Student visa for a football academy in Spain: step by step
Who needs it, which documents, how long it takes and what happens if it is refused. Updated October 2026.
Training at a football academy in Spain for a few weeks is easy for most nationalities. Staying for a whole season is different: it needs a study visa, a complete file and time. This guide explains it in plain words. It is general information: each consulate publishes its own list, and the decision always belongs to the Consulate of Spain.
1. Do you need a visa?
| EU, EEA or Swiss citizen | No visa, for any length of stay. |
|---|---|
| Up to 90 days (TNGS Week, 1 month, 3 months) | Depends on the nationality. Many countries travel without a visa; others need a short-stay Schengen visa. If you need one, we send the invitation letter. |
| More than 90 days (6 months, full season) | Study visa (national visa, type D) for players from outside the EU. |
2. Which visa for a season at an academy?
There is no “football visa”. Since May 2025 the rules are in Royal Decree 1155/2024, and the long-stay visa is a study visa: the player must be enrolled full-time in studies at an authorised centre, with accommodation and an adult responsible for him in Spain. The route depends on his age: under 17, through a secondary-education programme or educational project; from 17, it can also be higher education.
In the video call we look at your son’s age and studies and tell you which route fits. Our lawyer prepares and reviews the file.
3. Documents you usually need
- National visa application form, signed by both parents if the player is under 18.
- Passport valid for the whole stay (many consulates ask for at least one year) with two blank pages, and a recent photo.
- Letter of admission from the Spanish school or centre: programme, dates, full-time studies, accommodation and the person responsible for the player in Spain.
- Proof of financial means: at least 100% of the IPREM per month of stay (€600 a month in 2026). Less is needed if the accommodation is already paid.
- Health insurance with a company authorised in Spain: full cover, no co-payments and no waiting periods. Travel insurance is not accepted.
- Medical certificate issued in the last 3 months.
- Under 18: notarised authorisation from both parents (with the Hague Apostille), birth certificate (apostilled and translated) and the documents of the adult responsible in Spain.
- Over 18: usually also a criminal record certificate.
- Sworn translation into Spanish of every document in another language.
Ask your consulate for its current list before starting: some ask for extra documents or an interview.
4. Step by step with TNGS
Video call and choice of programme
We check the player’s age, nationality and studies, and tell you whether he needs a visa and which route fits.
Booking and admission letter
With the place booked, we prepare the admission letter and the documents from Spain.
Your documents
You get the passport, authorisations, certificates, apostilles and translations ready. Our lawyer reviews the file.
Appointment at the consulate
In person, in your country of residence, between 6 and 2 months before the start.
Decision and travel
Do not buy flights until the visa is granted. We organise the arrival in Valencia.
Foreigner’s card (TIE)
If the stay is longer than 180 days, it is requested at the police within 30 days of arrival. We go with him.
5. Dates to keep in mind
- 6 to 2 months before the start: the window to apply at the consulate.
- About 1 month: what consulates usually take once the file is complete (it can be longer).
- For a September start: start preparing documents in spring, and have the appointment by early July.
- Within 30 days of arrival: the foreigner’s card (TIE), if the stay is longer than 180 days.
6. If the visa is refused
The consulate gives the reasons in writing. You can ask it to reconsider within one month or go to court within two months. Often it is better to fix what failed and apply again.
At TNGS, if the visa is refused before travelling: in the full season we refund €3,000 of the €5,000 deposit and any other payment in full; in short stays, everything except what was already paid to third parties. Once in Spain, there is no refund. Full details in our visas and refunds page.
Frequently asked questions
Does my son need a visa for a football academy in Spain?
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland never do. For up to 90 days, it depends on the nationality: many countries (for example the USA, Canada, the UK, Mexico, Brazil or Japan) do not need one, and others (for example India, Nigeria, Ghana or China) need a short-stay Schengen visa. For more than 90 days, players from outside the EU need a study visa.
Is there a “football visa”?
No. Training at an academy does not give a visa on its own. For a long stay the visa is a study visa, so the player must be enrolled full-time in studies at an authorised centre. The route depends on his age: under 17, through a secondary-education programme; from 17, it can also be higher education.
How long does it take?
The application is made between 6 and 2 months before the start. Consulates usually decide in about a month once the file is complete, but it can take longer and cannot be sped up. Count on 2 to 3 months in total, including getting the documents ready.
How much money do we need to show?
At least 100% of the IPREM for each month of stay: €600 a month in 2026. If the parents pay, they sign a notarised letter and show their bank statements. If the accommodation is already paid, less is required.
What happens if the visa is refused?
The consulate explains the reasons in writing. You can ask it to reconsider within one month, or go to court within two months. At TNGS, if it is refused before travelling: in the full season we refund €3,000 of the €5,000 deposit and any other payment in full; in short stays, everything except what was already paid to third parties.
Can he stay for a second season?
Yes, the stay can be extended while he keeps studying and meets the requirements. It is requested in Spain before the card expires, and our lawyer handles it.
Sources
- Royal Decree 1155/2024 (Spanish immigration regulation, in force since 20 May 2025).
- Ministry of Inclusion: stay for student mobility
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: sworn translators
- Example of a consulate checklist: “Study visa for minors”, Spain visa centre (June 2026).