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Other Visa Types

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) Student Visa
Required Document 2026

Proof of Accommodation
for Spain Student Visa

Before the consulate issues your visa, it needs to know where you'll live in Spain. Here's exactly what they accept — and what won't pass.

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Accepted Documents

What the Consulate Accepts as Proof of Accommodation

There are several valid forms of accommodation proof. Choose the one that applies to your situation — not all applicants will have the same type.

✓ Accepted

Signed Rental Contract (Contrato de Arrendamiento)

A signed rental agreement between you and a Spanish landlord or agency. This is the strongest form of evidence. The contract must show your name, the full address, the rental start date, and ideally the duration.

  • Must be signed by both landlord and tenant
  • Must show the full Spanish address
  • Duration should cover at least the course period
  • In Spanish — no translation needed
✓ Accepted

Student Residence Hall Booking

A confirmed booking or reservation letter from a Spanish student residence (residencia universitaria) or school-arranged accommodation. Must confirm your name, the address, and the dates of your stay.

  • Official confirmation on letterhead
  • Must state full address
  • Dates must overlap with course period
  • If in English, sworn translation may be needed
✓ Accepted

Host Invitation Letter (Carta de Invitación)

If you are staying with a Spanish resident (family member, friend, or host family), they can issue a formal carta de invitación — an invitation letter confirming they will house you. This is a legal declaration signed by the host and in some cases registered at the local foreigners' office (comisaría).

  • Must be in Spanish
  • Must include host's ID or NIE number
  • Must state duration of stay
  • Some consulates require a notarised version
✓ Accepted

School-Provided or Homestay Accommodation

Some language schools arrange homestay accommodation or have partnerships with residence halls. If your school provides accommodation as part of the programme, they can issue a confirmation letter as part of your enrolment documents. Request this alongside your enrolment letter.

  • Must show the address where you will live
  • Issued on school letterhead
  • Should confirm the accommodation period
  • Combined with enrolment letter is ideal
⚠ Rarely Accepted

Short-Term Booking (Airbnb / Hotel)

Hotel or Airbnb bookings alone are generally not accepted for long-stay student visas because they don't demonstrate stable accommodation for the full study period. A very short initial period booking (e.g. first two weeks) may be used alongside a rental contract in progress, but consult your consulate before relying on this.

✗ Not Accepted

No Accommodation / "Will Find When Arrive"

The consulate will not accept a declaration that you intend to find accommodation after arrival. You must have confirmed, documented accommodation in place at the time of your visa application. Not having this document is grounds for outright rejection.

Requirements

What Your Accommodation Document Must Show

Regardless of the type of accommodation, the document submitted must contain the following information.

Your Full Legal Name

Must match your passport name exactly. If the document is in a landlord's name or only references "the tenant", ask for a version that names you specifically.

Full Address in Spain

Street name, building number, floor and door (piso/puerta), city, and postal code. The address must be a real residential address in Spain, and must match the address you put on your EX-00 form.

Dates of Occupation

The start date of your accommodation should align with (or precede) your course start date. The end date or duration should ideally cover your full study period.

Signature of Landlord, School, or Host

The document must be signed by the party providing accommodation. Unsigned documents are not accepted. Rental contracts must be signed by both parties.

FAQ

Accommodation Proof Questions Answered

Accepted forms include a signed rental contract, a student residence booking confirmation, a host invitation letter (carta de invitación), or school-provided accommodation confirmation. The document must show your name, a full Spanish address, and the dates of your stay.
Generally no — a hotel booking alone is insufficient for a long-stay student visa. The consulate expects proof of stable accommodation for your full study period. A rental contract or student residence booking is required.
Yes. You must have confirmed accommodation before your application is submitted. Many students arrange accommodation through their school or use a Spanish rental agency remotely before attending their consulate appointment.
Spanish rental contracts do not need translation. English-language booking confirmations or host letters may require a sworn Spanish translation. Check your specific consulate's requirements.
This is one of the most common challenges for student visa applicants. The consulate requires confirmed accommodation before processing your application, so you cannot apply without it. Many students secure accommodation remotely through their school's partner residences, language school homestay programmes, or Spanish flat-share platforms such as Idealista or Fotocasa. If you are struggling, arranging a short initial stay in a student residence or homestay to use as the initial proof is a practical approach.
Yes. If you are staying with a family member or friend who is a legal resident in Spain, they can issue a formal carta de invitación (invitation letter) confirming you will be staying at their address. This must be in Spanish, include the host's Spanish ID or NIE number, state your name, the full address, and the intended duration of your stay. Some consulates require the host to make this declaration in person at a local police station (comisaría). Confirm with your consulate before relying on this option.
Yes. The accommodation address you submit should be in the same city or municipality where your course is taking place, or at least close enough to be realistic. The consulate is checking that you have plausible living arrangements in the place you intend to study. An address in a different city from your school would raise questions. If your school is in Madrid, your accommodation proof should be for an address in Madrid.
Ideally yes, but some consulates accept proof of initial accommodation only — for example, the first month of a student residence booking or a short-term rental — on the understanding that you will arrange longer-term accommodation after you arrive. This varies by consulate, so always confirm what your specific consulate accepts. Having accommodation confirmed for the full course duration is the strongest evidence and minimises the risk of questions.
Yes. A confirmation letter from a Spanish university residence hall (residencia universitaria) or student hall is fully accepted as accommodation proof. The letter should be on official headed paper, confirm your name, the address of the residence, and the dates of your booking. If the letter is in English, a sworn Spanish translation is required. If your school issues this document as part of your enrolment pack, it can often serve double-duty as both enrolment and accommodation evidence.
In general, the accommodation document should mention your name directly. If the rental contract is in a housemate's name or a family member's name, you will need a signed letter or declaration from them confirming you will be living at that address, alongside the contract itself. The key thing the consulate needs to see is that you, specifically, have a confirmed place to live at a specific address in Spain.
No. Proof of accommodation is a mandatory document and your application will be rejected or stalled without it. If your school is arranging accommodation and has not yet confirmed it, chase them to provide at minimum a letter of intent confirming accommodation will be provided, with an expected address. In the meantime, you can also independently arrange a short-term student residence booking to use as your accommodation proof while waiting for the school's confirmation.
Yes. The address you declare as your Spanish address on the EX-00 visa application form must match the address shown on your accommodation proof document. Discrepancies between the form and the supporting document will raise questions and may cause your application to be queried or delayed. Double-check the spelling, street number, and postal code are identical across all documents before submitting.

Not Sure If Your Accommodation Proof Qualifies?

Our advisors review your entire document pack — including accommodation — before your consulate appointment.

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