Visa applications to Spain have long delays in UK consulates and we have been looking for options for students.  We are happy to attach a Directive (translated into English) which clearly states that it is legal to travel to Spain as a tourist while waiting for the visa to be processed.  Students have two options:

1. Apply in the UK (or appoint someone to apply on their behalf) and travel to Spain while they await resolutions.  They will need to return and collect visa personally and have two months to collect from the date they have been notified.  They can enter on their tourist visa and stay in Spain  for up to 90 days. 
2. Travel to Spain on a tourist visa and apply at the Delegación o Subdelegación de Gobierno in the region where they are living.  Applications must be made within first 60 days in Spain.  According to the Directive, it is also possible to apply online.

We would be very grateful if you could let all your students know of the option of travelling to Spain on a tourist visa.  In the event that the student visa resolution is not ready by the time their tourist visa expires, having an open application generally interrupts the legal delay to exit the country.

Please see the attached document for the full directive in both Spanish and an English translation.  

The original Directive, signed on 21 dec 2018 by Jose Alarcón Hernández, is validated and published at the Spanish Gov’s register:  https://sede.administracion.gob.es/pagSedeFront/servicios/consultaCSV.htm, using the code: PTF-6b21-5f68-f2fb-4fab-26f4-1074-ad7e-f45f