El Gobierno ofrecerá una vía rápida a los estudiantes extranjeros bloqueados por las políticas de EEUU para continuar sus estudios en España

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has announced the preparation of a fast track to access the Spanish university system aimed at foreign students affected by the recent immigration restrictions imposed in the United States, which will be approved next Tuesday by the Council of Ministers.

The proposal, dubbed EduBridge to Spain, is part of the government’s strategy to strengthen Spain’s potential as a recipient of international talent. “Spain is a country of enormous potential as a reference destination for global talent, as evidenced by its great economic performance and that three million foreign people have chosen our country to live and work, increasingly linked to activities of high added value,” said Saiz.

To ensure the effective implementation of this route, an inter-ministerial working group has already been created in which the ministries of Migration; Education, Vocational Training and Sports; Science, Innovation and Universities; Foreign Affairs and Territorial Policy participate. This team has been working on a series of approaches that will guarantee the incorporation of these students to Spanish academic spaces in an initial phase, from September of this year (first semester) and, in a second, from January 2026 (second semester).

‘Fast track’ to continue or start studies in Spain

Thus, the plan, defined as an academic fast track, contemplates agile itineraries for international students in different educational stages: Baccalaureate or previous courses that will pass to the University; students who are in the middle of the degree (with one or more courses already completed); and people who have finished the degree and who want to do a master’s degree in a university.

For all cases, the procedure would consist of obtaining the registration in the centre; the application for the authorization of stay for studies - allows both the residence and the compatibility of working part-time with the studies, for a period of more than 90 days, and can be processed through the consular network; the obtaining of the visa; the transfer to Spain; and, finally, where appropriate, the obtaining of the TIE.

With regard to the continuity of studies in Spain, the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports will guarantee the continuity of studies at non-university levels in all courses, as well as the incorporation of students into post-compulsory education, through the homologation of degrees that they can contribute from their countries of origin. In addition, in order that students do not suffer delays in the continuation of their studies, an interim resolution will be issued that will authorize the registration on a conditional basis until the final resolution of their file.

On the continuity of studies in Spanish University Degrees from Baccalaureate studies obtained in United States centers, there will also be different ways to facilitate the arrival of these students in Spanish university classrooms - by means of the homologation of the foreign Baccalaureate degree, establishing, after this previous step, different scenarios, with their corresponding solutions: use of quotas for foreign students; performing specific tests for access to Degrees with high cut marks; requesting the transfer of the file and the validation of the subjects taken in the case that the person is already studying a University Degree in the United States;

While the consular offices of Spain in the United States will expedite the procedures aimed at resolving visas, the delegations and subdelegations of Government, in the case of students, and the Unit of Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE), in the case of teachers and researchers, will do the same with the processing of the corresponding authorizations. Finally, police stations will facilitate requests for the issuance of foreign identity cards (TIE) from students, teachers and investigators.

Coordination between ministries

The international context has been key in activating this measure. The recent decision of the US Administration to suspend visas and increase controls on foreign students, has led the Spanish Executive to design an initiative, which wants to send a clear message: talent will be welcome, and education will remain an open and safe space.

“From the respect, balance and equity of interests and expectations of Spanish students, we want to offer these young people the possibility to continue training in our country, contributing their talent. Their future cannot be trapped by decisions beyond their effort and merit,” the minister said.

Once the measure is approved by the Council of Ministers, the Executive will launch an international information and orientation campaign aimed at interested students, which will be articulated mainly through embassies and consulates, as well as the Ministry of Education in the United States and the different public universities with agreements with American universities. The objective is to channel the interest in an orderly manner, offer legal certainty and accompany young people from the beginning of their transfer process.

“Spain wants to be a country where knowledge breaks through, even when others close it. In a world that raises walls, we build bridges. When others restrict, we integrate. Because knowledge and dignity do not understand borders,” the minister concluded.