
• Collateral demanded
• Income tax exemptions
• Moratorium Period
• Loan processing time
• Disbursal requirements
• Prepayment terms

5. Choose the bank offering the best deals to suit your loan requirements.

6. Once you have selected the bank and requisite loan amount, you can fill out the loan application form to process your application.

7. Next, you must submit all the relevant documents required to process your educational loan application. These documents might include ID proof, mark sheets, address proof, birth certificate, etc. 

8. Once the bank agrees to sanction your education loan amount, it will provide a loan agreement containing the terms and conditions of the education loan.

9. Both the parties, i.e., the bank and the student, must sign the loan agreement to make it valid. Post this, and the bank will reimburse your loan amount.

Eligibility grounds to apply for an education loan to study in Spain 

Checking your eligibility is crucial before applying for an education loan. You must note that different banks have different eligibility grounds for processing education loans. However, the most preliminary eligibility criteria followed by all banks have been listed below: 

• The student must have a spectacular academic record.
• They must have student scholarship proof of admission to the intended university in Spain.
• Since banks prefer to give loans to students enrolled in job-oriented programs, students/applicant must be enrolled in a job-oriented professional or technical course.
• The student must be more than 18 years of age, or their parents might have to apply for a loan on behalf of the student.

Estimating the Loan amount: 

Students must carefully calculate the estimated loan amount before filling out the education loan application. This is the most crucial step as it will help you calibrate the approximate costs involved while studying in Spain. Students must take into account the following expenses while calculating the loan amount:

• Total tuition fees of the intended program: It will cover the overall cost of studying the agenda for the complete duration of the program.
• Associated costs: These costs cover the additional costs associated with studying any program at a university in Spain. For example, residence hall activity fees, new student fees, recreation fees, student center fees, student activity fees, to name a few. 
• Accommodation expenses: The accommodation costs would vary as per your choice of accommodation,i.e., accommodation within the university premises or a rented apartment outside the campus. Obviously, rented accommodation would cost you more than the in-house accommodation.
• Book and stationery costs: These costs include purchasing books and other stationery supplies essential for the study. To fulfill the modern education norms, students might also require to buy a laptop or personal computer.  
• Transportation costs: These costs might vary depending on the location of your accommodation. If staying in on-campus housing, you will save on transportation costs. Otherwise, the transportation costs might be high for students living away from the university campus. In addition to this, students might require to travel by public transport for industry visits, exchange programs, internships, part-time jobs, or simply exploring the city. 
• Miscellaneous expenses: These include costs like internet, entertainment, fees of the project, and other related costs.

Documents for Students to study in Spain

Students must be well-versed with the documents required to apply for the educational loan to study in Spain. So, here’s a list of documents as are necessary for processing student education loans:

• A photocopy of the latest passport.
• Recent passport size photographs.
• All academic transcripts up to the highest level of education achieved. This includes mark sheets of 10th, 12th, passing certificates of all higher education, graduate, and postgraduate programs(if applicable).
• Proof of professional certifications like CA, ICWA, CPA(if any).
• Results of qualifying examinations required to study abroad. This includes IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE,  ACT, SAT, to name a few.
• A valid ID proof.
• A valid address proof like telephone bill or electricity bill.
• Birth certificate as proof of age.
• Proof of income(if any).
• Admission proof at the any University of Spain.
• Statement of additional expenses.
• Documents of Co-Applicants
• Proof of achievements, including certificates of appreciation in extracurricular activities.
• Documents justifying any disability or illness(if any).
• A copy of the bank statement for the last six months.

Collateral Rules for Education Loan to Study in Spain

Students must provide a collateral security deposit to process the education loan application. Collateral security refers to any movable or immovable property deposited as a security in the bank for an international education loan. Collateral security is the deciding factor in determining the interest rate applicable to the education loan to study in Spain. Collateral security acts as a mortgage for an education loan. If the student/ applicant fails to repay the education loan, the collateral property can be confiscated by the bank. 

The following Instruments can be used as collateral for education loans to study in Spain: 

• Movable assets/securities, including Fixed deposits, shares, bonds, etc. 
• Immovable property like land, home, any other property used for commercial purposes.
• Other securities that can be used as collateral for education loan includes Mutual funds, SIPs, government bonds and securities, debentures, life insurance policy.

Repayment of Education Loan to Study in Spain

The education loan taken by students can be repaid in installments within 10 -15 years after taking the loan. Generally, students can start the loan repayment process after completing their master/bachelor’s program. Some banks are generous enough to provide a relief period of 6 months after securing a job or a year after completing studies. Millions of students around the world dream to study abroad. Education loan acts as an aid to self-fund their studies. So, be cautious and research carefully while planning to take an education loan.  

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Guidelines to get part-time job roles in Spain
Students need to follow the rules administering part-time jobs in Spain. Students from countries other than Spain can work here by getting a student visa. The maximum time permitted for part-time is 20 hours per week. One point to remember is that Non-EU students undergo more formalities for part-time work than their EU counterparts. Students can work only until the time their student visa is valid. To employ students as part-time workers, employers must contact the Foreign Nationals Office of Spain.

Pre-requisites for non-EU/EEA students to get part-time jobs in Spain
Students are permitted to work only for 4 hours every day for part-time employment in Spain. In addition to this, students can work for three months maximum during summer holidays/breaks.
The employer must grant the Work permit to the students willing to work as part-time employees at their company. One must remember that students’ studies must not be compromised due to their part-time jobs.

On the other hand, EEA/EU students are not required work permits to work as part-time employees. However, they will have to fulfill their work contracts with their respective employers.

How to find part-time jobs in Spain
International students can choose from multiple part-time job opportunities in several sectors. They can utilize any one of the following platforms/channels for finding their desired part-time jobs:

• EURES: It is a European Commission network explicitly designed for EU students to find jobs in various cities of Spain.
• Expatica Jobs: This provides jobs to international students possessing both multilingual and English-speaking skills.
  Online Job Portals: Websites like The Local, The Guardian, and ThinkSpain list endless part-time job opportunities for students.
• Lingobongo and Spainwise: These websites provide part-time teaching jobs to students. Students must have TEFL or equivalent qualifications for teaching English in Spain. Moreover, students without TEFL might approach the British Council, requiring only minimum AS-Level Spanish.
• Graduateland, Primer Empleo, and iAgora: It is among other job platforms providing part-time jobs to students.
  Season Workers or think Spain: It provides part-time jobs to students in Spain.
• IAESTE UK: It provides internship opportunities to students pursuing a degree in engineering, science, technology, and applied arts.
  AIESEC UK: This job portal provides several international internship opportunities at The Intern Group to fresh graduates.

Types of part-time jobs in Spain with their minimum hourly wages

Now, let’s check out a list of part-time jobs available in Spain for international students through the table below:

Post studies, every student aims to settle down in a foreign country like Spain. But the obvious question is how it could be possible without permanent residency options? So, let us dive deep into the requirements and need to have a Spanish residency card. Here is an overview of the types of permits available based on the origin of the applicant’s country. 

Residence permits depending on your country of origin:

The residency permit relies on the origin of the land of the applicants. Students from non-European countries might have to undergo a grueling process to get a residency permit in Spain. So, let’s discuss the types of permits available for European and non-European students. 

EU Citizens: They can apply for a permanent residence permit that does not expire, called “certificado de registro de la Unión Europea. “ Post which EU students can legally reside in Spain for more than three months. EU students can obtain this permit by submitting proof of 

6.000€ in a bank account; and having private medical insurance. Another way EU students can obtain a residency permit in Spain is by showing their evidence of salary justifying sufficient funds in the account. EU citizens can get their permanent residency just within 24 hours. Post which they can live and work in Spain.

Non-EU Citizens: The process of acquiring permanent residency for non-EU students can be cumbersome compared with EU students. However, non-EU students can enter the country through various alternative options listed below:

1. Student visa:

It is the most common way for students to enter Spain to study or conduct research in Spain. The student visa can be obtained through the Spanish Consulate located in your home country before travelling to Spain. Another way to do this is to get a student visa during the first 60 days by entering Spain as a tourist. Students must submit a visa application accompanied by documentation proof of a criminal-free record, an account statement with minimum funds of 10.000€, and evidence of being enrolled in a course with a minimum of 20 hours per week. Once the student submits all these documents, they are granted the student residence permit. The student visa is valid for 3 to 9 months, or even 2 to 4 years. The validation of student residency depends upon the duration of the program they are applying for. The student visa can be renewed only if the student decides to complete their further studies in Spain. If the student studies for a program longer than nine months, they can get a foreign identity card called the TIE (Tarjeta de entidad del extranjero). The TIE is a physical card granted to students pursuing a program longer than nine months. The student is not entitled to a physical card in any other case. 

2. Business visa:

This visa is granted to non-EU citizens if they wish to start a business in Spain. A business visa can be obtained in two ways. 

First, you can apply for the entrepreneur visa if you have a unique and innovative business idea incorporating a high technological component in its operations. You must note that this visa is granted once you have obtained a pre-approval from the ministry of economy of Spain. The only thing to remember is that they are strict and selective with the projects. So, applicants for this visa must be well-prepared with a unique business proposition. 

Alternatively, you can apply for a regular self-employed work permit at the Spanish Embassy in your native country. This visa is applicable if your business idea is not unique enough. You must submit your entire business plan, which is not a prerequisite for applying for an entrepreneur visa.

A business visa in Spain is valid only for three months, permitting applicants to attend meetings with prospective clients/ visit a business fair. A business visa valid for more than three months is simply a work permit.

3. Non-lucrative residency visa:

This visa is specifically designed to meet the needs of people who do not wish to perform any kind of economic activity or professional conduct. The validity of the Non-lucrative residency visa in Spain ranges between 3- months to 12-months.

This kind of visa can be renewed only if the applicant has lived in Spain for at least a duration of 183 days. Hence, such applicants can be termed as a resident in Spain. 

This residence visa can allow the applicant to stay for more than two years. The non-EU students can apply for this visa at the Diplomatic Consulate of Spain in their home country. This visa application will be processed before the applicant can enter Spain. This visa gets stamped on the applicant’s passport. The applicant must then receive a physical residence card within one month of entering Spain.

Now let’s list out the main requirements for the non-lucrative visa. The most important thing you will need is to provide a bank statement having 26.000€ funds in your account. The applicant for this visa must have a private health insurance contract. The health insurance contract is a mandatory requirement by any Spanish company hiring the applicant. This health insurance must provide full coverage in all the cities in Spain. 

In addition to this, The applicant must be updated with the changes in specific requirements of the consulate or embassy in their home country before applying for this visa. 

4. Work permit as an employee of a Spanish company:

This work permit is offered to the employees working in a Spanish company. An applicant can get this visa using two unique ways. First is that if the applicant receives a high managerial position in a Spanish company, they can be granted a highly skilled worker visa. This job position must offer an annual salary of more than 40.000€ to the applicant. The second option is a bit difficult to accomplish. This approach requires the applicant to be present in Spain while applying for the visa. The main reason behind the cumbersome process is that the applicant might find it challenging to find a job in Spain immediately. This is because of the shortage of job opportunities in the country.

5. Golden visa:

The Golden visa requires the most minor requirements, making it a favorable option among most international students. However, this visa is granted to applicants having property in Spain. This means that applicants must be willing to invest in immovable property in Spain. On average, a non-EU citizen must invest a minimum of 500.000€ in real estate in Spain. This condition must be fulfilled to get a residency permit in Spain.

Another alternative to get this visa is to invest in shares of a Spanish company worth around  1M€. Moreover, the applicant can invest in a public debt worth at least 2M€.

The applicant must have at least 30.000€ as an investor to support the financial needs of themself and their family residing in Spain. If the applicant decides to sponsor their relatives, then an additional amount of 10.000€ for each family member is required.

This must be proved through the applicant’s bank statement from any country. Besides all these requirements, the applicant must have full health insurance coverage in Spain. 

6. Family member of an EU citizen visa:

If you have a relative native to the European Union member, then getting a residence and work authorization in Spain gets as simplified as possible. This is because the applicant can get a residency permit as an EU citizen’s family member. The applicant chooses to marry or constitute a civil partnership (“pareja de hecho”), an EU citizen to benefit from applying through this visa. This automatically simplifies the visa application process for non-EU citizens. Such applicants being legal relatives of EU citizens, can get visas quickly. One must aim to enter the country through this route as the residency lasts for five years, with no renewal of permit required between 5 years.

7. Family regrouping visa:

This visa is granted to individuals who have stayed in Spain for at least one year.  

This visa has a unique family reunion process, through which the applicant can quickly bring their relatives to any city of the country. The family members include the spouse or fiancé, children, and the applicant’s parents. 

8. The arraigo procedure:

Another alternative used by millions of international students is the arraigo procedure. This method is opted by applicants who cannot resonate with the aforementioned visa application routes. Basically, people residing in Spain for three years under any unforeseen circumstances can apply through this procedure. Such people can apply through arraigo social or social roots. The basic requirements for this procedure are:

• You must be registered in the city hall for at least three years (called “empadronado” in Spanish).
• During this period, during this period the applicant cannot leave Spain for more than 120 days.

Applicants who are applying for a Catalan (if you are in Catalonia) or Spanish course with a duration of more than 45 hours. In addition to this, the applicant gets a job offer with the social services and can undergo this visa procedure successfully. Later on, the applicant of this visa procedure can shift to a different residency permit. 

The arraigo procedure has two additional types of arraigo. However, these two procedures are not that prevalent due to their unconventional requirements.  

These procedures are mentioned below:

• The labor arraigo: This procedure is suitable for people working illegally in the country for at least six months. 
• The arraigo familiar: This residency option is available to the family members of Spanish citizens only. 

9. Asylum and the red card:

This card or residency is offered to people from distressed countries suffering from a natural disaster or a regional conflict. The Asylum and the red card permit the applicants to stay for six months. This card is set to be renewed as long as you don’t get a response from the immigration office in Spain.

10. EU blue card:

At last, the applicants can choose to apply for the EU blue card. This card is granted to highly qualified professionals. Good news!! Applicants through this visa can work in any European Union country. If the applicant is working for a Spanish company, then the validity of the EU blue card is one year. This duration might vary depending on the EU country you choose to work in.

Documents required to apply for Permanent Residency in Spain

Now, let’s dig deep into the necessary documents to apply for permanent residency in Spain.  So, here is a list of documents required for permanent residency in Spain:

• The applicant must submit a copy of the valid passport and the original passport. 
• The prospective applicant must submit proof of innocence justifying no criminal record of the applicant in the last five years. 
• At least three passport size photos.
• The applicant working for a non- Spanish company must have Private health insurance.

How to convert temporary residency to permanent residency

There are two types of residency permits in Spain. First is the European Union permanent card. The second is the general residency card. Every foreigner would like to convert their available residency card to the European Union permanent card. This is purely due to the benefits of the European Union permanent card. This card need not be renewed after expiry as it is valid for eternity. So, the European Union permanent cardholders can skip the cumbersome renewal visa application process. However, getting this legal residency might involve humongous paperwork stretching the visa process by one or two years.

The international students can automatically get permanent residency after residing in Spain for five consecutive years. To obtain citizenship in Spain, you must live in the country for more than ten years.

After pursuing a master’s in Spain, students can choose from various job opportunities in several sectors, including finance, consulting, marketing, IT, and many others. So, check out the list below to know about the top-notch companies offering jobs to fresh graduates in Spain along with the annual average salary:

Average Annual Salaries of graduates in Spain

One of the top industries is Finance/Banking, Consultancy, and the IT industry. International students can work at numerous multinational companies in Spain to start their careers in the management field. The most rewarding sectors for management roles in Spain are finance and IT. Companies offering the highest annual salaries to management graduates in Spain include Citigroup, Deloitte, KPMG, Mastercard, PwC, EY, Intel, IBM, Accenture.

Conclusion

No matter your major or the university you want to attend, Spain offers a lot of opportunities to learn. The educational system is effectively planned and carried out, and it is created to give pupils of all skill levels the best learning chances possible. Spain ranks third in terms of popularity for foreign studies and is a preferred choice for students from around the world.

As a foreign student, there is simply so much to learn about academics, culture, customs, traditions, styles, architecture, and music. The food will undoubtedly enchant you, and the Spanish architecture will instantly catch your eye. You’ll find yourself delighting in everything new. You will get the opportunity to converse with people from other cultures, backgrounds, and nations.

When you study abroad in Spain, you will broaden your academic horizons to include the arts, literature, architecture, and religion of Spain as well as its culture and history.