First things first! You will need a passport that doesn’t expire too soon --Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted and they must be valid for a minimum of one year and also valid at least until 3 months after the end of the stay in Spain. Apply or renew now if you need to!
Visas and Permits to Stay
The maximum duration of permitted stay in the Schengen area as a tourist is 90 days, so students staying in Spain for a semester or academic year program will need to apply for a student visa.
Essentially, your passport is your international ID and your visa is your ticket into the country.All students who will be in Spain over 90 days need a visa in order to participate in a study abroad program. Without a student visa, you will not be allowed to enter Spain, and you will not be allowed to participate in the program.
The Spanish study abroad visa is physically stamped into your passport. While the application process varies state by state, you will need to apply for and receive your visa before leaving for your study abroad program.