Are you considering studying at a university in Spain as a foreign student? Great! Before you start, it’s important to know that there are some administrative procedures you need to complete in order to access the university and live in Spain. Additionally, as you probably already know, you must prepare for the PCE (Specific Competency Test) or obtain the UNEDassis accreditation to access the university. If you don’t know what the PCE (selectivity for foreigners) is or need more information, we recommend visiting the FAQ section on the PCE on our website.

In this article, we will provide you with detailed information on the requirements and documents needed so that you can be prepared and avoid unpleasant surprises in the process. Additionally, we offer the option of us helping you with the management of these procedures if you so choose. Let’s get started!

What documentation will I need to access university in Spain as a foreigner?

The required documentation may vary depending on your country of origin and your studies completed. In general, if you come from an EU country, China, or have completed an International Baccalaureate (IB), you will have to complete fewer bureaucratic procedures, as you have what is known as an “access agreement,” which facilitates the admission process to Spanish universities. This means that you will not need to homologate your studies, as they are considered homologated thanks to this agreement. However, you will need UNEDassis accreditation.

1a. UNEDassis Accreditation

If you come from a country that has an access agreement with Spain, you will not need to homologate your Bachillerato studies. However, you will need to apply for UNEDassis accreditation. This document certifies that you meet the necessary requirements to access Spanish public universities. Thanks to UNEDassis, the academic records of international students are valued in a regulated and homologated manner. To obtain accreditation, you can take the Specific Competency Tests (PCE) or apply for it independently if your score out of 10 is sufficient to access the university degree you want.

To find out which countries have access agreements, visit the PCE frequently asked questions page.

1.b. Homologation of the baccalaureate degree

To gain access to the university in Spain, you will need to prove that you have completed studies equivalent to the Spanish Bachelor. If your country does not have an access agreement, you will have to homologate your pre-university studies. This process can take from 3 to 9 months if there are no incidents, so we recommend you start with this step. In this post, we explain how to manage the process on your own. If you wish, we can assist you with the procedure (see prices).

In addition to the difference in the homologation of your secondary education, there are other important differences to consider regarding the necessary documentation to access university in Spain. These differences depend on whether you are a European Union (EU) or Schengen zone citizen or a non-EU citizen.

2a. Documentation for EU citizens:

• NIE: this is the Foreigner Identification Number that will identify you in all the administrative procedures. Although you can apply for an NIE as an EU citizen, you will not need to apply for it if you are going to be in Spain for less than three months. We recommend you obtain it if you are going to be in Spain for less than 6 months. For longer periods it is better to apply directly for the Union Registration Certificate. In this post, we explain how to manage your NIE application on your own. However, if you prefer, we can assist you with the process (see prices).
• Union Citizen Registration Certificate (or green card): if you are going to live in Spain for a period of more than 6 months, you must apply for this permit.

  In this post, we explain how to obtain it. We can also assist you with this process (see prices).

• Obtaining the register: if you are going to live in Spain for more than 3 months, you must register in Valencia´s register. Here we explain how to obtain it, but if you prefer we can help you with the process (see prices).

2b. Documentation for non-European citizens:

• NIE: It is the Foreigner Identification Number that will identify you in all administrative procedures. Although you can apply for the NIE independently, it will be assigned automatically when you do other procedures. You can find information about this process here. We can assist you with the procedure (see prices) if desired.
• Student visa: You will need it to enter Spain as a student and apply for the TIE (explained in the next point) if you stay in Spain for more than 3 months. If you study with us, La Llibreta will provide you with a certificate of studies required for the visa application. Additional documentation may be needed based on your country of origin. Learn about the student visa and how to apply here. We can assist you with the process (see prices).
• TIE: It is the Foreigner Identity Card, associated with the NIE number. Holding this card certifies your intention to reside in Spain for over 180 days, allowing you to enter and leave the Schengen area without a visa. Apply for it if planning to stay over 6 months, within the first month upon arrival. Detailed steps are available here. We can handle the process (see prices).
• Obtaining the padrón: If residing in Spain for more than 3 months, you must register on the padrón (municipal registry). Learn how to obtain it here, or we can assist with the process (see prices).

While not mandatory, we also recommend the following procedures:

• • Digital certificate for administrative autonomy in Spain.
  • Opening a bank account.
  • Obtaining a Spanish phone number.
  • Obtaining a student card.
  • NUSS: Social Security Number if intending to work in Spain.

Although you can handle the administrative procedures on your own, at La Llibreta we have qualified staff to perform the following procedures for you.

The prices detailed are EXCLUSIVE for our students and the support is 100% online. In case you need us to handle any procedure and you do not want to study at La Llibreta, we can do it with a 10% surcharge.