International Students: Preparation Tips Before Your Flight to Spain

After getting your acceptance letter from a higher educational institution (HEI) in Spain, and after much celebration, the next thing you have to do is prepare for your flight. For many students, this part feels overwhelming. Thus, here are some preparation tips before your flight to Spain. 

Your Health Insurance and Immigration-Related Preparation

The first thing you should do is to apply for a study visa, which the Spanish embassy in your country only offers once you get an acceptance letter from an HEI. In most cases, you have to wait 12 weeks before the Spanish embassy gives you your study visa. 

Check your passport too, ensure it is still valid and the validity date covers your whole stay in Spain. This way, you won’t have to undergo a lot of processes while abroad if you want to renew your passport. 

When it comes to your health insurance, if you are already using one in your home country, check if it is also accepted in Spain by asking your insurance provider. If not, look for health insurance that can cover your whole stay in the country. You can ask the institution of your choice if they are offering health insurance packages or can suggest some health insurance coverage you can apply for. 

Book an Accommodation 

After getting your acceptance letter, and after processing your study visa, the next thing to do is call your HEI to book a school accommodation. 

Remember that on-campus accommodations are usually in demand, so, book as early as you can. If you are lucky enough, some HEIs automatically give on-campus slots to first-year or international students. 

In case you want to look for a place outside of the campus, some websites offer student-purpose accommodations you can check out. In case you feel unsure about it, you can ask your institution if they have partner companies, or can suggest legitimate websites or places where you can start looking. 

A Short-Packing Guide

Before you can start listing the things you have to bring with you to Spain, you must first take note of the following things. 

The first one is to pack light and bring only what is necessary with you during your stay in Spain. For example, if you are only planning to stay in the country for a couple of weeks to a few months, there’s no need to bring your whole wardrobe. Or for example, you are planning to stay in a place in Spain where the weather is mostly hot, or you are only planning to stay there for a summer program. There’s no need to bring clothes for winter. 

Some of the most important things to bring in Spain aside from clothes are the following: 

• Travel documents (study visa, passport, letter of acceptance, proof of finance, proof of accommodation) 
• If you are bringing your gadgets, such as laptops or phones to Spain, aside from their charger, bring a travel adapter which you can use for types C and F plugs. 
• Formal and traditional clothes from your home country, in case of events where you may have to use them. 

Those are the top preparation tips you can do to prepare for your journey in Spain. 

If you want a more comprehensive guide for the things you have to bring, check out MSM Unify’s article on What Items Do You Need To Pack To Study Abroad? If you want to learn more about Spain as a study destination, check out our articles on everything about Spain.