For international students
Studying with MEA from outside the EU.
One-month intensives or a full event-management term — we help you arrive legally, on time and with the right paperwork in hand. Below is what you need to know for the two most common paths into Marbella, plus exactly how our admissions team supports the visa file.
Which path is yours?
Monthly & short intensive courses
Most students on a one-month DJ, production or events intensive stay under Spain's 90-days-in-any-180 short-stay allowance. If your nationality is visa-exempt for the Schengen area — including the UK, USA, Canada and the UAE — you enter with a passport, proof of enrolment and accommodation, no visa required. If your nationality is on Annex I of EU 2018/1806 (this currently includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman), you apply for a short-stay Schengen "C" visa with study purpose at the Spanish consulate covering your country of residence.
Full event-management education
A full term or multi-month programme requires Spain's national study visa (Type D) — the same rule applies whether you're coming from London or Doha. Two consulate sub-codes: SSU for 91–180 days, and SLU for stays over 180 days (which also requires you to apply for a TIE residence card within 30 days of arrival). Governed by RD 1155/2024.
By nationality
Quick orientation for the passports we see most.
Lists are based strictly on EU Regulation 2018/1806 (Annex I / II). Always confirm current rules with the Spanish consulate covering your country of residence before you apply.
UK residents (post-Brexit)
No visa for stays up to 90 days. For a full term over 90 days you need the Type D study visa — filed via BLS International on behalf of the Consulate General of Spain in London, Edinburgh or Manchester.
Apply at: BLS London / Edinburgh / Manchester
Read the UK residents guide →
Qatar
Qatari passports are not currently Schengen-visa-exempt. A short-stay Schengen (C) visa is required even for a one-month intensive, filed at BLS International in Doha on behalf of the Embassy of Spain. Full-term study needs the Type D visa through the same channel.
Apply at: BLS International Qatar (Doha)
Read the Qatar guide →
GCC (Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman)
Not Schengen-visa-exempt — only UAE nationals in the GCC are. Apply for a short-stay Schengen (C) visa for one-month courses and a Type D visa for full terms, through BLS International in your country of residence.
Apply at: BLS in your country of residence
Read the GCC guide →
USA
Visa-exempt for short stays up to 90 days. For longer study stays, apply for the Type D visa at the Spanish consulate covering your state (Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston or Boston).
Apply at: Spanish consulate for your state
Read the USA guide →
Canada
Visa-exempt for short stays up to 90 days. For longer study stays, apply for the Type D visa at the Spanish consulate in Ottawa, Montreal or Toronto by province of residence.
Apply at: Ottawa / Montreal / Toronto
Read the Canada guide →
EU / EEA / Swiss
No visa required at any length. On arrival for stays over 90 days, register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals to obtain your NIE / EU residence certificate.
Apply at: No visa — register on arrival
Schengen-visa nationals
If your passport is on Annex I of EU 2018/1806, you need a short-stay Schengen (C) visa even for a one-month course, and a national Type D study visa for anything longer. File at the Spanish consulate covering your legal residence.
Apply at: Consulate of your residence
Not sure?
Send admissions your passport nationality and the course length you're considering — we'll point you to the correct consulate page and the exact visa route in one reply.
Apply at: We'll find it for you
The Spanish study visa, explained
Short-stay Schengen (C)
For study stays under 90 days by nationals who need a Schengen visa. Not required for visa-exempt passports. Filed at the consulate of your country of legal residence.
National study visa (D)
Required for any study stay over 90 days, all non-EU nationalities. Two codes: SSU (91–180 days) and SLU (over 180 days, TIE within 30 days of arrival). The programme must be full-time at an authorised centre — confirm the exact weekly-hours threshold with your consulate.
Documents you'll need
The Type D checklist, grouped by who provides what.
From you
- National visa application form + recent passport-style photo
- Passport valid for the full stay, plus copies of every used page
- Proof of financial means (bank statements, sponsorship letter, scholarship)
- Proof of accommodation in Marbella
- For stays over 180 days: criminal-record certificate (last 5 years), apostilled and sworn-translated
- For stays over 180 days: medical certificate per International Health Regulations 2005
From MEA
- Official admission letter naming the course, exact dates and full-time schedule
- Confirmation that course fees are paid
- Hours-of-study certification for the consulate file
- Introduction to vetted accommodation partners and accommodation confirmation letter
From third parties
- Private health insurance valid in Spain — full coverage, no co-payments, no deductibles
- Sworn translations of any document not in Spanish (via a traductor jurado)
- Apostille from your country's designated authority on public documents
- Consular / BLS fees, paid at the appointment (amount varies by nationality)
Financial-means proof is currently set at 100% of IPREM per month (IPREM 2025 baseline: €600/month) — consulates usually ask for coverage across the full stay via bank statements, a sponsorship letter or a scholarship award. Confirm the current figure and fee with your consulate before submitting.
Take it with you
One-page PDF — documents, timeline and where to submit.
Print it, hand it to a parent or bring it to your consular appointment. Updated for RD 1155/2024 and IPREM 2025.
How MEA supports you
A concierge admissions handover — not legal advice, but everything on our side of the file.
Admission & hours letter
We issue the letter in the format Spanish consulates expect — course, dates, weekly hours, full-time status and fees-paid confirmation.
Accommodation partners
Introductions to vetted apartments and student housing in Marbella, and an accommodation confirmation letter for your file.
Insurance guidance
We point you to insurance providers other MEA international students have used successfully — full coverage, no co-payments, no deductibles.
Checklist for your consulate
We share the current document checklist published by the Spanish consulate covering your country of residence and flag the 6-to-2-month application window.
TIE reminder post-arrival
For SLU (over 180 days) students: reminders and referrals to help you book your TIE foreigner-ID appointment within the required 30 days.
Buddy intro
Landing in Marbella alone? We introduce you to current international students so you have familiar faces in class from day one.
Verified sources
Everything on this page traces back to an official source.
We refresh each source below through our verification pipeline and only publish figures the source confirms. If a date is missing, that source hasn't been re-verified yet — treat consulate figures as authoritative.
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FAQ
Do UK students still need a visa after Brexit?
Not for short courses up to 90 days — a passport is enough. For a full term over 90 days you need the Spanish Type D study visa, filed via BLS International on behalf of the Consulate General of Spain.
I'm from Qatar — do I need a visa for a one-month course?
Yes. Qatari passports are not currently Schengen-visa-exempt, so even a short course requires a short-stay Schengen (C) visa filed at BLS International in Doha on behalf of the Embassy of Spain. Courses over 90 days require the national Type D study visa through the same channel.
Can I work while studying?
Under RD 1155/2024 the study visa allows limited part-time work under specific conditions. Your consulate confirms what's permitted for your situation — we don't advise on this beyond pointing you at the current rule.
Can family come with me?
Only the SLU visa (stays over 180 days) allows accompanying-family visas for a spouse, partner and dependent children. SSU (91–180 days) does not.
How much money do I need to show?
Currently 100% of IPREM per month (IPREM 2025 baseline: €600/month), typically shown across the full stay. The figure is set by Spanish law and can change — confirm with your consulate at time of application.
Start the conversation early
Apply now, and we'll issue the admission letter your consulate needs.
Marbella Event Academy is an education provider, not an immigration lawyer. Visa decisions rest with the Spanish consulate handling your file. Requirements change — always confirm the current rules with your consulate before applying. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular sites), BLS International intake partners, RD 1155/2024, EU Regulation 2018/1806.