Studying abroad in Spain and travelling in Schengen countries
 

Hello,

I will be studying abroad in Spain next year for the whole year. I'm not an American citizen but I am a student at an American university. I have a Pakistani passport so I would need to apply for a student visa to study in Spain. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to travel through the Schengen countries on my Spanish student visa? Or would I have to apply for a separate Schengen visit visa every time I want to travel around Europe? Is it even possible to have both visas active at the same time?

That question is probably too technical for this site. Our experience with a US citizen student on a student visa from Spain for the Univ of Madrid is that our son could try freely in the Schengen zone and did. I don't know if it was because he had a student vise or an Am passport. Since he was in the Schengen zone he never had to show the passport or vise when traveling. Don't know how much of that would apply to you.

That should be -- could travel freely -- He did have to check in with the local police every three months.

If you have Type D Schengen visa in your passport - such as for study, you are allowed to visit other Schengen states, but it's limited to 90 days in 180. Your nationality usually doesn't matter, though some nationals may only get restricted visa limited the countries they can visit. I don't think you will have this problem with Pakistani passport. He will have to get residence permit after arriving in Spain, but his university or local body will be able to advise on that.

Ah okay, thank you for the information!