How to get an internship visa for Spain (2026 guide)

Landing an internship in Spain is more than a career step -- it's an adventure. Whether you dream of brainstorming in a Barcelona startup, assisting researchers in Valencia or absorbing corporate life in Madrid, the journey starts long before your first day at work.

Spain's internship visa (visado de prácticas) is actually two different routes: one for students still enrolled at university (based on a convenio de prácticas) and one for recent graduates with an internship contract (contrato de prácticas). Both are national long-stay D-visas, but they have different rules on duration, pay and social security. Since May 2025, Real Decreto 1155/2024 has simplified much of the paperwork and extended intern protections, including mandatory social security enrolment for every intern in Spain.

This guide walks you through every step, from checking which pathway applies to you, to collecting your TIE card after arrival.

Here's what you'll learn:

• What Spain's internship visa is and the two legal pathways available
• Who qualifies (students vs. recent graduates)
• Every document you need, organised by application stage
• How much the visa costs, with a breakdown by nationality
• The full 3-phase application process and realistic timelines
• Why health insurance is non-negotiable -- and what coverage you need
• What to do after you arrive in Spain (empadronamiento, TIE, social security)
• Answers to the most common questions, including how to transition to a work visa

What is Spain's internship visa (visado de prácticas)?

Spain's internship visa is a national long-stay visa (Type D) for international students and recent graduates completing a structured internship with a Spanish company, university or research centre. It lets you live in Spain for 6 to 24 months and, for most interns, work during the period of your internship.

It differs from the student visa for Spain: a student visa (estancia por estudios) is built around enrolment in a Spanish educational institution, with only limited permission to work. The internship visa is built around the internship itself -- you may already have your diploma, and your main activity in Spain is professional training, not academic study.

It's different from a regular work visa for Spain too. A work visa requires a full employment contract and usually goes through Spain's labour-market test. The internship visa has lighter requirements and is specifically designed for training-focused placements.

For a side-by-side comparison with every other long-stay option, see our guide to Spain's visa types.

Two pathways: convenio vs. contrato de prácticas

This is the single most important distinction to understand before you apply. Spain offers two legal routes under the same visa umbrella, and they have very different implications for pay, duration and rights.

A simple rule of thumb:

• Still studying? You'll almost certainly use a convenio.
• Already graduated (within 2 years)? A contrato de prácticas is usually the right fit.

Under RD 1155/2024, the contrato de prácticas duration is expressly set at 6 months to 2 years, and Spain's labour inspectorate has become stricter about making sure internships are genuine training -- not low-cost junior jobs in disguise.

Duration, renewal and transitions

Your total allowed stay depends on which pathway you're on:

• Convenio: usually 6 months, with one renewal up to a total of 12 months
• Contrato de prácticas: initial authorisation of up to 1 year, renewable up to a total of 2 years

The internship visa is widely used as a stepping stone to longer-term residency in Spain. From the internship visa you can transition to:

• A regular work visa if you receive a qualifying job offer
• The highly skilled worker visa if your offer meets the salary and skills thresholds
• The entrepreneur visa if you want to launch a business in Spain
• A job-search permit of 12 months if you graduated from a recognised programme

One helpful change introduced by RD 1155/2024: when you file a modification-of-status request (for example, moving from a convenio internship to a work permit), you receive provisional work authorisation from the moment the request is admitted. That sharply reduces the limbo period that many interns used to experience between visas.

Eligibility and requirements

To qualify for Spain's internship visa, you must meet all of the following:

A note on IPREM

The IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples) is Spain's reference index for public-assistance thresholds. The internship visa requires you to show 100% of IPREM, which is €600/month (€7,200/year) in 2026.

That's a relatively low bar compared to other long-stay visas. Spain's non-lucrative visa, for example, requires 400% of IPREM (about €2,400/month). The internship visa is one of the most financially accessible routes for young non-EU applicants who want to live in Spain.

You can prove the funds are available with:

• Three months of recent bank statements in your name
• A scholarship award letter
• A sponsorship letter from a parent or other family member, with their bank statements
• The internship contract itself, if it's salaried (a contrato de prácticas)

Required documents checklist

Your paperwork comes in three waves, matching the three phases of the application. This is where many applicants get tripped up, so it helps to think of each stage separately.

For a broader overview of what Spain requires for every long-stay visa, see our Spain visa requirements guide.

Stage 1 -- Residence authorisation (EX-04, filed by the company)

Before you can apply for the D-visa, your host company in Spain must file the residence authorisation electronically with the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion. The form they file is the EX-04, and they'll need a digital certificate (certificado electrónico) to submit it.

Documents the company typically submits with EX-04:

• Completed EX-04 form
• The signed convenio or contrato de prácticas
• Proof of the company's social security registration
• Evidence of your qualifications (degree, transcript or enrolment certificate)
• Copy of your passport

Processing time: 30 working days (roughly 6 calendar weeks). If the Ministry doesn't respond in that window, positive administrative silence applies and the authorisation is deemed approved by law. Your company will usually request a silence certificate before the consulate stage.

Important: you cannot apply for your D-visa until the EX-04 authorisation is granted (either by explicit approval or by positive silence).

Stage 2 -- D-visa application at the consulate (submitted by you)

Once the EX-04 is approved, you apply for the D-visa at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your home address:

• National visa application form (2 copies, signed)
• Passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay, plus photocopies
• Approved EX-04 resolution or positive silence certificate
• Criminal background check from every country you've lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled and translated into Spanish
• Financial proof showing at least €600/month available (3 months of bank statements, scholarship or sponsorship letter)
• Health insurance certificate meeting consular requirements (see below)
• Proof of accommodation in Spain (rental contract, landlord letter, host family letter)
• Two recent biometric passport photos, white background, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
• Proof of visa fee payment

All foreign-issued documents must be apostilled (or legalised, depending on your country's Hague Convention status) and then translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). Factor this in -- it often takes 2-4 weeks and costs €30-80 per document.

Stage 3 -- TIE card after arrival (EX-17)

Within 30 calendar days of arriving in Spain, you must apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the National Police station assigned to your address. Documents for this stage:

• EX-17 form
• Proof of the TIE fee payment (Modelo 790 Código 012, €16.32)
• Passport plus photocopies of the visa and entry stamp
• Empadronamiento certificate from your local town hall
• Two biometric passport photos

You book the appointment via sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. In Madrid and Barcelona, appointments can be very scarce, so book before you travel if possible. The card is manufactured 30-45 days after fingerprinting.

Health insurance requirements

Health insurance isn't a minor line item on the checklist -- it's one of the most common reasons internship visas are refused. Spanish consulates examine the policy certificate in detail.

Your policy must meet all of the following:

• Full coverage in Spain for the entire duration of your stay
• No deductibles and no co-pays (many consulates reject policies that include either)
• Covers preventive care, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and hospitalisation
• Covers emergency care and, at some consulates, medical repatriation
• Minimum coverage of roughly €30,000 (recommended -- some consulates require this explicitly)
• Certificate issued in Spanish, or in English with an official Spanish translation

Typical cost: €50-120/month for a compliant private policy.

A broker like Feather issues visa-compliant certificates in Spanish on the day you sign up, covers preventive care with no deductibles or co-pays and gives you English-language support throughout your stay. If you'd like to compare your options more broadly, see our health insurance in Spain guide or the deep dive on private health insurance in Spain.

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How much does Spain's internship visa cost?

The total cost depends heavily on your nationality, because Spain applies reciprocity fees for certain countries. US, UK and Canadian applicants pay significantly more than the standard rate. Here's the full budget picture:

Fees are reviewed quarterly by consulates and can change -- check your specific consulate's website before paying. Figures above reflect rates published at the start of 2026.

The visa application process step by step

Phase 1 -- Your company applies for residence authorisation

• Your host company submits EX-04 electronically using a digital certificate.
• Processing time: 30 working days. If the authority doesn't reply in that window, positive administrative silence applies.
• You cannot begin the consular D-visa process until the EX-04 is approved.
• Keep the approval document (or silence certificate) safe -- you'll need it at the consulate.

If your host company doesn't have a digital certificate (certificado electrónico), they need to obtain one from the FNMT (Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre) before they can file. Small companies sometimes delegate the filing to an immigration lawyer or a gestoría instead.

Phase 2 -- You apply for the D-visa at the consulate

• Apply at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your country of residence, or at an authorised BLS International or VFS centre.
• Book your appointment early -- slots fill up during busy seasons (May-August especially).
• Submit documents in person. A few consulates (e.g. San Francisco) accept mail-in applications.
• Pay the visa fee at the appointment.
• Statutory processing time is 10 working days, but real-world times are typically 2-8 weeks.
• Collect your visa within 1 month of favourable notification.

For a general walkthrough of how Spanish consulates handle applications, see our visa application process guide.

Phase 3 -- TIE card after arrival

• Apply within 30 calendar days of entering Spain.
• Book your TIE appointment at the National Police station (not the Oficina de Extranjería) via sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es.
• In Madrid and Barcelona, try to book before you travel -- appointments can be weeks or months out.
• The card itself is manufactured 30-45 days after you give fingerprints.

Total timeline

The practical recommendation: start 4-5 months before your intended internship start date. The 4-8 week figure you'll see on many consulate websites only covers Phase 2 -- if you rely on it, you'll miss your start date.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Health insurance with deductibles or co-pays -- it will be rejected on the spot.
• Applying for the D-visa before the EX-04 is approved -- the consulate will turn you away.
• Company without a digital certificate -- EX-04 can't be filed at all until they have one.
• Confusing 30 working days with 30 calendar days -- the EX-04 uses working days (≈6 weeks), the TIE uses calendar days (≈4 weeks).
• US applicants using a state police check instead of the FBI -- consulates want the federal-level FBI record.
• Missing apostille or sworn translation -- foreign documents need both.
• Submitting uncertified bank statements -- most consulates want statements stamped or certified by the bank.
• Buying flights before visa approval -- always wait for the visa in hand.

After arriving in Spain

Landing in Spain is only the halfway point -- there are several administrative steps to complete in your first month. For a broader overview, see our guide to moving to Spain.

Register your address (empadronamiento)

In your first few days, go to your local Ayuntamiento (town hall) to register your address. Bring your passport, rental contract and visa. You'll receive a certificado de empadronamiento, which you need for almost every other administrative step -- TIE, bank account, gym membership, even some phone contracts.

Apply for your TIE

Cross-reference with Phase 3 above. Book your appointment as early as possible via sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. Bring your EX-17, passport, empadronamiento certificate, paid Modelo 790 Código 012, and two biometric photos.

Social security enrolment

Since January 1, 2024, every intern in Spain -- paid or unpaid, convenio or contrato -- must be enrolled in Spain's social security system.

• Your host company handles enrolment and remits contributions.
• Contributions are charged at a reduced rate (roughly 30% of the minimum contribution base).
• Coverage includes: retirement, permanent disability, sick leave (both work-related and ordinary illness).
• Unemployment benefits are excluded for convenio interns. Contrato de prácticas interns are covered.

You'll need a Social Security number (NUSS) before you can start. In most cases you apply in person at the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) with the TA1 form, or online if the office supports digital applications in your province.

Know your rights as an intern

Spanish law gives interns real protections, and the labour inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo) is actively enforcing them. You're entitled to:

• A clear learning plan with defined objectives
• Defined working hours (no more than the agreed maximum)
• A safe work environment
• Access to a supervisor
• Breaks and rest periods that match Spanish labour law
• For contrato de prácticas holders: at least the minimum wage (pro-rated by hours)

Your internship should never replace a full job role without training and supervision. If your placement violates your agreement, you can contact the Inspección de Trabajo or speak to a local expat support organisation.

Extensions and transitions

• Extend within the same pathway (e.g. convenio from 6 to 12 months) if you and your company want more training time.
• Switch to a work visa if you receive a qualifying job offer. Under RD 1155/2024, you get provisional work authorisation from the moment your modification request is admitted.
• Switch to the highly skilled worker visa if you're being hired for a qualifying high-skill role.
• Apply for a job-search permit if you completed an internship tied to a recognised higher-education programme.
• Launch a business via the entrepreneur visa.

Processing times by country

Processing times vary noticeably between consulates. Plan backwards from your intended start date.

For American applicants specifically, see our guide on whether Americans need a visa for Spain and how to move to Spain from the US. British applicants may find how to move to Spain from the UK helpful.

Your pathway to a Spanish career starts here

Getting an internship visa for Spain isn't just paperwork -- it's the opening chapter of a memorable, career-boosting stretch of your life. Decide which pathway (convenio or contrato) matches your situation, work backwards from your start date, and give yourself a 4-5 month runway so the administrative steps don't cut into your actual internship.

With the right documents, a clear application plan and visa-compliant insurance in place, you'll be set up for success on day one.

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