Can you work in Spain with a student visa?

For many people looking to live and work in Spain, securing a student visa has become one of the most popular routes.  

But with so much confusion surrounding the issue, it can be quite daunting to even start to think about getting a Spanish visa.

It needn’t be! With the right help and guidance, you can easily secure your student visa and qualify to live and work in Spain.

Here’s how.

So, can you work in Spain with a student visa?

Yes, you can successfully work in Spain with a student visa. Having a Spanish student visa entitles you to work for between 20-30 hours per week. 

This is good news for those looking to teach English in Spain. Many TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) academies offer specialist visa services as part of their course. So, you can enrol to become a qualified English teacher and automatically become eligible for a student visa.

At TEFL Iberia academy in Barcelona, we help our students secure visas, enabling them to work as they study. Our dedicated student visa programme can help you navigate the process, supporting you every step of the way when applying for your student visa.

Can I apply for a normal visa to work in Spain?

You can, but it’s not easy.

Securing a standard work visa in Spain requires finding a company that is willing to sponsor you. The entire visa process is time intensive and very expensive, with all kinds of bureaucracy involved. 

There’s no wonder so many people who want to live and work in Spain decide to enrol at a TEFL academy.

What’s the easiest way to get a student visa in Spain?

One of the easiest routes is to enrol with an accredited TEFL provider!

If you're from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia or any other non-EU country, one of the best ways to live and work in Spain is by studying to teach English and then launching your career as an English teacher in Spain.

Combine TEFL Iberia’s Trinity CertTESOL Course, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of teaching English, with the 6-12 month Developing Teacher & Spanish Course, where you’ll cement your own teaching style, and you’ll meet the requirements needed for a long-term student visa.

Best of all, when you sign up to a quality TEFL school, they’ll be able to help you secure your visa.

This involves providing you with the correct paperwork, helping you secure recognised health insurance, helping you complete your background check and making sure you fill in the complex application form correctly. It can be a bit daunting for a first-time traveller, but a good school will make sure everything goes smoothly.

How long does it take to get a student visa in Spain?

We recommend giving yourself at least 3 months for the entire process. It takes about 2 months to gather all the required documents and get an appointment at the consulate, then about 1 month for the consulate to approve your visa.  

Can I stay in Spain after my student visa expires?

Lots of budding TEFL teachers wonder “what happens when my Spanish student visa runs out”? Well, once you’ve finished your studies, you can either renew your student visa with another year of the Developing Teacher and Spanish course, or you can find an employer who will help you switch your visa to a regular work visa.

This student visa modification is known in Spain as “por cuenta ajena”, which translates as “as an employee”. All you need for this is to get a job offer. It’s a very simple process and is something that your TEFL school should be able to help you with.

Ready to find out more? Take a look at what TEFL Iberia has to offer and take your first steps towards studying and working in Spain.