Hi everyone, I’ve been looking at bilingual international schools in Madrid and Barcelona for my child recently, thinking that moving here earlier would be better for language acquisition and cultural integration. I’ve more or less decided on a school, but when I started researching the visa process, I found it much more complicated than I expected. I was wondering if anyone on this forum has gone through this and could share their experience?
From what I understand, if a minor child comes to study alone, they mainly apply for a minor student visa. The tricky part of this visa is the requirement for a legal guardian in Spain. Some schools can help appoint one, but the process seems quite cumbersome. Moreover, if both parents want to accompany the child, it seems they can’t directly apply for an ‘accompanying parent visa’ but have to go the non-lucrative visa route, which has high financial requirements for the family. Is my understanding correct?
Visa Document Preparation
I’ve compiled a basic checklist of documents based on online research. Could you please take a look and see if I’m missing anything or if there are any special points to note? You can also check this guide on Spanish international schools.
| Document Type | Key Points |
|---|
| School Admission Offer | Must be an official admission letter for a full-time program |
| Proof of Funds | Must cover the first year’s tuition and living expenses; there are specific amount requirements |
| Notarized Guardianship | A document appointing a local guardian in Spain, requires double legalization (Apostille) |
| Birth Certificate | Also requires translation and double legalization (Apostille) |
| Criminal Record Certificate | For both parents, also requires translation + double legalization (Apostille) |
| Medical Insurance | Must be a comprehensive plan from a company in Spain |
I’ve heard that getting these double-legalized documents takes a very long time, sometimes one or two months. It seems I need to start preparing well in advance. Especially for the guardianship appointment, is it more reliable to hire a Spanish lawyer to handle it? I feel completely clueless trying to do it myself.
Then there’s the interview. I’ve heard the review process is very strict now, and the visa officer will ask many questions about the motivation for studying abroad and family background. For example, why choose Spain? Why this particular school? What are your future plans? Especially regarding the source of funds, do I need to prepare very detailed bank statements and explanations? I’ve heard of friends being rejected because they couldn’t clearly explain their source of funds, which is making me a bit nervous. Could anyone share what questions they were asked during their interview, so those of us following in your footsteps can be better prepared? Any advice would be greatly appreciated
! Thank you all in advance!
