Get a VISA

If you are from a country outside Europe or outside of the Schengen Area, it is important to start applying for a VISA as early as possible, usually around March-May if you plan on studying in Europe in September. Below you can find some guides written by former students, to get a general idea of the necessary steps to get a VISA, however remember that the VISA procedure can change every year so look up the official process on the official websites too! In case the real process is different, feel free to update the guides below :)

Home Country

Costa Rica

This guide is for Costa Rica, but probably could be used as an example of the procedure in any non-EU country. The first part of the VISA procedure must be started in your own country, at the embassy of the country where you will study during your first year. You should start this as soon as possible because it takes a lot of time, usually like three months according to the German Embassy. Each embassy has their own set of requirements, they have all that on their websites.

Visa procedure for Germany

If you want to study in Germany, you need to present the following:

• Signed application form
• Passport
• Passport pictures
• Costa Rican ID
• Admission letter
• University titles
• CV
• Proof of economic resources (scholarship or bank account information)
• Address of where you will be staying
• Proof of insurance
• 75 euros (the program can write a letter to avoid this one)

All the information can be found here.

When you get all that, you have to get an appointment and then go to the embassy.

Visa procedure for Spain

If you want to study in Spain, you need to present the following:

• Signed application form
• Passport
• Passport pictures
• Costa Rican ID
• Admission letter
• Invoice for the tuition
• Contents of the master's program (you can use the information on the EM-Fusion website)
• University titles
• Proof of economic resources (scholarship or bank account information, official authorized document if it isn't yours)
• Medical certificate (needs to be authorized by the "Colegio de Médicos" in Costa Rica, you'll need to take it there)
• Proof of criminal records (you need the international version with the stamp of the "Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores")
• Proof of insurance (very important: it must cover the cost of repatriation in case of accident or death)
• Payment of the fees

All the information can be found here.

On their website, you can get an appointment to deliver all the documents in person. Finally, they will approve or deny the application after several weeks.

These are only two specific examples. However, the procedure is generally the same for all the countries involved on the master's program. The previous lists could be useful to get an idea of the type of documents that are required to submit the visa applications.

Russia, Central Asia region, Georgia and etc.

Students who are going to study in Belgium from Russia and nearby countries from Central Asian region can apply only in Belgian embassy in Moscow. Also before COVID you required to travel to Moscow and apply by yourself (physical presence required for fingerprints), nevertheless due to COVID situation it's possible to apply by post (only by DHL).

To obtain D type Schengen visa you can follow the link to get way more info: [1]. You can find list of documents and apply in that website.

After geting an visa, you will need to apply for residence permit in the country where are you going to study, because Belgian embassy in Moscow gives you D-type visa only for maximum 180 days. So be prepared to go to goverment migration instance after starting your education and make sure that your residencing is not illegal.

Extended Residence Permit Application

Madrid (2016)

To get a VISA in Madrid you need to file an Extended Residence Permit Application. Start the process about a week after living in Madrid. Receive the papers for getting the Residents permit from the OFICINA DE EXTRANJERÍA DE CANILLEJAS Información general at Calle San Faustino, 23 (esquina a C/ Sebastian Francisco, 28022 - Madrid Plano de localización Teléfonos: 91 272 95 00). You would be asked to make the payment of 15 Euros at the bank and submit one of the papers at the bank. A small piece of paper containing a link for making an appointment at the office of foreign nationals office for submitting all the documents that are required by them would be given. This paper also requires that you include the following documents, after they have been procured you would only need an appointment date.

• Passport Photo
• Copy of Passport
• Certificate of Home address (Certificado de empadronamiento) which you can easily apply for at the town hall by just going to the office near the Moncloa Metro station.

Following the link on the piece of paper which was provided at the earlier office address leads to a website where you do the following:

1. Select Madrid and the given (INDENTITADAD DE EXTRANJERO [HUELLA]) for page 1.
2. Give in all details as asked and accurately for page 2.
3. The system identifies you as ¨"Name Family Name" with "Passport number" for page 3.
4. Select the office as mentioned / or any other office since it doesn't matter, preferably an office close to your accommodation or university for page 4.
5. Provide more information like the phone number etc and the email ID for page 5.
6. On accepting the change in details, you will get the same response from the system which is that an appointments is available before the expiry of your current current 90 day VISA. The date, time and place for the appointment will be made clear and take a print of this to carry with you on the day of the appointment. I attach the bank papers and the piece of paper with the link and address for your reference.