The Spanish Secretariat of State for Migrations issued Instruction 3/2025, which develops and clarifies key aspects of the new framework for long-term stays for study purposes, student mobility, volunteering, and training activities. These provisions are part of the updated Spanish Immigration Regulation, approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024 and in force since May 20, 2025.
💡 At ARC Legal Abogados, we’ve created a special section dedicated to the new Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024). This space brings together all relevant updates, official fact sheets, ministerial orders, and practical instructions to help you navigate this complex legal change. Access the full section and stay up to date: Special Immigration Regulation Hub (in Spanish).
Instruction 3/2025 represents a key step in providing greater legal certainty and administrative clarity to the procedures associated with long-term stays for study and training purposes. Among the main points addressed are:
- Official recognition of language courses provided by higher education institutions as valid for long-term stay applications.
- Flexibility in the duration of stay authorizations, allowing applicants to exclude the month prior to and 15 days after the course.
- Guidance on renewals, fee requirements, and criminal background checks in specific cases.
- Joint applications for family members of higher education students.
- Transitional arrangements for students who obtained authorizations under the previous regulation (RD 557/2011), including the option to renew or transition to a residence and work permit.
This new instruction makes it possible to adapt both initial applications and renewals or modifications to the updated legal framework, taking into account the personal situation of each student and their family members.
You can access the full text of Instruction 3/2025, published by the Secretariat of State for Migrations, here (in Spanish):
⏺️ Are you planning to apply for a long-term stay for higher education, student mobility, volunteering, or training in Spain?
At ARC Legal, we guide you through every step of the process—from selecting the right course and analyzing your situation to preparing the required documents and submitting the application. We also assist with renewals, family authorizations, and transitions to residence and work permits if you are already in Spain.
Got questions? Contact us—we’ll take care of it together.
Related posts
- 2025 Guide: How to apply for a stay for higher education in Spain
- Police Instruction on Return Authorization – Summer 2025
- EduBridge to Spain: A new fast-track route for international students affected by US visa restrictions
Prefer to read this article in Spanish 🇪🇸? You can find it here: Instrucción 3/2025 sobre estancias de larga duración por estudios
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration regulations are subject to frequent administrative and interpretative changes. At ARC Legal, we strive to keep our information up to date and based on official sources. However, we strongly recommend seeking professional legal advice before starting any application or making legal decisions. If you need personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our office.