We know that each student must go through a different process to come to study Spanish in Madrid. Many Americans have been asking us if it is possible to get a study visa to come to Spain right now. That’s why we thought this update may be useful to many of our readers. Here in AIL Madrid we receive hundreds of Spanish students with an approved visa from all over the world each year.

Long story short: YES, Americans can get a study visa to come to Spain, and we are about to tell you all the information you need to start applying for your visa right now!

We are aware that figuring out how to apply for your visa on your own, can be confusing. Many students have told us about the scenarios they have to go through when applying. For example, searching for information online, spending hours calling the consulate to request information, dealing with the nerves of receiving the results of the coronavirus test or waiting alone in a large and cold waiting room at the embassy.

In order to save you the possible stress of the situation, we have prepared this short guide in case you decide to start your Spanish adventure.

Step by step:

Let’s see how we can apply together for the study visa for Americans in Spain!

First of all, keep in mind that the official guidance offered by the European Union and Spanish immigration authorities is that only “essential” travel visas will be granted. What is considered “essential” is however somewhat vague. Many American students have successfully argued that further education, allowing them to master a new language, is essential for their career development and employability. Use that knowledge in your advantage and state clearly that learning Spanish is the main next step in your career or studies.

In order to be successful with your student visa application, we recommend you take these 3 actions which should guarantee success:

1.Write a presentation letter in English explaining:

• Why you wish to come to Spain
• Why you need to learn Spanish (obtain university credits, be able to use Spanish whilst working for a US or international corporation, to pass a specific exam, communicate with Hispanic heritage family members etc.)
• What are your specific learning objectives (be able to speak effectively in the past tenses, use correctly the subjunctive, be able to understand conversations, have confidence to communicate with work colleagues etc.)

The letter should be between 300 and 500 words.

2.Take a COVID test

If negative, attach the results with your application. Then when you have the visa appointment take an additional test in the days immediately prior and bring these with you to the face-to face interview.

3.Apply for your visa 2 months before your intended travel date.

There are 9 Spanish Consulates in the USA, some of which are not issuing visa appointments for 6 to 8 weeks, so please plan ahead to ensure you avoid disappointment. Keep in mind that most consulates are having students email the documents before they can even schedule an appointment. Also, due to the time required to have the apostilles, starting ahead of time is a good idea.

To sum up…

We hope that this guide will encourage you to apply for the study visa and come study Spanish in Madrid. We are sure that your stay in Madrid will be an unforgettable and life-changing experience.

Even though we are aware that the year 2020 is not the easiest time to make some decisions, we want to stay optimistic. For that reason, we believe that thinking positive and keep moving forward is the best way to stay happy and healthy. If you want to start your adventure in Spain, count on us to get the most out of it.