Tips for students

• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): you can apply for this card at the social security office of your country of origin. It guarantees the same health coverage as for a Spanish citizen.   

• If you come from a country outside the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra or Monaco, there may be a health agreement between the two countries to cover basic health care. Countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Morocco, Tunisia and Andorra have such agreements.   

• If none of the above situations applies to you, you will need to take out private medical insurance in order to receive a student visa.  

1. Residence permit. 

2. Registration of address (empadronamiento). To do this, you have to go to the Valencia city hall and sign up in the municipal registry. You will need to submit:  

• ID card, passport or residence card.  
• Photocopy and original of the rental agreement, or of the authorization signed by the owner of the house where you live. Anyone who lives in the house and is registered in it can authorize you.  

3. TIE or Foreigner Identity Card. This is a personal card that provides proof that a foreigner is legally allowed to live in Spain. You can apply for one at the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería), or, failing that, at a police station. To apply, you have to provide:  

• Passport or travel document with entry stamp.  

• Three recent color photographs on a white background, passport size 

• Visa, if required.  

• Ruling granting the authorization that justifies the issuance of the card.  

• Proof of payment of the relevant fees.  

• Proof of enrollment and/or registration with Social Security. 

You will probably be required to have various documents in order to obtain study visas or permits:  

• Visa application form.  

• Valid passport or travel document.  

• Affidavit that you have sufficient financial resources.  

• If you are a minor, authorization from your parents or guardians.  

• Documentation that proves that you have public or private health insurance that provides full coverage in Spain.  

• Documentation proving admission to and/or enrollment in a public or private educational institution that is recognized or financed by the competent educational administration. Criminal background check. 

• Foreign documents must be translated into Spanish or the co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted. They must also be authenticated by the Consular Office of Spain.  

You may access the Spanish education system if you engage in any of the following activities:  

• Study at an approved school.  

• Research and training activities.  

• Participate in an international mobility program.  

• Carry out non-work activities.  

• Participate in volunteer programs.  

If, after your studies, you plan to continue your education (official studies) or you want to work in Spain, you will have to do the necessary paperwork to accredit the courses taken abroad and do the relevant translations.  

In this case, there are four processes that can be used to equate studies done abroad to the university degrees offered in the Spanish educational system:   

• Validation 

• Equivalence 

• Professional recognition 

• Accreditation 

You can apply for different kinds of grants.  

If you are going to start your Bachelor's or Master's degree in Spain and you are a citizen of Spain or an EU member State, you may qualify for grants from the Spanish government. These grants may be for the tuition and/or for fixed amounts tied to the student's income, residence or academic performance. There are special grants for students with disabilities and for applicants who are victims of gender-based violence.   

The regional Ministries of Education also offer grants in addition to those of the Ministry of Education for the students from each region. 

University students can also apply for grants from private organizations, such as Banco Santander or the La Caixa Foundation.  

If you are a foreign university student, your university may have an academic mobility agreement with a university in Valencia, and you can do your Erasmus stay in the city. 

Bank accounts: in most cases, an NIE and residency registration (empadronamiento) will be required to open a bank account. There are bank branches on university campuses that streamline these processes.