Hola, future Spain explorer!
You’ve got your heart set on living in Spain for a year — learning Spanish, soaking up tapas culture, and maybe even teaching English while you’re at it. Sounds like a dream, right? But wait… what about visas? Do you need a Spanish student visa, or can you just show up and start living your best Spanish life?
If you’re joining the Road2Spain programme with EBC TEFL and are not an EU country resident, you’ll need to understand the Spanish Type D student visa. This clear, practical guide gives you everything you need to know to get started with confidence.
What is a Spanish Student Visa?
The Type D student visa is Spain’s official long-term student visa that lets you stay for more than 90 days — specifically to study.
Whether enrolling in Spanish classes at a Cervantes Institute-accredited school or taking up a Master’s, the Type D visa gives you legal permission to live and study in Spain for up to one year.
Even better — it often allows you to apply for a 30-hour-per-week work authorisation so you can teach English and earn money legally while enjoying your Spanish adventure.
You may qualify for a Type D Student Visa if you’re enrolled in one of the following:
- A full-time university degree
- An official language programme (like those offered by Cervantes-accredited schools)
- A Master’s or postgraduate programme
- Vocational training courses
- A paid or unpaid internship, if it’s part of a recognised academic programme
If your course runs for more than 90 days, this is the visa that makes your Spain journey possible.
Who Needs a Spanish Student Visa? (And Who Doesn’t)
If you’re from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, lucky you — you don’t need a visa to live or study in Spain.
If you’re from the USA, UK, Philippines, South Africa, India, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere outside Europe and want to stay in Spain for more than 90 days, you will need a Type D student visa.
If you plan to join the Road2Spain programme — live in Spain for a year, study Spanish, get TEFL certified, and work part-time — this visa is essential.
What Happens if You Don’t Get the Right Visa?
Trying to study or work in Spain on a tourist visa? That’s a no-go.
Tourist visas — or visa-free stays for some countries — only allow up to 90 days in Spain, and working is strictly prohibited. If caught working or overstaying, you risk fines, deportation, or being barred from re-entering Spain or the Schengen Zone.
The Type D student visa is your legal solution. It gives you peace of mind, part-time work rights (with authorisation), and a solid foundation for your time in Spain.
The Road2Spain Programme (a.k.a. Your All-in-One Spanish Visa Solution)
Our Road2Spain packages are designed to make your move to Spain simple and purposeful. They include:
- Our 4-week online Trinity CertTESOL course (can be taken from the country of origin)
- A one-year student visa with the option to apply for a 30-hour per week work authorisation if you are not an EU resident
- A Spanish course at a Cervantes Institute-accredited school or a one-year diploma or masters course
- Access to EBC’s lifetime worldwide job placement programme
It’s the perfect option for aspiring English teachers, career changers, or anyone who wants to study and earn money teaching English in Spain.
Start Smart with the Online Trinity CertTESOL
Want to hit the ground running in Spain? Then start your Road2Spain journey before you even leave home — with the 4-week online Trinity CertTESOL course.
This internationally respected qualification is your official entry ticket to the English teaching world. Whether you plan to teach in-person in Spain or prefer the flexibility of online lessons, the CertTESOL sets you up for both.
Here’s what you get when you start with the online CertTESOL:
- A globally recognised teaching qualification — fully accredited by Trinity College London, accepted across Spain and worldwide. The CertTESOL lets you teach English in Spain with your student visa work authorisation.
- Take it from anywhere — including your home country. We’ve had many students from all over the world, including the Philippines and Asia, complete the course online before coming to Spain. That way, they arrive job-ready.
- Lifetime access to our job placement programme — we don’t just train you and say “¡buena suerte!” Our team helps you connect with English teaching job interviews in Spain and beyond. Some graduates even choose to teach online from Spain!
Of course, it’s your job to pass the interviews — we’ll open the doors, but you’ve got to walk through them. We strongly recommend being proactive and following up.
The earlier you start your CertTESOL, the more confident you’ll be when you arrive. You’ll also be ahead of the game for finding work, managing students, and thriving in the classroom.
So… Do You Really Need a Spanish Student Visa?
If you’re a non-EU national and want to stay in Spain longer than 90 days — especially if you want to work legally as an English teacher — the answer is yes. You need a Spanish student visa.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re from the Philippines, South Africa, the US, or anywhere outside the EU and dreaming of life in Spain — this is your moment. The Road2Spain programme gives you the legal, professional, and practical path to make it happen.
We’ll guide you step-by-step — from securing your Spanish student visa, to earning your Trinity CertTESOL, to landing real job interviews through our lifetime job placement programme.
So don’t wait–take the first step toward the life you’ve been imagining…today!
Live in Spain. Learn Spanish. Teach English. Build your future.
Your Spain story starts now — and we’re with you every step of the way.
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes. This article is NOT legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the content, EBC cannot guarantee its applicability to every situation. Please note that the decision to give you a student visa is up to the Spanish Embassy or Consulate. EBC has no control over the Spanish Embassy’s or Consulate’s decision. Readers who require guidance tailored to their needs are encouraged to seek legal advice.
