PREPARING FOR THE GLOBAL COLLEGE

This page has been designed to help families successfully prepare for their child’s upcoming journey to The Global College, guiding and advising as best we can on necessary immigration procedures, legal requirements, and other essential matters to ensure that their arrival and stay in Spain is safe, enjoyable and academically successful.
OVERVIEW

The Global College requires that all enrolled students have appropriate visa and/or other residency documentation to remain and study in Spain throughout the duration of their time at the school. Additionally, Spanish Law requires that any unaccompanied student in Spain (i.e. those whose parents or legal guardians do not reside in our country, irrespective of the child’s nationality) have a designated guardian here, named through a notarized agreement.

For all students, particularly non-Spanish students, we kindly ask families 

  • To start early
  • To understand the process, requirements, and processing times
  • To promptly consider seeking support from a knowledgeable immigration attorney to help with immigration procedures or requirements (highly advisable if a student visa is necessary)
  • And to be thorough in the preparation of all required paperwork.  
The information provided here is divided into sections. Please click on the section below you wish to view, or simply scroll down to see all.
APPOINTING A GUARDIAN

All students who are under the age of 18 and whose parents do not reside in Spain, are required by Spanish Law to have a designated Guardian while studying in SpainBoarders are not exempt from this obligation.

  • The guardian (also referred as “tutor”, “academic or educational guardian”) must be an adult residing in Spain (preferably in Madrid), duly appointed by the parents, through a notarized document.
  • The guardian is required to act on behalf of the parents in all immigration procedures or in any procedure to be followed in Spain for which parental authority is required. More generally, the guardian is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure the child´s adequate care, well-being and welfare while studying in Spain.
  • The guardian will remain on file with the Spanish Authorities as the child’s local representative and therefore becomes the primary point of contact for any emergency, accidents, or incidents where Police or other State Authorities are involved.

Families who do not have the option of appointing a guardian who is a family member or a close friend residing in/near Madrid, have the option of securing guardianship services from a professional provider.

In the link below you will learn about what to consider when choosing a guardian, and you will find information on Guardianship professional services available to our families at special rates in the Special Agreements section below.

Mandatory Procedures Non-EU /EEA / Swiss

VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT

All Non-UE/EEA/Swiss nationals -including those currently residing in a European country other than Spain- are required to follow several immigration procedures to obtain and maintain legal status in Spain for the whole duration of their studies, both BEFORE ENTERING SPAIN (student visa) and ONCE IN SPAIN (student residence permit for year 1, and renewal for year 2).

KEY TIPS:

1. Start Early
Preparing for the visa requirements and related paperwork can easily take 1 month.

2. Immediately check your passport expiration date. 
Your passport should be valid for at least 1 year after the proposed arrival date in Spain.

3. Get acquainted with the student visa process and requirement by carefully reading our Immigration & Procedures Guide below.

In view of the complexity of the requirements, it is highly advisable you seek legal support from an immigration professional. You will find information on services available to our families at special rates in the Special Agreements section.

MANDATORY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Students must be covered by an insurer for the duration of their studies, and must not arrive in Spain before their health insurance starts. Please note that travel insurance is not accepted. Additionally, The Global College does not accept reimbursement policies for our boarding students. Proof of having adequate and fully compliant private health insurance is a requisite for a student visa. More details can be found in the Immigration Procedures Guide above. 

See the section Special Agreements below for information on private medical insurance policies available to our families at special rates. 

Mandatory procedures for EU /EEA / Swiss

REGISTRATION UPON ENTRY IN SPAIN

All incoming students from an EU member country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland are required by law to register as a resident in Spain with the Central Register of Foreign Citizens (Registro Central de Extranjeros) of Madrid, within one month of arrival to Spain.

Upon registration, the student will receive a registration certificate valid for 5 years and a Foreigner Identify Number (NIE).

While registering should be simple, it can end up cumbersome. It is administratively demanding (appointment arrangements must be done well in advance and in person attendance is required at each step); and frustrating if documents required are not fully compliant with what Spanish Authorities demand, including the necessary guardianship agreement if the child is underage.

You will find information on Guardianship/Immigration professional services available to our families at special rates in the Special Agreements section below.

HEALTH INSURANCE

EU, EEA and Swiss students studying in Spain have the advantage of accessing the Spanish public health system through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the newer Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Both cards provide essential coverage for healthcare services during their stay in Spain.

The EHIC and GHIC ensure that these students can receive medically necessary treatments and services that are covered by the Spanish national health system. If you plan to have your child only covered through their EHIC or GHIC, you will need to confirm that the card will be valid for the entire duration of their stay in Spain. It is therefore recommended you check the expiration date and any specific requirements from the home country’s healthcare system to ensure seamless coverage while studying here.

While the EHIC or GHIC is an option, it is important to note that these cards only provide coverage for publicly funded treatments and services. While the public healthcare system in Spain provides good coverage, having additional private health insurance is highly recommended for international students. Private health insurance can offer added benefits, such as faster appointments and access to private hospitals and specialists.

See the section Special Agreements below for information on private medical insurance policies available to our families at special rates. 

SPECIAL AGREEMENTS

Please note that The Global College has no financial interest in these arrangements, other than seeking better conditions (mainly preferential rates or fees) for the members of our community.

IMMIGRATION AND GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES

It is not a secret that keeping up with immigration legal procedures (especially visa and student residence permit requirements and processes) can be challenging. These procedures can be complex or confusing if you are not familiar with immigration law, time-consuming and lengthy. On top of compliance through immigration policies, students under the age of 18 whose parents/legal guardians reside out of Spain are required by law to have a guardian in Spain, to be appointed via a notarized guardianship agreement.

We know what lies ahead, and that is why we believe that it is highly advisable, if you are not familiar with these processes, and for the best possible outcome and peace of mind, that you enlist the services of trusted professionals specializing in immigration and/or guardianship services.

Being fully committed to support our boarding students and parents navigating those processes in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner, we have entered a collaboration agreement with Duguech & Dip, a Spanish law firm based in Madrid, allowing our families to benefit from expert support at special rates. This firm has been collaborating with numerous families within our community over the past three years.

You can access their services and fees below. Please reach out to them directly if you are interested.

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE PROVIDERS

Please be advised that all boarding students, regardless of nationality, are required to have medical coverage, and we do not accept reimbursement policies. 

The Global College has arranged with SANITAS and ADESLAS, both leading Spanish private healthcare providers, to offer our international students moving to and living in Spain medical insurance plans.

Plans offered by these two companies are fully compliant with all areas of coverage required by the Spanish authorities for Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students. Spanish Law requires continuous coverage throughout the student academic journey.

Please note that the school has no financial interest in these arrangements, other than seeking better fees for members of our community.

Families are encouraged to contact the companies directly to discuss about policy specifics, terms and conditions, contracting process and payment requirements, or any other questions they may have, and to compare plans –including other Spanish providers- before making their decision.

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