Regardless if you’re studying at a University in Spain or taking a Spanish courses in Spain, the Spanish student visa entitles you to work part-time up to 20 hours per week. Keep in mind that you’re only allowed to work throughout the duration of your visa.
Once you have finished your studies, you have three options in order to legally work in Spain.
1) Get a regular work permit with a student visa
In order to apply to get a regular work permit after your studies in Spain, you must have lived in the country for more than 3 years. If that is not your case, you can still apply for a regular work permit but all the procedures and paperwork should be done in your country of origin.
It’s important to note that the Spanish government defines a shortage list of occupations where there is a need for highly skilled workers. However, if you apply with a student visa, that shortage list will not be considered.
2) Get hired as a highly qualified worker
If you have not been living in Spain for three years, you can still apply for a work visa as a highly qualified worker. Your position should be part of the shortage list that the Spanish government publishes and the job offer should meet the following requirements:
- The salary should be above 45.000€ per year
- The position should be managerial or technical
3) Get a residence permit for students looking for a job
Since 2018, there is a permit extension for students looking for a job. This allows students who have studied in Spain for at least one year, to stay for up to another additional 12 months in order to look for a job or to start their own company.
If this is your case, keep in mind that you should meet the following requirements:
- Have at least 7.000€ in your bank account
- Have medical insurance in Spain with full coverage
- Having passed the last course at your university
- The job you are looking for must be a highly qualified one or you need to start your own company
If don’t feel comfortable enough about your level of Spanish in a professional environment, these are the best jobs for non-Spanish speakers in Spain.
Other relevant articles
- How to get a Spanish study visa for non-EU citizens?
- How to apply for a student visa while in Spain?
- How to renew a Spanish student visa?
- Medical insurance for Spanish student visa – all you need to know
- What is the NIE and how do I get it?
- What is the TIE and how to get it?
- Can I work in Spain with a student visa?
- How to apply to a university in Spain for international students
- What are the best jobs for non-Spanish speakers in Spain?
- The Linguaschools complete and comprehensive guide to Spanish paperwork.
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DISCLAIMER: We have gathered information to our best knowledge, from our experience, using a number of different (official) sources. Regulations change and interpretations may vary per country or region, but also between public office or staff. No rights can be derived from any of our articles. The content is merely a guide and we recommend you to check information with official sources before and during the process.
