Administrative steps to remember

Attention! If you start your studies in Spain in 2022, you must take care of it .

This is MANDATORY to enter the higher education system in Spain and the process will depend on the "type" of studies you are going to undertake.

• To enter a university course (dental, veterinary, physiotherapy, architecture, business, etc.) you must make an application for a Credencial.
• In order to enter a Higher Vocational Training(audioprosthesis) you must apply for certification.

This is mandatory, for example, in order to benefit from the Spanish public social security system (allocation of a health center (Centro de salud) and, within it, of a referral doctor).

For example: in the period of confinement for the Covid-19, the document certifying that you were registered was the minimum required to enter Spain from France, even by car. Without it you could not enter the Spanish territory!

In addition, you will be able to vote in municipal elections in your municipality of residence in Spain.

When you are 18 or 20 years old, health is not always what seems to be the most important thing, and yet in the last few years the arrival of the global covid-19 pandemic has proven the contrary...

• What happens for everyday "boo-boos" (colds, gastro, sprains): Will you be able to see the doctor of your choice? How much will it cost ? Will you have to pay? Will you be reimbursed?
• What happens in the event of a serious accident or illness: Where will you be taken care of? Who will take care of you? Under what conditions? Will you have to pay in advance? Will you be reimbursed for these expenses? By whom? At what level?
• What happens during a pandemic: Who to contact if you have symptoms? Where to go for testing (PCR, serological)? How to get medical follow-up or treatment?

When it comes to health coverage, you will need to consider several options, some of which can be combined:

• The European social security card (this is the basis!):

Ask for it before you leave and carry it with you for the duration of your studies in Spain.

It is free, valid for 2 years and can be obtained quickly by simply requesting it from your online file on the Ameli website.

You will have to pay in advance if you are treated in Spain and you will only be reimbursed on the basis of the French social security system.

If you pay more than this reimbursement base, you will have to pay the difference (be careful, the differences can be very important, especially with the fees charged by private doctors in Spain).

Always ask for an invoice (from the doctor + the pharmacy) because you will have to provide it to your social security center in France to be reimbursed.

• Affiliation to the Spanish Social Security:

In order to benefit from it, you must first be registered in the municipality of your place of residence in Spain (step 1).

The affiliation is done by region (search in Google: tarjeta sanitaria + name of the autonomous community of your place of residence).

Once the registration is completed, you will be attached to a public health center and to a doctor whom you will be obliged to consult.

It is mandatory to contact this health center, by phone at first.

• Private coverage (the only way to ensure full coverage):

If you are only covered by French social security (European social security card), you will often have to pay the remaining costs (just like in France if you only have Social Security without a complementary mutual insurance).

If you only have coverage with Spanish social security you will not have the freedom of choice for your care.

If you only have coverage with French social security (European social security card) and/or with Spanish social security in case of problems, no expenses will be covered if you wish to be repatriated to France in case of accident or serious pathology.

Students in Spain can sometimes continue to be covered by one of their parents' mutual insurance companies (check the specific terms for long stays abroad).

You can take out a private health insurance policy specifically for long stays abroad (different formulas are available, depending on your needs and wishes). We recommend APRIL International, which has always been the benchmark in this field, and which our students who choose a private mutual have been using since FEEDUC was founded 8 years ago. You can find their contact details on the page of the FEEDUC website dedicated to health cover for studying in Spain.

For a long time it was called the NIE, but nowadays the term NIE only applies to foreigners who are on the register of European NON-residents in Spain but who may need an identification number for certain official purposes.

The term NIE, which is shorter and easier to remember and pronounce, will still often be the term used (sometimes even by some Spanish administrative services) but it is the certificate of enrollment in the register of European citizens resident in Spain that you will have to do.

The certificate of enrolment in the register of European citizens residing in Spain is not required by the universities, but it is compulsory for any person of European nationality who resides in Spain for more than 3 months.

The certificate of registration in the register of European citizens resident in Spain was required for any traveler wishing to enter Spain by plane during the restrictions of circulation between France and Spain during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The certificate of enrollment in the register of European citizens residing in Spain is sometimes required to access certain legal documents that are compulsory to exercise a regulated profession upon completion of the studies.

The certificate of enrolment in the register of European citizens residing in Spain is sometimes required for access to certain physiotherapy training centres

Be careful, this process is long : do not take it at the last moment, this process is done in several steps and you will never finish the process, when you need it and this can be detrimental to you in the short but also in the medium and long term.

This process is tedious : do not hesitate to ask for help from professionals, you will gain in efficiency and therefore also in speed.

Your local consulate can contact you in case of a major crisis (natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemic, etc.) and send you information if necessary.

Following this process, you will be able to apply to join the electoral rolls and vote from your home consulate during French elections.

Your registration on the consular lists can facilitate your administrative procedures (renewal of French identity documents, request for health or legal assistance, etc.)

This process is done online + by mail (sending the documents) and you will find the details at the following link: HERE