Indian passport holders need a Schengen Type D National Visa (long-stay) for any internship in Spain lasting more than 90 days. This is not the standard short-stay Schengen tourist visa. It is a separate visa category that permits you to live and work as an intern in Spain for the full duration of your placement, typically up to 12 months. This guide covers the exact documents required, what the visa costs, what you will realistically spend each month in Barcelona and Madrid, and what Spanish companies actually pay interns.
For broader context on European internship funding options, read our guide to stipend internships in Europe for Indian students before diving into Spain specifically.
Schengen Type D Visa: what Indian students need to know
Spain requires a Type D National Visa (also called a long-stay visa or visado de larga duracion) for any stay exceeding 90 days. If your internship is under 90 days, a standard Schengen Type C visa applies instead. Most structured internship programmes with a full semester or year placement require the Type D.
Applications are submitted through VFS Global Spain at their centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. Book your VFS appointment as early as possible. Peak slots (June to August applications) fill 6-8 weeks out.
Processing time: 4-8 weeks from the date of document submission. Apply at minimum 8 weeks before your internship start date. Do not book non-refundable flights until you have the visa in hand.
Fee: EUR 80 (approximately INR 7,200 at current rates) paid to the Spanish Consulate, plus a VFS service charge of approximately INR 1,800. Total cost at the counter: approximately INR 9,000.
Document checklist for Indian applicants
The Spanish Consulate has specific requirements for Indian applicants seeking an internship visa. Missing any of these will result in rejection or significant delays.
- Internship offer letter: Must be on company letterhead, signed by an authorized representative, and state your role, start date, end date, and monthly compensation. Vague letters ("we welcome you as an intern") are not sufficient.
- Proof of accommodation in Spain: A signed rental contract, university-arranged housing confirmation, or a letter of invitation from your host family with their NIE (foreigner identity number). A hotel booking is not accepted for long-stay visas.
- Bank statement: A minimum of EUR 100 per day for the duration of your stay, or roughly EUR 3,000 for a three-month placement. The statement must be from the last three months and stamped by the bank. Digital PDFs may be accepted but a physical stamp is safer.
- Health insurance: Minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid for the entire Schengen area, with no excess or deductible on medical emergencies. Ensure the policy explicitly states EUR 30,000 minimum coverage. Many Indian travel policies fall short of this threshold.
- University enrollment certificate: Must be dated within the last three months, in English or Spanish, confirming you are an active student.
- Valid passport: At least two blank pages and valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from Spain.
- Two recent passport photographs: 35x45mm, white background, taken within the last six months.
- Completed visa application form: Available on the VFS Spain portal, signed by hand.
Practical note: The bank statement threshold of EUR 100 per day is a consulate minimum, not a recommended budget. See the cost section below for what Indian interns actually spend in Barcelona and Madrid.
Monthly costs: Barcelona vs Madrid
The two cities Indian interns most frequently land in are Barcelona (tech, tourism, design, consumer) and Madrid (consulting, finance, energy, corporate). Madrid is consistently 10-15% cheaper than Barcelona for accommodation. Food and transport costs are similar.
| Expense | Barcelona | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room rent | EUR 500-800 | EUR 450-700 |
| Food (groceries and occasional restaurants) | EUR 250-350 | EUR 250-350 |
| Metro monthly pass | EUR 40 | EUR 40 |
| SIM card (data plan) | EUR 10-15 | EUR 10-15 |
| Going out (weekends, social) | EUR 150-250 | EUR 150-250 |
| Realistic monthly total | EUR 1,150-1,455 | EUR 950-1,355 |
A shared room in Barcelona's Gracia or Poble Sec neighbourhoods (well-connected to the tech startup belt) runs EUR 550-700. Central Madrid neighbourhoods like Malasana and Lavapies start around EUR 500. Both cities have student flat-share platforms: Idealista and Fotocasa are the main ones. Avoid agencies charging more than one month's rent as a fee.
The metro pass in both cities is EUR 40 per month (the T-Jove card for under-30s in Barcelona is slightly discounted). Groceries from Mercadona, the main Spanish supermarket chain, are cheaper than in Germany or the Netherlands. A full weekly shop comes to roughly EUR 50-60.
Average intern salaries in Spain by sector
Spain legally requires most interns to be compensated. Since 2023, unpaid internships at companies have been significantly restricted. Here are realistic salary ranges by sector, with the companies that hire international interns:
| Sector | City | Monthly Salary (EUR) | Example Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech and startups | Barcelona | EUR 600-900 | Cabify, Glovo, Factorial |
| Consulting | Madrid | EUR 700-1,100 | Indra, Capgemini Spain, PwC Madrid |
| Tourism and hospitality | Both | EUR 400-600 | NH Hotels, Melia Hotels, Barcelo |
| Renewable energy | Madrid | EUR 500-800 | Acciona, Iberdrola, Repsol |
| Finance and banking | Madrid | EUR 600-900 | Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank |
The gap between salary and living costs is real. A EUR 700 consulting intern in Madrid spending EUR 1,000 per month needs to fund approximately EUR 300 from savings or grants. This is where Erasmus+ ICM funding becomes important for eligible Indian students (see below).
Indian business students increasingly land consulting and strategy roles in Madrid. The way you present your academic background and analytical skills to a Spanish recruiter matters. See how Indian business students present themselves to Spanish companies for a concrete example of a profile that converts.
Erasmus+ ICM funding for Indian students in Spain
Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) is the EU's programme for students outside Europe to do placements at European institutions. For Spain, the grant amount is EUR 485 per month, paid directly to the student for the duration of the placement.
To access this funding, your Indian university must have an active ICM agreement with a Spanish partner institution. Several Indian universities have current agreements: IIT Delhi, the University of Hyderabad, and Manipal University have partnerships with Spanish institutions. These agreements are bilateral and time-limited, so check the current status with your international office every academic year.
The application process runs through your Indian university, not directly through the Spanish institution. Deadlines are set by your university's international office, typically 4-6 months before the placement start date. Combining an Erasmus+ ICM grant of EUR 485 with a EUR 700 consulting stipend in Madrid closes the gap on living costs almost entirely.
Building a profile that gets responses from Spanish companies
Spanish recruiters, particularly in Barcelona tech and Madrid consulting, receive high volumes of international intern applications. The applications that get responses share three characteristics: they are in English with clean formatting, they show specific interest in the company's market or product, and the candidate's academic background is immediately legible without a cover letter explanation.
The Internship Abroad platform is built around this. Your profile is structured so that the relevant information (sector focus, language skills, academic background) is surfaced to recruiters without them having to read through a full CV. Create your free profile and get matched with Spain placement opportunities currently open to Indian students.
For a broader look at which European destinations offer the best stipend-to-cost ratio for Indian students, the Europe stipend internships guide compares Spain, Germany, Netherlands, and France side by side.
Ready to apply for a Spain internship?
The Schengen Type D visa takes 4-8 weeks. Start your application 10 weeks before your intended start date to have buffer. Secure your accommodation before submitting your visa application, since proof of accommodation is a required document. Get health insurance with at least EUR 30,000 coverage before your VFS appointment.
Start your free profile on Internship Abroad to access Spain-specific placement opportunities, visa guidance, and support from our placement team throughout your application.