How I Got My Spanish Student Visa (and What I Learned)
I applied for Spain’s long‑stay student visa (Type D) through BLS International Miami. It’s very doable…if you break it into steps and respect the details. Here’s the stack I prepared, what actually mattered, and what I’d change next time.
My Spanish student visa process via BLS Miami. Documents, insurance, FBI apostille, timing, and what I’d do differently.
What the student visa is (and when you need it)
If your studies in Spain run longer than 90 days, you need a national student visa issued by the Spanish consulate that covers your state. For Miami’s area, BLS International is the intake center; the consulate still makes the decision. Incomplete applications aren’t accepted, so plan to submit a tight, complete packet. BLS Spain Visa
My timeline (high level ~2.5 months)
Acceptance: Basque Culinary Center → letter of admission.
Visa Appointment: I cannot stress this enough…book the appointment as soon as you are accepted. Most wait several weeks for their appointment. I had to wait 6 weeks.
Background check: FBI + Hague apostille + certified Spanish translation. This also took a long time to complete and was very expensive. Getting the report was easy, however the apostille and translation process took more than 4 weeks for me. Get started right away and know this part will be expensive.
Health insurance: visa‑compliant policy (no copays/deductibles; full coverage in Spain). You must purchase the 12 month policy in full so you need to be prepared for that. Fortunately, the policy cost about 70% less than my most recent policy for similar coverage in the U.S.
Medical certificate: bilingual consular wording (International Health Regulations, 2005). Must be signed by an MD within 3 months of your visa appointment.
Financial means: at least 100% of IPREM per month of stay (consulates quote ~€600/mo for 2025). I aimed to save about $1000/mo to cover all expenses.
Proof of tuition payment/registration: now often required before applying. My school made this easy.
Submission: BLS Miami (Coral Gables, Miami, Florida). You have to attend your appointment in person, and return in person after the visa application is complete. There were no exceptions to this rule at the time I applied. No couriers, no nothing. This was also a significant cost for me.
The exact documents I prepared (checklist)
Use this as a packing list. Requirements can vary by consulate; always check your consulate/BLS page the week you apply.
Visa application form + photo + passport (valid for the full stay, with blank pages).
Admission letter from my school (program dates, full‑time study).
Proof of financial means meeting 100% IPREM/month of study (roughly €600 per month in 2025, more if you have dependents). I brought recent bank statements and my sponsor documentation.
Health insurance: private policy valid in Spain for the entire authorized stay (some consulates now want coverage from 1 month before start to 15 days after end). No copays, no deductibles, no waiting periods; minimum €30,000 coverage and equivalent to Spain’s public system. Travel insurance is not accepted.
Criminal background check (FBI), issued within the required window, with Hague apostille and official Spanish translation. This takes WEEKS and is very expensive. Since this is a federal document it must be apostilled in Washington DC.
Medical certificate with the consular bilingual wording (IHR 2005). This avoids translation issues. Note: a D.O. is not authorized to complete this form I learned. It must be an M.D.
Proof of tuition/registration fees paid (many consulates now require payment proof at application). My school initiated all of this and provided me with a bilingual confirmation letter.
Proof of residence in the consular district + visa fee + BLS service fee as applicable (see BLS page for Miami). BLS Spain Visa
Tip: I used simple, labeled folders (A–H) and a cover sheet (document map). It made intake smoother and kept my nervous system quieter. Also, don’t be like me and take your photo at a Walgreens walking over to the appointment…I did my best to hide my sweat and redness, but failed.
What changed in 2025 (and why it matters)
Over spring/summer 2025, posts from consulates and BLS centers reflected tighter, more explicit requirements, especially on insurance wording, proof of paid enrollment, and timing (some centers advise submitting ~2 months in advance). If you’re applying now, mirror the exact wording your consulate lists—don’t rely on generic “travel insurance.” BLS Spain
Health insurance: what “visa‑compliant” really means
This tripped a lot of people up. Myself included. The safest path:
No copays, no deductibles, no waiting periods.
100% coverage of medical/hospital/outpatient care, equivalent to Spain’s public system.
Valid for the whole authorized period (and in some jurisdictions, 1 month before start + 15 days after end, or a full year if studies exceed 6 months).
Issued by a company authorized to operate in Spain; insurance cards and travel policies are not accepted. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Maybe one day I’ll write a review of my health insurance policy and experience with the spanish healthcare system.
Background check + apostille + translation (how I handled it)
I requested the FBI Identity History Summary, then sent it for the U.S. federal (Hague) apostille.
I ordered a certified Spanish translation of both the FBI check and the apostille page.
The Washington, D.C. consular guidance is clear: no apostille = no go; the apostille must certify the signing official on the background check. Some BLS centers ask you to include photocopies of the check, apostille, and translation in the packet. I had to pay a third party a significant fee of about $300 to courier and apostille my report.
This took over 5 weeks for me to complete and about $800 after the translation. You must pay per word and the FBI background report (even if empty) is several pages long.
Medical certificate (use the consular template)
Use the bilingual medical certificate template provided by Miami (or your consulate) so the wording matches exactly: that you do not suffer from diseases with serious public health repercussions per the International Health Regulations (2005). Templates save translation time and avoid phrasing disputes. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Money: how much proof of funds?
Consulates typically require at least 100% of IPREM per month of your stay. In 2025, consulates quote about €600/month for the main applicant (more if you bring family members). I calculated months of study x €600 and brought statements well above that to be safe. My savings goals were $1000/month. Check your consulate’s page for the figure they enforce.
Where I applied (Miami) and submission details
BLS International Miami Visa Application Center handles intake for the Miami consulate. The Coral Gables address is shown on their checklist; they also spell out jurisdiction and rules (e.g., you must be a resident of FL/GA/SC). Expect a strict completeness check at the counter. It reminded me a bit of the DMV; a lot of people in the office for all different reasons, all waiting to be helped. A bit chaotic but efficient.
It was very difficult for me to get an appointment for BLS. I took the only appointment available, which was about 6 weeks out from that day. I kept checking the website to see if any earlier appointments opened up, but I quickly learned there were no more appointments available AT ALL. They were booked for the remainder of the year. I wonder what would have happened if I wasn’t able to snag my appointment in 6 weeks.
So you can avoid the extra stress, book your appointment as soon as possible. And keep it. You must arrive during your appointment or you will loose your spot and have to start all over. BLS was great to work with and they approved my visa no problem, but they are very strict…be prepared.
I traveled to Miami the day before my appointment because I did not want to risk missing or being late to my appointment. It was a very stressful experience for me because I was so nervous and so much depended on the visa, but it was a very straightforward appointment. I really did not need to be stressed. As long as you have the documents you need (and perhaps a few extra that you don’t), you will be just fine!
After you arrive: your first 30 days in Spain
If your program runs more than 180 days, you’ll need to apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)—your residence card in Spain—within the first month of arrival. Book the “huellas” (fingerprints) appointment through the official portal for your province, and prep EX‑17, tasa 790‑012 receipt, photos, passport with entry stamp, and (often) empadronamiento (local registration).
Later I’ll link a post about getting my TIE! I’ll take you along with me on social too.
What I learned (so you don’t have to stress)
Mirror the wording. For insurance and medical certificate, match the consulate’s exact wording and time windows. It prevents rejections. Also, they are not playing about coverage 1 month before your program date. Exactly 30 days before your program you must have coverage, regardless of if you are in Spain or not. Your 12 month policy is enough, you do not need to purchase for the entirety of your program. You will have the opportunity to renew your health insurance or purchase a different policy when it comes time to renew your visa.
Over‑document the money. Bring statements that clearly cover IPREM x months with buffer. I showed all savings and checking accounts I have. I also brought credit statements to prove creditworthiness, but II did not need those.
Pay something toward tuition if your consulate/BLS requires proof of paid enrollment. Don’t assume an acceptance letter alone is enough. My school took care of all of this for me and I signed a payment schedule agreement to also submit to the consulate.
Translate what needs translating. Background check + apostille pages usually need official Spanish translation. Confirm on your consulate’s page. Allow ample time to get documents; it is surprisingly expensive and time consuming.
Hold the nervous system. Build your packet in labeled sections; do a final run through the night before, and then take yourself out to a nice dinner because you deserve it. They will make you take all of your documents out of your folders when you submit them; but trust me it helps so much to stay organized.
My packing‑for‑appointment folder map (copy this)
A. Application & Photo
B. Passport & copies
C. Admission & tuition payment (acceptance letter, proof of paid enrollment)
D. Financial means (statements/sponsor) at 100% IPREM x months
E. Insurance (certificate letter: no copays/deductibles/waiting periods; valid dates)
F. Background check (FBI + apostille + translation)
G. Medical certificate (bilingual IHR 2005 wording)
H. Proof of residence & fees (jurisdiction docs, BLS/consular fees)
Again, they will make you take all of your documents out of their folders. It hurt my feelings a little lol but only because I was so organized! Trust me, make the folders and use them!
Final notes & sources
Rules change: some centers emphasize “submit ~2 months early,” paid enrollment, and specific insurance periods (e.g., start 1 month before → 15 days after). Read your consulate’s and BLS center’s pages, then mirror them exactly.
Miami/BLS official pages and consulate guidance I found most useful are linked in the citations throughout this post. Start here if you’re in FL/GA/SC, then click through to Download Forms for the bilingual medical certificate and current checklists.
This whole process of document collection, translations, apostillizations, application, travel and fees cost me just under $3,100.00. Quite pricey, but quite worth it. I included the documents provided for grad school admission in that figure to give you a true scope of how expensive this visa was.
So what now?
If you’re applying right now and need a one‑page checklist or want me to publish a TIE appointment walkthrough next, tell me what would help the most. I’m happy to share templates and make this easier for the next person.
*A note on accuracy
I’m sharing my process as a student in 2025. Always cross‑check with your consulate’s page and BLS center before you apply; requirements can vary by jurisdiction and change without much notice. Core references used in this post include the BLS Miami site (jurisdiction, checklists), the Consulates of Spain (Chicago/Boston/Washington) for IPREM, insurance, medical certificate wording, and apostille rules, and TIE timing.
