🇪🇸 Study in Spain: The 2026 Journey, Step by Step
The full 2026 student journey to Spain: a RUCT-registered course, €600 a month in funds, a TIE card and 30 hours of work a week. What visa officers check, what to pack to cut first-month costs, and how much part-time work really covers.
At a glance: the 2026 numbers
| What | Spain |
|---|---|
| Document you need from the school | admission to a course at an institution on the RUCT register |
| Living costs to show | at least €600 a month (100% of IPREM, €7,200 a year) |
| Work in term | 30 h/week |
| Minimum wage | €8.22 an hour |
| Plugs and voltage | Type F plugs, 230 V |
| Cash to declare | €10,000 or more |
Step 1–8: the journey in order
Timings count back from your course start date. Start earlier if you need a scholarship or an education loan: both add months.
What the visa officer is looking for
✅ Admission to a RUCT course
A genuine programme at a registered institution.
✅ Funds of at least €600 a month
Bank statements, a sponsor or a scholarship.
✅ Full health insurance
No co-payments or waiting periods.
✅ Clean record and health
Police and medical certificates.
✅ Honest history
Past refusals disclosed.
Before you leave: pack to cut your first-month costs
The first month abroad is the most expensive: deposits, bedding, a phone plan, transport cards and kitchen basics all land at once. Packing the right things from home, and leaving the wrong ones behind, saves real money and trouble at the border. Spain runs on 230 V, so Indian appliances work with a Type F adapter.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bring: Light clothes and one warm layer | inland winters are cold |
| ✅ Bring: Pressure cooker and one heavy pan | cooking at home saves the most |
| ✅ Bring: Ground, sealed spices | allowed for personal use |
| ✅ Bring: Prescription medicines in original packs | with the prescription |
| ✅ Bring: Type F plug adapters | Indian 230 V appliances then work |
| ✅ Bring: Apostilled documents | for the TIE and university |
| 🛒 Buy there: Bedding | discount stores are cheap |
| 🛒 Buy there: A transport card | youth passes are heavily discounted |
| ⛔ Never pack: Meat or dairy from outside the EU | banned for personal import into the EU |
| ⛔ Never pack: Undeclared cash of €10,000 or more | seizure and fines |
| ⛔ Never pack: Working over 30 hours a week | breaches your authorisation |
💵 Declare cash of €10,000 or more when you enter the EU. Use a forex card or a low-fee multi-currency account for most of your money, and carry only enough cash for the first few days. Full Spain customs rules →
Paying your fees by working, within the rules
| Rule | Spain in 2026 |
|---|---|
| During term | Up to 30 hours a week |
| Breaks | Still up to 30 hours a week in breaks |
| Minimum wage | €8.22 an hour (SMI of €1,221 a month in 14 payments for 2026, about €8.22 an hour on a 40-hour week) |
| Legal maximum in term | €7,398 a year (30 h × 30 weeks) |
Worked example. A realistic plan is fewer hours than the legal maximum, because shifts are not always available and grades matter. Here is what 15 hours a week in term and 30 in breaks earns:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Term: 15 h/week × 30 weeks × €8.22 | €3,699 |
| Breaks: 30 h/week × 12 weeks × €8.22 | €2,959 |
| Gross earnings a year | €6,658 |
| Tuition (example: a public university master's) | €8,000 |
| Living costs (example living budget of €900 a month; the visa minimum is €600 a month (100% of IPREM)) | €10,800 |
| Share of living costs covered | 62% |
| Share of tuition + living covered | 35% |
The pattern is the same everywhere: part-time work can cover much of your living costs, but rarely tuition. Plan to pay tuition from savings, a loan or a scholarship, and use wages for rent, food and the second year's buffer. Never go over your hour limit: breaching visa conditions can lead to cancellation and refusals later.
Other ways to bring the bill down
- Up to 30 hours a week, one of Europe's highest student limits
- University and regional scholarships
- Paid internships under university agreements
- A 12-month job-search permit after graduating
Try your own numbers below. The legal-maximum button fills the most you are allowed to work.
Your first two weeks after landing
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| TIE card | within a month |
| Padrón registration | proof of address |
| Bank account | for rent and wages |
| Phone | prepaid SIMs need your passport |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to study in Spain?
1) Choose a course. 2) Language tests. 3) Apply and get admitted. 4) Funds, insurance and certificates. 5) Apply for the student visa. 6) Get your TIE card. 7) Register your address and open a bank account. 8) Work up to 30 hours a week.
What do visa officers look for in a Spain student visa application?
Admission to a RUCT course: A genuine programme at a registered institution. Funds of at least €600 a month: Bank statements, a sponsor or a scholarship. Full health insurance: No co-payments or waiting periods.
Can I pay my tuition by working part-time in Spain?
Only partly. Working 15 hours a week in term and 30 in breaks at €8.22 an hour earns about €6,658 a year before tax, roughly 62% of the €10,800 living-cost figure. You must show the first year's funds before the visa is granted, so wages are for later years and living costs, not for getting the visa.
How many hours can international students work in Spain?
Up to 30 hours a week during term. Still up to 30 hours a week in breaks.
What should I pack to save money when moving to Spain?
Bring: light clothes and one warm layer; pressure cooker and one heavy pan; ground, sealed spices; prescription medicines in original packs; type F plug adapters. Buy there: bedding; a transport card.
How many hours can international students work in Spain?
Students in higher education or vocational training can work up to 30 hours a week; the study authorisation covers it. Language-course students need a separate authorisation.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 31 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.