Are you a non-EU citizen dreaming of building a professional career in Spain after completing your studies? If you’ve just finished your academic journey in this vibrant country, or are planning to, the Spanish job search visa could be your golden ticket. This essential guide will demystify the process, answering all your questions about how to secure this vital permit and transition smoothly into the Spanish job market.
Whether you’re a recent graduate with a student visa or are still navigating your options, understanding the job search visa is crucial for anyone looking to extend their stay and kickstart their career in Spain.
What is a Spanish Job Search Visa?
A Spanish job search visa is a residence permit specifically designed for non-EU students who have successfully completed their higher education in Spain. This permit allows you to extend your legal stay in the country for an additional year, providing invaluable time to actively seek employment or even establish your own business.
Historically, foreign students could only reside legally in Spain until their studies concluded or their TIE card expired. The student visa rigidly limited your stay to the duration of your academic program. This often forced graduates to leave Spain just as they were ready to apply their skills.
Now, with the job search visa, that limitation is a thing of the past. This is a game-changer, offering a fantastic opportunity for those eager to gain professional experience in a foreign country. Don’t miss this chance to propel your career forward!
Main Advantages of the Spanish Job Search Visa
What are the compelling benefits of this residence permit for students eager to find work?
- Extended Stay: You gain an entire extra year to remain in Spain without needing to make significant investments in the country. This precious time allows for a thorough and unpressured job hunt.
- Family Inclusion: Just like with the student visa, your dependent family members (spouse or children) who accompanied you during your studies can also extend their legal stay under the umbrella of your job search visa. Their residence remains linked to yours, ensuring your loved ones can continue to live with you in Spain.
- Streamlined Application: The entire application process is conducted online, significantly simplifying the bureaucratic steps and making it more accessible.
- Rapid Resolution: The processing time is remarkably fast, with a maximum of 20 days to receive a resolution on your application.
Can I Work with a Spanish Job Search Visa?
This is a common question that often leads to confusion. The clear answer is: No, you cannot work in Spain directly with a job search visa. This visa serves as a crucial bridge to obtaining a work permit. Once you secure a job offer, you will then need to initiate the full legal procedure to formalize your employment and convert your job search visa into a work permit.
While it doesn’t grant immediate work authorization, the job search visa is an indispensable step towards eventually working legally in Spain. It provides the legal framework to remain in the country while you actively look for that perfect opportunity.
How to Work in Spain as a Foreign Student: The Evolution
Many students, upon completing their degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD), aspired to enter the professional world. Others, with an entrepreneurial spirit, sought to launch their own ventures. However, before recent regulatory changes, they often faced significant hurdles.
The Situation of Students in Spain Before the Regulatory Change
Let’s briefly revisit the previous landscape to fully appreciate the current opportunities.
- Lack of Sufficient Legal Time: The student visa did not provide enough time to find a job. It was valid only until the completion of studies and could not be renewed once the academic program ended. This expiration date was tied to the university’s academic calendar, often forcing students to seek employment or internships concurrently with their studies, leading to immediate departure from Spain upon graduation.
- Insufficient Years for Work Permit Conversion: Obtaining a regular work permit as a student was challenging, particularly if you had studied for less than three years in Spain. In many cases, only a highly qualified worker permit was an option, with very stringent requirements.
The Solution: The Job Search Visa
However, in 2019, the situation changed dramatically. As a foreign student with a valid student visa, you can now legally remain in Spain even after finishing your studies. How? By applying for a residence permit for students looking for work, popularly known as the “job search visa“.
This permit grants you a maximum of 12 months to find a job or launch your own business project. You must initiate the application process either 60 days before or 90 days after the completion of your studies in Spain. This effectively resolves the time limitation previously faced by foreign graduates.
Furthermore, with this new regulation, it is no longer necessary for the job position to be highly qualified. You can now pursue a regular work permit for employment in any Spanish company. This permit creates a perfect pathway for those who found it difficult to obtain a work permit initially due to strict requirements. You can first complete your studies, then secure a Spanish job search visa, and ultimately transition into working for a company with your full work permit.
Requirements to Apply for a Spanish Job Search Visa as a Student
This section is vital, as it addresses the most common questions from our clients. To request this extension of stay for studies, you must meet four primary requirements:
- Completed Higher Education: You must have successfully completed your studies with a minimum qualification level of 6 (equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree), a Master’s degree (level 7), or a Doctorate (level 8). Unfortunately, language courses do not qualify.
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance: You must possess valid medical insurance, whether public or private, providing full coverage across the national territory of Spain.
- Financial Independence: You must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your stay in Spain while actively looking for employment. This proves you are economically independent of the state.
- Accredited Institution: Not all universities and schools qualify you for this visa. The academic institution where you studied must be on the official list provided by the Spanish government for your application to be accepted.
Foreign students can apply for this permit up to 60 days before their student visa expires or within 90 days after its expiration. Note that this timeframe does not necessarily coincide with the exact length of your studies.
How to Verify if Your University is Valid for the Job Search Visa Application
This should be a primary consideration, perhaps even when initially choosing your university. If your long-term goal is to stay in Spain, selecting the right institution is paramount. Remember, not all academic institutions are valid.
To secure your residence permit to seek work as a student, ensure your university is listed on the official university list provided by the Ministry of Universities.
Legal Application Process for the Job Search Visa
Obtaining this visa is straightforward, but it’s crucial to remember that you must be in Spain to apply for it.
Given its recent establishment, this permit requires an online application. The entire process must be carried out in the same city where you reside to allow authorities to verify your registration certificate (empadronamiento).
Once all necessary documentation is submitted, the immigration office will process your application and issue a resolution within a maximum of 20 days. If approved, you will then need to schedule an appointment at a police station to register your fingerprints and obtain your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE).
List of Required Documents
When applying for the post-study job search visa to obtain your residence card, you will need to provide the following:
- Application Form EX-01: This is the same form used for the non-profit residence visa. You must select the option “Titular de estancia por estudios superiores que cesa, para búsqueda de empleo” (Holder of stay for higher studies that ceases, for job search).
- Payment of Fee 790/012: The corresponding fee must be paid. You can find the form and instructions online.
- Passport and NIE: Your valid passport and Foreigner Identification Number (NIE).
- Empadronamiento: Your current registration certificate from the local municipality.
- Favorable Resolution: A document confirming that you received a favorable response from the Immigration Office.
What Happens After You Find a Job? Converting Your Job Search Visa
As previously mentioned, your Spanish job search visa grants you 12 months to find employment in Spain. But what steps do you take once you land that exciting job offer?
Essentially, you will need to transition your job search visa into a residence and work permit. This conversion can take two main forms, depending on whether you’re starting a job with a company or embarking on your entrepreneurial journey.
Converting to a Work Permit as a Self-Employed Individual
Also known as “permiso de trabajo por cuenta propia.” Here, you have two options:
- Entrepreneur Visa: If your project is innovative and technologically advanced, you might qualify for an entrepreneur visa.
- Regular Self-Employed Work Permit: Otherwise, you will apply for a standard work permit as a self-employed worker. This typically involves presenting a detailed business plan and financial projections.
Converting to a Work Permit as an Employee
Also known as “permiso de trabajo por cuenta ajena.” The first step here is to secure a job offer from a company willing to hire you. It’s important that the job position is related to your previous studies and demands skills commensurate with your educational background.
Again, two main paths are available:
- Regular Work Permit: This is the most common route, falling under the General Immigration Law. A crucial factor here is the national unemployment situation. If a Spanish citizen or legal resident is qualified and available for the same position, they will generally have priority over you. Exceptions exist for specific cases (e.g., being a child or spouse of a resident in Spain, or a child of a Spanish citizen by origin). However, if denying you the job offer jeopardizes your ability to maintain sufficient economic means, the national employment situation factor might be bypassed.
- Highly Qualified Worker Permit: You can pursue this option if your annual salary exceeds €40,000 (as of current guidelines) and the position is technical or managerial. This falls under the Entrepreneurs Law, which often offers a more flexible process as it does not typically consider the national unemployment situation.
Get Legal Assistance to Apply for a Spanish Job Search Visa
Now that you understand how this vital immigration regulation can empower your future. Are you ready to extend your student residence permit and obtain a job search visa?
Don’t navigate this complex landscape alone. Contact us today! Fill out our contact form, and we’ll reach out to assist you as soon as possible.You can also contact us directly through this contact Form for us to call you, or if you prefer, you can schedule a free consultation or write to us on WhatsApp. We’re here to make the process easier for you!
