In many situations in life, being early and prepared is a smart move. However, when it comes to applying for your Spanish Study Visa, it is possible to apply too early and run out of time on your visa at the end of your course.
Meanwhile, applying too late means you will likely miss the beginning of your studies in Spain, which may have a negative impact on your education. You may not even be able to go to Spain at all if you leave it too late.
As Spanish visa experts, we have helped many students to apply for their Spanish Study visa. Some attempt to apply too soon, while others leave it until the last minute and apply too close to their course’s start date.
We have made this guide to help those who are applying for Study Visas so that they can fully enjoy their time in Spain, and not have to worry about any issues with their application, or problems that may arise further down the line.
Keep reading to find out the best time to apply for your Spanish Study Visa.
What happens if you apply for a Spanish Study Visa too early?
1. Your visa could expire before your course ends
By applying for a Spanish Study Visa too early, your visa will expire early. This could mean that you have to leave Spain before you have completed your studies, and so, you will not be able to get the qualification you have been trying so hard to study for.
Additionally, you could waste money on accommodation that you have rented for your stay in Spain for the duration of your studies, as you will have to move out earlier than planned.
Any time before July is generally too early to be applying for your visa if your course begins in September. To avoid issues surrounding your visa ending early, make sure you begin to apply in July.
2. Random spot checks
Most people apply for their Spanish visa in the summer leading up to the new study year. As a result, if you apply too early, your application will stand out to Spanish authorities, and they may carry out a random spot check.
They may find it suspicious that someone is applying for a Study Visa so early and outside the time period when most people do it. This could delay your application, or even result in your visa being denied.
3. Delays in the decision process
By applying for your visa too early, the decision process may be delayed. This is because as part of your application, you will need to present proof of what course you are doing, which includes the course start date and end date.
If the Spanish authorities see that you have applied early, they may delay the processing of your application, unlike if you applied closer to when you are meant to be studying in Spain.
This means that if you are trying to go to Spain slightly earlier than when your studies begin, your plans may have to be changed, as you will have to wait longer for your application to be processed.
What happens if you apply for your visa too late?
1. You will miss the start of your course
If you apply for your visa too late, it may not be granted in time, and you will miss the start of your course. This could put you at an academic disadvantage, and you will also lose valuable time to settle in and meet your course mates.
In some cases, this may prevent you from enrolling altogether if the university does not accept late arrivals.
2. Travel disruptions
If your course is due to start at a certain date, then you will likely have planned how you are going to travel to Spain. For example, you may have booked plane tickets.
By applying for your visa late, you are more likely to miss your flight, and you will have to rebook it at a higher cost.
3. Delays could make you even later
If the Spanish authorities are particularly busy due to a high number of applications, or if something else happens that could cause delays like you being chosen for a random spot check, then you could be granted your visa even later.
This would greatly increase the chances of you not only missing the start of your course, but not being able to enrol in the first place. Then, you would not be able to begin your studies.
Applying at the right time ensures that delays will not impact you as much so that you can begin your studies with no issues.
When you should apply for your Spanish Study Visa
Applying on time helps ensure your travel, accommodation, and education plans go ahead smoothly.
Normally, we would recommend beginning the application for your visa in early July and submitting it to the Spanish Consulate by the end of the month if you plan on studying in September. This gives you enough time to make any arrangements, mitigates the impact of any processing delays, and should ensure that you get to Spain in time to begin your studies.
By doing this, you will not start your studies late or be unable to begin them, nor will you have to leave Spain early due to your visa expiring before it ends.
If you are still unsure about the best way to go about starting your visa application, then get in touch with us. We are here to help you.
How we can help you
Start your Spanish study adventure the right way. Get in touch today for expert support with your visa application.
Our experienced team of Spanish visa experts can guide you through the process of applying for your Study Visa, and help you navigate any issues that may arise. They have assisted many clients in the past, and they can help you too.
They will also advise you on the when you should apply for your Spanish Study Visa, so that you do not suffer any of the negatives of applying for a Study Visa too early or too late.
To talk to our team about your visa application, you can contact us by phone, email, our website chat, or by booking a free 10-minute assessment. Then, we can plan the next steps so that you can get to Spain.
Get in touch with us today for assistance with applying for your Spanish Study Visa.
