Before Arrival

For more information, please contact the Postgraduate Studies Management Service:

Visa and Residence Permit

At the Euraxess Welcome Office we provide reference information, guidance, and support with the processing of immigration documents (visa, NIE, etc.). The processing of these documents usually takes considerable time. Please contact the Euraxess Welcome Office as early as possible so that we can provide you with personalized assistance (contact information is available in the Euraxess Welcome Office section).

If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, the EEA, or Switzerland

• Stay of less than 3 months

You only need your identity card or passport to enter Spain. There is no obligation to register the stay, either for EU citizens or for their family members.

• Residency of more than 3 months

You are required to apply for the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (CUE). In the case of family members, this document is called the Residence card of an EU national family member. This certificate includes an identification number known as the Foreigner Identification Number (NIE).

This procedure must be completed in person at the National Police Station corresponding to the city where you will reside. Please check the Immigration Procedures section for more information.

General information is available at the following link (available in English): Spanish Ministry of the Interior – EU Citizens.

If you are not a citizen of an EU Member State, the EEA, or Switzerland

To determine whether you need a visa to enter Spain, you must check if your nationality requires a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) or long stays (more than 90 days). To do so, you must contact the Spanish embassy or consulate in your country. Check the list of Spanish embassies and consulates worldwide.

The following table shows the different types of visas and residence permits required depending on your situation:

• Decision diagram for research-related entry procedures in Spain

UVigo is not responsible for any possible modifications that may occur in Spanish legislation after the publication of this information. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you duly check your obligations related to residence in Spain at the Spanish Consulate before your arrival, or at an Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) or National Police Station (Comisaría de Policía Nacional) once in Spain.

Health Insurance

Healthcare Insurance

As a visiting researcher at the UVigo, you will need health insurance. You will have to give credit to having insurance before starting at our university.

• If you come from a country of the European Union, you can prove having health insurance with the European Health Card (EHC). It is highly recommendable that, together with your EHC, you hire an additional health insurance with any company, including accidents, international sanitary transfer, travelling assistance, and repatriation in case of accident or severe illnesses.
   
• If you come from a country outside the European Union, you will need to hire an international private insurance. The Universidade de Vigo is one of the Spanish universities adhered to Oncampus, a company specialized in insurance for the university community. On this link you can check their conditions and, if you were interested in it, you could hire the insurance online and print the written proof.

Support to disabled researchers

If you have a disability or a chronic disease, you can get in touch with the Unit of Attention to Students with Special Needs on diversidade@uvigo.gal. Please, make sure you are specific about your needs so measures can be taken in order to provide you with the most suitable solution.
 

Recognition of foreign qualifications

Anyone who has obtained a higher education degree outside of Spain can apply for its official recognition. This process grants official validity in Spain to the foreign degree, equating it to a specific Spanish university degree, whether at the undergraduate (Grado) or postgraduate level (Master’s and Doctoral degrees), provided it is included in the official catalog and allows the practice of a regulated profession.
Once recognized, the foreign degree will have the same academic and professional effects as the corresponding Spanish degree throughout the national territory. These effects apply from the date the recognition is granted, and the official credential is issued.

The authority to recognize undergraduate degrees lies with the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. In contrast, recognition of Master’s and Doctoral degrees falls under the jurisdiction of the Rectorate of each university.

Currently, two types of recognition can be requested:

• To a specific official Spanish university degree that is valid and fully implemented at least in one Spanish university.
• To the general academic level of Diplomado (Undergraduate) or Licenciado (Graduate and postgraduate).

The procedure is carried out exclusively through the Ministry’s website and may require the completion of additional training requirements if the degree grants access to a regulated profession.

You must submit an application, attach the required documentation, and pay the corresponding fee, except in cases where the procedure is exempt from payment. The procedure can be carried out either in person or online if you have a digital certificate (more information in the Digital Certificate section). In certain cases, documents must also be legalized (Hague Apostille) and accompanied by a sworn translation into Spanish. You can find the list of Spanish sworn translators at the following link.

More information is available on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: Procedures - University degrees 

UVigo is not responsible for any possible modifications that may occur in Spanish legislation after the publication of this information. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you duly check your obligations with the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

For more information, please contact the Postgraduate Studies Management Service:

Housing

The Euraxess Welcome Office will advise you on finding accommodation that suits your needs. We recommend that you contact the Euraxess Welcome Office (contact information in the Euraxess Welcome Office section) as soon as possible.

If you plan to come with your family, start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. The allocation of places in schools or nurseries usually depends on the location of your home.

For short stays

UVigo has its own residences or agreements with residences that offer all the services that you need to pursue your academic and professional career. Here, you will find the list of residences in Vigo, Pontevedra, and Ourense, as well as the list of hotels that have agreements with UVigo.

For long stays 

If you are staying for several months or the entire academic year, you may want to consider renting an apartment or room on the private market. 

The real estate market in the province of Pontevedra has seen an increase in housing prices in recent years, with limited supply in certain areas and varying levels of affordability. The average rent in Vigo for a two-bedroom apartment is around €1000 per month. Areas such as the centre of Vigo tend to have higher prices than other more remote areas. In the cities of Pontevedra and Ourense, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is around €750 per month.

To look for accommodation, you can contact a real estate agency (Inmobiliaria). These agencies can help you search for apartments, houses, or rooms that match your needs and budget, charging a commission, which is normally equivalent to one month’s rent. You can reach out to them directly by phone or email or visit their offices in person. Many also advertise available properties on their websites and through housing platforms. The main housing platforms are IDEALISTA, FOTOCASA, and HABITACLIA.

Family

If you are moving with your family, we recommend that you contact the Euraxess Welcome Office as soon as possible (contact information in the Euraxess Welcome Office section) so that we can offer you personalized advice.

To arrange schooling for your children, you will need to provide legal proof that you are their mother, father, or legal guardian. Therefore, it is important that you obtain official documents such as birth certificates and family registers (or their equivalent) from your country of origin before traveling.

The allocation of places in schools or nurseries usually depends on the location of your home, so it is important to register in the city as soon as possible (more information in the City Registration section).

In general, the period for submitting applications for admission to public and state-subsidized private schools takes place between March and April, before the start of the new school year. In Galicia, the academic year usually begins in early September and ends in late June. In the province of Pontevedra, procedures related to official schooling are managed by the Xefatura Territorial de Educación de Pontevedra, which is responsible for coordinating the entire administrative process. It is recommended to consult the website of the Consellería de Educación, Xunta de Galicia (only available in Spanish and Galician) for detailed and up-to-date information on the process and specific deadlines for each stage of education.

More information about the procedures for enrolling in school (only available in Spanish and Galician).