The General Directorate for Migration Management (DGGM) has published Guideline 8/2025, aimed at unifying the interpretation and application of Article 53.1(c) of the new Spanish Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024). This guideline directly affects foreign students who wish to pursue compulsory or post-compulsory secondary education in Spain as part of an official student mobility program.
This new guidance provides much-needed clarity for families, schools and organizations that manage international school exchanges—an area that has grown significantly in recent years and now benefits from more precise administrative instructions for processing these stays.
⏺️ Who does this new guideline apply to?
The guideline applies to underage students who participate in:
- National or regional student mobility programmes
- Exchange programmes organised by officially recognised educational institutions
- Educational projects run by schools registered in the national registry of non-university educational centres or the corresponding regional registries
The purpose of the stay must be to undertake ESO (compulsory secondary education), Bachillerato, or an equivalent level of secondary education. These stays should not be confused with university-level study authorisations; they are structured programmes for minors and require a specific protective framework.
⏺️ Requirements for accessing student mobility programmes
The DGGM establishes that Article 53.1(c) of the Regulation will be considered fulfilled when the following requirements are met:
◾️Participation in a regulated mobility program
The student must prove inclusion in a secondary education mobility program recognized at national or regional level, or managed by a school officially registered in the appropriate educational registry.
◾️Admission to the educational centre in Spain
The minor must present an admission letter from the Spanish school where they will study, and the institution must appear in the corresponding official registry.
◾️Responsibility assumed by the organization or the educational centre
The guideline introduces an important clarification: the organization responsible for the mobility program, or the school participating in the project, must formally assume responsibility for the student during their entire stay in Spain. This includes:
- Cost of studies
- Living expenses
- Return travel expenses to the country of origin
Although the family may cover these costs, the administrative responsibility lies with the organisation or school.
To prove this, the following documentation must be provided:
- Document designating the person responsible for the minor in Spain
The designated person must:
– Be an adult
– Be Spanish, an EU citizen residing in Spain, or a resident third-country national with a valid residence permit covering the full academic period
– Have no criminal record for offences of a sexual nature
– Sign a sworn declaration confirming no involvement in adoption or foster processes and expressly committing to assume responsibility for the minor throughout their stay
- Authorization from the parents or legal guardian
This authorization must specify the address where the minor will reside in Spain and include the full identification details of the person designated to take responsibility for them.
- Proof of family relationship
Generally, a birth certificate or equivalent document.
◾️Accommodation during the stay
The guideline requires that the minor’s accommodation be organized and verified in advance by the entity responsible for the program. This may involve a selected host family or a boarding school/residence directly linked to the educational project.
The DGGM emphasises that informal or unsupervised accommodation is not permitted. Housing must be integrated into the programme to ensure safety, supervision and proper adaptation. Any change must be communicated immediately, as accommodation is a core element of the authorisation.
⏺️ What is the practical impact of Guideline 8/2025?
The publication of this guideline represents an important step for schools, mobility organizations and families. Previously, Immigration Offices applied these procedures inconsistently, which created uncertainty regarding documentation and the responsibilities of each party. Guideline 8/2025 creates a unified framework that improves planning and provides legal certainty.
In practical terms, organizations now know exactly what must be prepared from the outset: how to demonstrate participation in a regulated mobility program, what documents parents must provide, who is responsible for the student in Spain and how accommodation must be structured. A uniform national standard reduces delays and unexpected administrative requests, allowing families to plan more effectively.
The guideline also reinforces child protection, ensuring that supervision, accommodation and the designated responsible person are clearly established from the beginning. This guarantees that the student is integrated into a safe and stable environment, and that any relevant changes are promptly reported to maintain the validity of the authorisation.
Overall, Guideline 8/2025 brings administrative clarity and sets out strong safeguards that ensure international students in mobility programmes undertake their stay in Spain within a protected, well-regulated framework.
⏺️ How ARC Legal supports you
At ARC Legal, we understand the complexity of these programmes and the specific requirements introduced by Spanish immigration rules. We work closely with educational institutions, families and international organisations to ensure that every stage—from preparing the application to the student’s arrival—is managed clearly and without complications.
We begin by reviewing the program’s viability and the documentation required by the Immigrations Office, ensuring it meets the exact administrative standards. From there, we prepare and structure the complete application file, anticipating potential issues and maintaining close communication with the authorities throughout the process.
We also assist families and organisations after the student’s arrival, addressing questions that may arise during the stay and ensuring that any changes in circumstances are handled correctly to avoid future problems.
If you are coordinating the arrival of international students or are a family looking to begin this process, we can help you structure it from the outset, providing legal certainty and organized management at every stage. Contact us anytime.
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Prefer to read this article in Spanish 🇪🇸? You can find it here: Nuevo criterio de la DGGM sobre la autorización de estancia de larga duración para programas de movilidad de alumnos
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 make every effort to keep our content updated and aligned with official sources, but we always recommend consulting with a specialized lawyer before starting any procedure or making legal decisions. For personalized guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us.