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Travora Student · 2027 intake

Study in Spain from Benin

PhD in Spain: for a new application, first obtain national research residence authorisation from UGE-CE, then apply for the RIN research visa at the consulate. The study visa and IPREM funding threshold below apply to other programmes. This distinction follows ministerial criterion 2/2026 signed on 7 August 2026; it does not imply cancellation of an existing permit. Spain has no visa service in Benin: France represents it only for short stays, the embassy in Abuja handles no visas, and the student visa is requested at the Consulate General of Spain in Lagos, whose district includes Benin. The consulate requires an appointment by email (cog.lagos.vis@maec.es) and then filing in person in Lagos, with a single fee of 38,000 naira for national visas (page written for Nigeria); the BLS center in Lagos, on the contrary, says it accepts student visas (29,500 naira in fees, at least 20 days). None of these pages describes the case of residents of Benin: ask the consulate for confirmation. On the admission side, a grado (bachelor's degree) at a public university requires the homologación (recognition) of the bac (€49.76), UNEDasiss accreditation and regional pre-enrollment (March in Andalusia, June-July in Madrid); Master's and PhD/doctorate applications go directly to the university. The visa file requires admission and paid enrollment, €600 per month in funds (393,574 FCFA), insurance covering all risks, a medical certificate and a criminal record (stay of more than 180 days), legalized documents (no apostille in Benin) translated into Spanish. The trip to Lagos (no visa needed for a Beninese citizen, ECOWAS) must be budgeted.

Updated October 15, 2026 · Reliability: medium · 43 sources

Known cost before departure
up to 34,540 FCFApartial
+ 38,000 – 67,500 NGN · excluding funds and tuition
Required funds
393,574 FCFA / month
€600 / month
Processing time
Maximum of one month to notify the decision on a visa requested from abroad (regulation in force); BLS Lagos announces at least 20 calendar days.
Interview
Yes
Lagos
Before the visa

Admission route

Grado at a public university: homologación of the Beninese bac to the Spanish Bachiller by the Spanish Ministry of Education (diploma and transcripts for the last two years, legalized and officially translated; filing gives a "volante" for conditional enrollment), UNEDasiss accreditation (from February 4 to December 1; grade of 5 to 6 without PCE), optional PCE (specific entrance tests), then pre-enrollment in the autonomous community. Máster and doctorate (non-EHEA systems): direct application, the university checks the level of the diploma without homologación. FP de grado superior (higher vocational training): homologación (or proof of application) required. Private institutions or language schools: direct admission, an officially recognized institution is required for the visa. PhD in Spain: for a new application, first obtain national research residence authorisation from UGE-CE, then apply for the RIN research visa at the consulate. The study visa and IPREM funding threshold below apply to other programmes. This distinction follows ministerial criterion 2/2026 signed on 7 August 2026; it does not imply cancellation of an existing permit.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][41][42]

Admission procedure fees

  • Homologación of the bac to the Bachiller (form 790 fee)[1][2](bachelor's, short program)€49.76≈ 32,640 FCFA

    2021 amount repeated by the consejería in Morocco; to be reconfirmed for 2027.

  • UNEDasiss accreditation[39][40](bachelor's)amount not found

    UNEDasiss fee schedule checked on 13 October 2026: admission score €70; file opening €30.30 and administration €15.15; Bachillerato modality €25; language accreditation €25 per language; subject recognition €25 per authorised subject. PCE exams cost €35/60/80/100/120/140 in total for 1/2/3/4/5/6 subjects. Select the services required by the university: there is no single flat fee. Calculated example: admission score + file opening + administration = €115.45, excluding PCE and other services. The 2027 schedule is unconfirmed; the corridor subtotal excludes these variable services.

The visa application

Where to apply

Where to file
Lagos (Nigeria)
Authority
Consulate General of Spain in Lagos (Nigeria), responsible for the Republic of Benin; the Spanish Embassy in Abuja handles neither visas nor legalizations
Application center
Consulate General (direct filing); BLS International Lagos according to the provider's website · Lagos
Address
Consulat : 21 C Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. BLS : 3rd Floor, Amazing Grace Plaza, 2E-4E Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Appointment
Email to cog.lagos.vis@maec.es (full name, visa type, planned travel date), then filing in person at the consulate; or a BLS appointment
Tip
Write to the consulate as soon as you are admitted to confirm the procedure for residents of Benin and the amount to pay; allow at least two months before the start of the academic year, plus the trip to Lagos.
Processing time
Maximum of one month to notify the decision on a visa requested from abroad (regulation in force); BLS Lagos announces at least 20 calendar days.[14][27][30]
Interview
Yes · Lagos · Possible at any stage of the procedure.[23]
Good to know
For a PhD, ask the competent consulate about RIN visa submission after UGE-CE approval; confirmation of the study-visa channel does not confirm the research-visa channel.
Center website (Consulate General (direct filing); BLS International Lagos according to the provider's website)Book an appointment / apply online

Sources for filing[10][11][12][13][14][15][41][42]

In order

The steps

  1. 1

    PhD: use the RIN research route[41][42]

    When: before any PhD visa application

    For a PhD recognised at MECES level 4: apply online to UGE-CE for national research authorisation (article 72 of Law 14/2013), through the doctoral candidate or institution, then obtain a RIN visa if residing abroad. Without a research contract: admission to a RUCT-registered PhD, paid enrolment, MI-T form, compliant insurance, criminal-record certificates covering residence countries over the last two years and a declaration covering five years, and fee 790-038. Required resources: at least 50% of the annual SMI without family, 100% with family according to the ministry; this is not the €600/month student threshold. Confirm the amounts and complete checklist for the individual application and filing year.

  2. 2

    Choose the institution and start the homologación (grado)[1][2][4][16]

    When: as soon as you get the bac (for a 2027 bac graduate: August 2027, so a 2027 start is very tight)Duration: 3 months (homologación)

    Check that the institution is officially recognized. For a public grado, apply early for the homologación of the bac (online, form 790 fee of €49.76): the "volante" lets you apply while you wait; stated processing time of 3 months (2021).

    • Homologación of the bac[2]€49.76≈ 32,640 FCFA
  3. 3

    UNEDasiss accreditation and PCE (grado)[3][5]

    When: February → June 2027

    Apply from February 4 to December 1, at least 6 weeks before the end of pre-enrollment; optional PCE to raise your grade (tests held in Africa at the end of May in 2026).

  4. 4

    Pre-enrollment and paid enrollment[7][17][18][19]

    When: March → July 2027

    Andalusia: international students phase in March (March 6-19 in 2026); Madrid: until July 6 (2026) for foreign education systems. Máster/doctorate: each university's dates. The paid matrícula (enrollment) is required for the residence authorization.

  5. 5

    Prepare Beninese documents[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

    When: less than 3 months before filing (usual validity, to be confirmed)

    Criminal record (bulletin n° 3) online at service-public.bj with the NPI (72 hours announced, delays reported in 2026); medical certificate (no serious disease affecting public health); documents legalized at the Beninese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (no apostille), then translated into Spanish. A Spanish consular legalization step is not described for Benin.

  6. 6

    Gather funds and insurance[24][27][28]

    When: before the appointment

    100% of the IPREM per month of stay: €600 (393,574 FCFA), €7,200 per year (4,722,890 FCFA); reduced if accommodation is paid in advance. Insurance from an insurer authorized in Spain covering all the risks of the public system.

  7. 7

    Appointment and filing in Lagos[12][13][14][29]

    When: at least 2 months before the start of the academic year (May-July 2027)

    Email the consulate (name, visa type, travel date), then file in person at the Consulate General; or file at BLS according to its website. Fees: 38,000 naira (national rate since 2023, page written for Nigeria); 29,500 naira service fee if going through BLS. Beninese citizens enter Nigeria without a visa (ECOWAS).

    • National visa fee (Lagos consulate)[13]38,000 NGN

      Amount applicable to a resident of Benin not specified.

    • BLS service fee (if filing at BLS)[14]29,500 NGN
  8. 8

    Decision and collection[14][23][27][30]

    When: June → August 2027Duration: 20 days to 1 month

    Legal time limit of one month for an application made from abroad (silence means refusal); BLS announces at least 20 days. Interview possible.

  9. 9

    Steps on arrival[27][31][33][34]

    When: September 2027

    TIE (foreigner identity card) to request in person within one month of entry (€16.08); registration on the padrón (municipal register); work allowed up to 30 hours per week for higher education studies.

The application

Required documents

  • National visa application form, signed[23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Passport valid for at least one year, two blank pages, issued less than 10 years ago[23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Compliant ID photo[14][23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Admission letter from an officially recognized institution (full-time)[16][23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Proof of payment of the matrícula[19]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Funds: €600 per month (393,574 FCFA)[27][28]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    Bank statements, income, guarantor, scholarship.

    Local specifics: Lagos practice not published.

  • Comprehensive health insurance (insurer authorized in Spain)[23][27]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

  • Medical certificate (stay of more than 180 days)[23][24]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    Local specifics: No designated approved doctor for Benin found.

  • Criminal record from countries of residence in the last 5 years, legalized and translated[20][23][24]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    Local specifics: Beninese bulletin n° 3 online at service-public.bj (NPI).

  • Legalization of foreign documents[23][25][26]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    No apostille in Benin: legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Translation into Spanish[23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    Local specifics: Certified translators in Benin not identified.

  • Proof of residence in the consular district (Benin)[10][23]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    Local specifics: Benin is part of the Lagos consular district.

  • Visa fee[13]

    requiredbachelor's, master's, short program, private school

    38,000 naira at the consulate (national rate).

  • PhD: UGE-CE authorisation and RIN research visa application[41][42]

    requiredPhD

    For a PhD recognised at MECES level 4: apply online to UGE-CE for national research authorisation (article 72 of Law 14/2013), through the doctoral candidate or institution, then obtain a RIN visa if residing abroad. Without a research contract: admission to a RUCT-registered PhD, paid enrolment, MI-T form, compliant insurance, criminal-record certificates covering residence countries over the last two years and a declaration covering five years, and fee 790-038. Required resources: at least 50% of the annual SMI without family, 100% with family according to the ministry; this is not the €600/month student threshold. Confirm the amounts and complete checklist for the individual application and filing year.

Depending on your profile

  • Bac homologación (volante) and UNEDasiss accreditation (grado)[4][5]

    bachelor's, short program

  • Notarized parental authorization (minor)[23][24]

    bachelor's, master's, short program, private school
Before departure

Detailed fees

  • Homologación of the bac (form 790 fee)[2](bachelor's, short program)€49.76≈ 32,640 FCFA
  • UNEDasiss accreditation[39][40](bachelor's)amount not found

    UNEDasiss fee schedule checked on 13 October 2026: admission score €70; file opening €30.30 and administration €15.15; Bachillerato modality €25; language accreditation €25 per language; subject recognition €25 per authorised subject. PCE exams cost €35/60/80/100/120/140 in total for 1/2/3/4/5/6 subjects. Select the services required by the university: there is no single flat fee. Calculated example: admission score + file opening + administration = €115.45, excluding PCE and other services. The 2027 schedule is unconfirmed; the corridor subtotal excludes these variable services.

  • PCE (total depending on the number of subjects)[39][40](depending on profile)(bachelor's)amount not found

    PCE: total fees of €35/60/80/100/120/140 for 1/2/3/4/5/6 subjects, according to the UNEDasiss schedule checked on 13 October 2026. This is not a fixed per-subject fee. File and accreditation charges apply separately according to the application; confirm the 2027 schedule.

  • National visa fee (Lagos consulate)[13][41][42](bachelor's, master's, short program, private school)38,000 NGN

    Paid in naira; no fixed conversion to FCFA. These charges concern the study route excluding PhDs. For a PhD, confirm the UGE-CE authorisation fee and RIN visa fee separately.

  • BLS Lagos service fee[14][41][42](depending on profile)(bachelor's, master's, short program, private school)29,500 NGN

    Only if the file goes through BLS. These charges concern the study route excluding PhDs. For a PhD, confirm the UGE-CE authorisation fee and RIN visa fee separately.

  • Medical certificate[23]amount not found

    Fee not found.

  • Criminal record (service-public.bj)[43](bachelor's, master's, short program, private school)1,900 FCFA

    B3 criminal record fee: XOF 1,900, published in the active version of the Beninese public service catalogue and checked on 15 October 2026. Excludes any payment charges shown at checkout; reconfirm for 2027.

  • Legalizations (Beninese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)[26]amount not found

    Cost not found.

  • Translations into Spanish[23]amount not found

    Fee not found.

  • Trip to and stay in Lagos for filing (and collection)[10]amount not found

    Not estimated.

Known subtotalup to 34,540 FCFA

+ 38,000 – 67,500 NGN paid in the filing country

Excluding financial resources. Only recognition (EUR 49.76) is priced in euros (grado, FP). Add visa NGN 38,000 and NGN 29,500 if submitted through BLS. These fees apply to the student route excluding doctorates. For a doctorate, confirm UGE-CE authorisation and RIN visa fees separately. Add XOF 1,900 for a criminal record if required based on age and stay duration; included only in the upper bound.

Items with no published official amount (not counted)

  • UNEDasiss/PCE: amount depends on selected services and subjects (schedule available; individual total and 2027 fees to be confirmed)
  • medical certificate
  • legalizations
  • translations into Spanish
  • health insurance
  • trip to Lagos
For the visa

Funds to prove

393,574 FCFA / monthi.e. €600 / month

2026 IPREM (€7,200 per year) at the fixed rate.

PhD in Spain: for a new application, first obtain national research residence authorisation from UGE-CE, then apply for the RIN research visa at the consulate. The study visa and IPREM funding threshold below apply to other programmes. This distinction follows ministerial criterion 2/2026 signed on 7 August 2026; it does not imply cancellation of an existing permit. 100% of the IPREM per month of stay, tuition not included; IPREM not revised in 2026 (€600 per month). Practice specific to the Lagos consulate (statements, accepted banks): not published.[24][27][28][35][41][42]

Accepted proof

  • bank statements
  • income
  • support from a guarantor
  • scholarship
  • accommodation paid in advance (reduces the amount)
2027 intake

Timeline

  1. February 4, 2027to be confirmed

    UNEDasiss accreditation: applications open[5]

    from February 4 to December 1 every year

  2. March 6, 2026

    Andalusia: international students phase applications (2026 benchmark)[17]

    same period every year

  3. July 6, 2026

    Madrid: end of pre-enrollment for foreign education systems (2026 benchmark)[18]

    same period every year

Specifics Benin → Spain

Differences and pitfalls

What differs from the general rule

  • Filing in Lagos (Nigeria), not in Benin: the Consulate General in Lagos covers Benin, the embassy in Abuja does not handle visas, and France represents Spain only for short stays.
  • Fees published in naira (38,000 NGN), not in FCFA; page written for applicants in Nigeria.
  • Appointment by email to the consulate, while the BLS website says it accepts student visas: procedure to be confirmed.
  • No apostille: Beninese legalization of diplomas and criminal record.
  • MAEC-AECID África-Med scholarships closed to Benin in 2026-2027; Fundación Carolina reserved for Latin America and Portugal.

Pitfalls to avoid

PhD: a separate research procedure[41][42]

PhD in Spain: for a new application, first obtain national research residence authorisation from UGE-CE, then apply for the RIN research visa at the consulate. The study visa and IPREM funding threshold below apply to other programmes. This distinction follows ministerial criterion 2/2026 signed on 7 August 2026; it does not imply cancellation of an existing permit.

Going to Lagos without a confirmed appointment[12][13]

The consulate requires an appointment requested by email; confirm in writing the procedure and fees applicable to residents of Benin before the trip.

Starting the homologación too late[4][5]

It is a prerequisite for UNEDasiss accreditation and a place in a grado; a 2027 bac graduate only gets their certificate in August, which makes a September 2027 start in a public grado very difficult.

Travel insurance instead of comprehensive insurance[27]

The insurance must cover all the risks of the Spanish public system.

Tuition fees in Madrid[36]

Non-EU non-residents pay €113.71 to €136.44 per credit in a grado (€6,822.60 to €8,186.40 for 60 ECTS).

Counting on a Spanish public scholarship[37][38]

África-Med Máster excludes Benin in 2026-2027 and targets tenured civil servants.

Forgetting the TIE[27]

The visa is only valid for 90 days: request the TIE within one month of entry.

Figures

Statistics

Spanish student visas issued to Beninese citizens
No official figure found: Searched on 10/12/2026: not found.

Travora does not issue visas.

Travora is not affiliated with any embassy, consulate or service provider (Campus France, TLScontact, VFS Global, BLS…). Rules and amounts change: check the official website before any payment or filing. Page updated October 15, 2026.

Checked on

Sources

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