Spanish student visa rule changes in 2025: all you need to know

Planning to move to Spain to study? Hold up! You need to know all about the student visa changes for Spain in 2025.

Whether you’re dreaming of teaching English as a foreign language or you’re thinking of taking a university placement in a Spanish city, it’s important to familiarise yourself with key updates to the Spanish student visa regulation.

At TEFL Iberia, we have over a decade of experience obtaining visas for our students. In this guide, we’ll examine the various changes, what that means for your specific situation and what documents you’ll need to get hold of your Spanish student visa in 2025.

What is a Spanish student visa?

It’s a document that gives non-EU citizens the permission to study and live in Spain. 

A student visa is one of the simplest ways for non-EU individuals to move to Spain. Other types of visa, including working visas and digital nomad visas, are very hard to obtain. This simplicity makes it a very popular choice for those looking to move to Spain.

What are the main changes to student visa rules in Spain (2025)?

The Spanish Government recently announced updates to student visa regulations. This will come into effect from May 20, 2025. Here’s a summary of the key changes:

• If you’re signing up for a TEFL course, you’ll no longer be able to apply for a student visa from within Spain. Instead, you’ll need to process your visa at the Spanish Consulate in your country of residence. 
• Once you’ve graduated, you’ll no longer be able to directly switch to a work visa and a work residence permit
• To obtain a work residency permit, you'll now need to complete a professional training program, an undergraduate degree or a master’s degree in Spain.
• You’ll only be able to renew your student visa once. This means the maximum period of study for TEFL students in Spain will be two years.
• In order to renew your visa, you’ll also need to pass a Spanish language exam. This can be the DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) or the SIELE, the  official digital Spanish language proficiency test. Keep in mind this only applies to renewals, not if you’re applying for a student visa in Spain for the first time.

My Spanish student visa expires after May 2025. Can I renew it?

This depends on how many times you’ve renewed your visa and the exact expiry date.

• If you haven’t previously renewed your Spanish student visa, you can renew it once more by signing up to another TEFL course.
• If you have already renewed your visa and it expires before July 5, 2025, you can renew it by signing up to another TEFL course. You can only do this one more time and need to apply before May 20, 2025.
• If you have already renewed your visa and it expires after July 5, 2025, you’ll need to enroll in a university course or professional training program.

What are the other changes to student visa regulations in Spain?

The other changes to student visa regulations in Spain for 2025 are:

• The Golden Visa program has been terminated, with the deadline for new applications being April 3, 2025. 
• All non-EU travelers must now provide proof of travel insurance when entering Spain

Do you need help with your Spanish student visa application?

A student visa is the important first step to living and studying in Spain. For expert assistance, get in touch with the team at TEFL Iberia. We’ve been helping people move to Spain to study for years, with a dedicated student visa programme that gives us a 96% success rate in processing student visas. 

Get in touch with us today to find out more.

At TEFL Iberia, we provide expert guidance throughout your visa and enrollment process to make your stay in Spain stress-free.

If you’re planning to study in Spain in 2025, start your visa application process now and secure your spot in our Spanish courses in Barcelona.