All foreigners living in Spain are required to obtain a residence permit. All of the permits described below require the corresponding application form, available on-line, as well as other documentation, to be presented at the corresponding Immigration Office.
Non-EU students
The Foreign Identity Card, for studies or research (Tarjeta de Identidad
de Extranjero, por estudios o investigación) is the residence permit,
required by all non-EU students studying in Spain. If the expected
duration of their stay is equal to or greater than six months, it is
absolutely essential that students obtain this card before the expiry
date of the student visa, which is issued by the Spanish diplomatic
services of the applicant’s country of origin and enables the student to
enter Spain.
To apply for the Foreign Identity Card it is necessary to complete the relevant application form, attaching all necessary documentation and returning it to the Oficina de Extranjeros de Barcelona (Immigration Office), the department responsible for issuing residence permits.
EU students
The NIE, or the Número de Identidad de Extranjero (Identification number
for foreigners) is the residence permit required by EU citizens for
certain activities, such as working, applying for grants or doing work
experience schemes whilst studying in Spain.
To obtain the NIE, it is necessary to complete the relevant application form, attaching all necessary documentation and returning it to the Oficina de Extranjeros de Barcelona (Immigration Office), the department responsible for issuing residence permits to EU citizens, during the first 3 months in Spain.
Alternatively, EU students who do not plan to perform any of the activities mentioned above while in Spain may obtain the Certificado de Registro como Residente Comunitario (Certificate of registration as an EU resident), during their first 3 months in Spain. Currently, this document, which is faster and easier to obtain than the NIE, may be obtained at the Departamento de Comunitarios de la Oficina de Extranjeros de Barcelona (Immigration Office, EU Department), at Marqués de l’Argentera, 2.
Other queries
Students can contact the Delegación del Gobierno en Catalunya for any other enquiries about immigration: