Learn Spanish in Spain: Courses, Schools and Visas

Checked against official sources on 10 October 2026

People who want to learn Spanish in Spain can choose between three kinds of provider: private language schools, the language centres of universities and the public Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas. Courses of up to 90 days need no student visa. For a longer stay, the course must be taught in person at an official language school or at a centre accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. This guide explains the providers, what the accreditation means, the visa rule and the certificates that prove a level.

Where to learn Spanish in Spain

The Ministry of Education's page on studying Spanish in Spain lists the same three routes. It notes that many public and private universities offer Spanish courses in their language centres. Two examples on the Cervantes list are the Centro de Lenguas Modernas of the Universidad de Granada and UCOidiomas of the Universidad de Córdoba.

The EOI are official schools outside the ordinary stages of education. According to the Ministry, there are 471 of them across the country and they teach 23 languages, from basic level (A1-A2) to proficient user (C1-C2); some teach Spanish for foreigners.

The directory lists language schools in Spain and universities in Spain.

What "Centro Acreditado por el Instituto Cervantes" means

The Instituto Cervantes runs an accreditation system for centres that teach Spanish, known as SACIC. A centre that passes is recognised as a Centro Acreditado por el Instituto Cervantes. The evaluation uses a set of requirements and 300 descriptors, and it is repeated every three years. It looks at five areas: organisation and management, teaching and learning, complementary services, facilities and resources, and the information the centre gives about itself.

To apply, a centre must meet minimum requirements. Among them:

• It teaches Spanish in person.
• It has at least two years of experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language.
• It has at least two Spanish teachers with a university degree, at least 60 hours of specialised training and at least 600 hours of teaching experience.
• It offers courses at three or more levels all year.
• It has a teaching plan with levels, objectives and assessment criteria.

For a student, the Instituto Cervantes says that an accredited centre meets the legal requirements to teach, has qualified teachers and assesses its courses. It also gives guidance on progress, handles complaints and gives complete and truthful information about its courses. The accreditation is a quality mark for the centre. It is not a qualification for the student, and the certificate a school gives at the end of a course is the school's own.

The list of accredited centres in Spain is ordered by region and province, from Andalusia (Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Málaga, Seville) to La Rioja.

Spanish courses in Spain: types and intensity

Schools set their own course names, timetables and prices, so these must be checked with each school. In general terms the offer falls into a few groups:

• General courses by level, which can be joined for a few weeks or for a full academic year.
• Intensive courses with more class hours per week.
• Preparation courses for the DELE or SIELE exams.
• University courses that follow the academic calendar.
• EOI courses, which follow the school year and end with an official certificate exam.

The number of class hours matters for a visa. The Spanish consulate in Los Angeles describes full-time study as a minimum of 20 hours a week. No official page gives typical prices, so none are given here.

The visa rule for language courses

A student visa is not required for study stays of up to 90 days; depending on nationality, a short-stay visa may be needed. For longer stays, Royal Decree 1155/2024 treats Spanish courses as a training activity, with these conditions:

• The course is taught in person at an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas or at a centre accredited in Spain by the Instituto Cervantes. For the co-official languages, the equivalent public body accredits the centre.
• Spanish is not the applicant's mother tongue or the official language of the country of nationality.
• The applicant is over 18.
• The applicant shows financial means of 100% of the IPREM index per month, health insurance, and admission and payment of the course fees.
• The visa is applied for at the Spanish consulate at least two months before the course starts. Applying from inside Spain is reserved for higher education.

The permit lasts as long as the course, up to one year, and can be extended only once. For the extension, an EOI student must have passed the course. Students at other centres must have obtained a DELE diploma, have registered for the DELE exam or have obtained a SIELE certificate. Language students may work up to 30 hours a week only with a work authorisation. Family members cannot join a language student, because that option is limited to higher education.

The Los Angeles consulate lists the documents and adds that the language school must be officially recognised by the Instituto Cervantes.

Certificates: DELE, SIELE and EOI

• DELE: official diplomas awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, at six levels from A1 to C2. They are valid indefinitely.
• SIELE: an electronic exam promoted by the Instituto Cervantes and three universities. It covers levels A1 to C1, gives results within three weeks and its certificate is valid for five years.
• EOI certificates: official certificates at levels A2, B1 and B2, and at C1 and C2 in some schools, valid throughout Spain.

Choosing a city and a school

Accredited centres are spread over most regions, so the choice of city can follow budget, climate and the size of place a student prefers. The city pages describe the main student cities, for example Salamanca. Before paying, check:

• Whether the school is on the Cervantes list or is an EOI, if a visa is needed.
• The class hours per week, written in the acceptance letter.
• The length of the course and the start dates.
• What the price includes: materials, exam fees, accommodation.
• Whether the school prepares for the DELE or SIELE and is an exam centre.

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa needed to study Spanish in Spain for a summer?

Not a student visa, if the stay is 90 days or less. Some nationalities need a short-stay visa to enter.

Can any language school support a student visa?

No. For stays over 90 days the regulation names only official language schools and centres accredited by the Instituto Cervantes.

Can a language student extend the stay?

Once, and only with proof of progress: a passed EOI course, a DELE diploma or registration for the exam, or a SIELE certificate.

Which certificate is better, DELE or SIELE?

The DELE has no expiry date and is taken at one level. The SIELE is faster and its certificate lasts five years.