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A Spain Working Holiday Visa is the authorization to work and enjoy the attractions of Spain. If you don’t have enough means to see the beauty of Madrid or Barcelona, football culture, food, etc. the working holiday visa is an opportunity for you.

This article will bring you who is eligible for Spain working holiday visa, requirements, the application process, validity, FAQs, and more.

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Spain Working Holiday Visa

Nationality

You have to be a national or citizen of the eligible countries to apply for a Spain working holiday visa.

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • New Zealand

First time using the program

The Spanish national law permits you to use a working holiday visa only once. You may not apply for it if you have used the program before.

Job vacancy

Having a job offer is a must for Spain working holiday visa. The Spanish employer must have advertised the job and not finding anyone for it. If it is so, the officials accept that you take it.

Remember that you may not work for a Spanish employer for longer than three months.

Age

The age restriction for Spain working holiday visa is 18-30. Only people at this range can apply. However, 18 and 30 people are also eligible. The age restriction for Canadians is 35.

Bear in mind that the officials look at your age at the time of application. You might pass the qualified age restrictions before application. So consider the time you apply.

Language proficiency

You need to speak a little Spanish to be eligible for a Spain working holiday visa. The officials might not require proof of it, but they might test your proficiency.

Funds

You must hold sufficient funds or money to support yourself in Spain. It must be sufficient to cover every piece of spending. Under Spain working holiday visa, you can work for a limited time.

Being able to return to your country is another requirement. You need to have money for it as well. A bank statement or a purchased return ticket could prove it.

Insurance

Purchase insurance valid in Spain and the entire EU. It must support all your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR.

Being alone

You may not bring your spouse or dependents under Spain working holiday visa. You must be on your own.

Accommodation

You must have a suitable place to stay in Spain. For instance, a rental arrangement could prove you have somewhere to stay.

Leaving intention

When your Spain working holiday visa expires, you have to leave the country. Spanish law wants you to return to your home country. Remember that you may not extend your visa or switch to other Spain visas.

What are the requirements for a Spain working holiday visa?

The requirements for Spain working holiday visa is as follows:

Application form

You need to visit the Spanish embassy’s website at least once. See the latest news and notifications. You can get the application form for Spain working holiday visa from there. Remember to glue one of your photos to the right top part of it.

Passport

Your passport for Spain working holiday visa must be valid for at least one year.

Photo

You need two identical photos of yourself for the application. They must be passport sizes with white background. Remember that they can not be older than six months at the time of application. Stick one of the photos to your printed application form.

Proof to have enough funds

Bank statements for the latest three months to the date of application. If a sponsor will cover your expenses, provide his/her bank statements. The sponsor must provide a letter stating to cover your expenses.

Return ticket

You must buy a return ticket to leave Spain. If not, you can state having financial means to buy the return ticket.

Proof of accommodation

Submit the evidence of the place you will stay in Spain. You could provide a rental contract. In case you will stay with a friend or family, provide exact details about him/her.

Clean record certificate

Visit the Police in your home country to get a clean record certificate. The rules for issuing a certificate are different in countries. The officials might take your fingerprints.

Insurance

The insurance you purchase must be valid in Spain and the entire EU. It must cover your expenses up to 30.000 EUR for:

  • Hospitalization
  • Repatriation

Doctor’s certificate

A Doctor’s certificate also gets called a Medical certificate. Your family doctor states that you have no medical condition that is a threat to the public.

Proof of Education

You need a certificate that states you have completed at least two years of higher education.

Note: The above list of requirements is only a general set. The Spanish officials in the eligible countries might require further supporting documents. Your case, their decision, and other factors determine it.

What is the application process for a Spain working holiday visa?

The application process for Spain working holiday visa is a bit different for each country. You might have to follow different procedures. However, the standard procedure is as follows:

1. Are you eligible?

You receive a reply from the Spanish officials that your application got rejected. If you don’t want it to be the fate of your application, read about the eligibility criteria for Spain working holiday visa. “Applicants learn little from success, but much from rejection.” Determine the common reasons for visa denial. You know most of the rules by reading the section above.

If you don’t qualify with the rules, you will waste your time and energy. But you could also change your condition to meet with them. So don’t underestimate that “knowledge is power.”

2. Job offer

The first requirement for a Spain working holiday visa is a job offer. It must be:

  • Temporary
  • Permitted by the Spanish officials for foreigners.
  • No Spanish employee could take the job
  • Lead to a job contract between the employee and employer.

You can get help from employment agencies. Also, employers advertise job opportunities on the Internet. Before you do anything, find an offer and seal the deal.

3. Application form

Visit the Spanish embassy’s website in your home country. You can get the application form from there. Complete it with your documents, then print, date, and sign it.

4. Requirements

The section above explained all the requirements for a Spain working holiday visa. You have to collect and submit them to the Spanish embassy in person.

You have to be careful with this part. The officials won’t accept a copy form of the document. They must be original. The details over the requirements are also important. Be careful with them.

5. Visa appointment

reserve a meeting with the Spanish embassy through their website or by a phone call. It might take a long time until the embassy gives you a date. Taking a date a bit sooner would be a good idea. But, you must be able to gather the requirements by then.

6. Visa meeting

Get to the Spanish embassy in person at the scheduled time. Wait, don’t be hasty; you need to bring all the collected requirements to the embassy.

It is a good idea to get to the embassy a bit early. You might need some time to go through the security and get inside the embassy.

Submit all the supporting documents to the embassy’s officials. Then pay the fee for visa processing. The fee depends on the Spanish embassy in your country.

7. Interview

The officials will also ask about the purpose of your visit. Before you move there, prepare answers for the questions:

  • Why do you want to work in Spain?
  • How the working holiday visa will help you, your career, or plans.
  • The job you will take in Spain.
  • Is the job related to your previous experience?
  • How much do you know about Spain and the city you are going to.
  • Will you go back to your home country after your visa.
  • Your background:
    • Family
    • Education
    • Work experience
    • Plans after leaving Spain

8. Processing

The Spanish embassy needs some time to process your visa. Different elements will influence the processing time. For instance, the embassy might require further documents. It will lead to longer processing time.

When the Spanish embassy grants the visa, they will notify you. The way you will receive the visa depends on the embassy. They might mail the visa to you, or you have to pick it up yourself.

9. Entering Spain

Once you receive the Spain working holiday visa, you have 90 days to enter the country. Remember that you have to enter Spain within 90 days. Otherwise, your visa might get revoked.

One essential point to remember is the Foreigner Identity Card. When you enter Spain, you have to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card. Spanish law requires you to do it within the first months of your arrival. The processing for FID could take a long time. So, you would better apply for it as soon as possible. The place you have to visit to apply for FID is:

  • Local Foreigner’s Office, or
  • Police Station

To apply for FID, you might need some supporting documents. So, bring all the requirements you needed for a Spain working holiday visa.

How long can you stay in Spain under its working holiday visa?

The Spain working holiday visa authorizes you to stay in the country for up to one year. The day you enter the country counts.

Can You extend Spain working holiday visa?

No. You may not extend Spain working holiday visa. The Spanish government is strict about this law. When you apply for a Spain working holiday visa, you have to prove that you will leave the country. Having an intention to leave is one of the eligibility principles.

You have to buy a return ticket to provide that you will leave the country when your visa expires. Also, never forget that you can only use the program once.

Can you bring your family to Spain under a working holiday visa?

No. One of the preconditions for a Spain working holiday visa is applying alone. You may not bring any member of your family. Your spouse or children are in this limitation.

If you wish to visit Spain with your family, apply for a different type of visa. For instance, a Spain tourist visa allows you to stay in the country with your family.

Does Spain working holiday visa permit you to work?

Yes. As the name suggests, you can work in Spain under a working holiday visa. Yet, you can’t rely on the job to cover your expenses. You may only get part-time jobs.

Having a job offer is a must for a Spain working holiday visa. You can find a job offer on the Internet or through employment agencies. The offer must lead to a contract. The employer mustn’t have found a Spanish employee for the job. Then, you will become eligible for the job.

How much does Spain working holiday visa costs?

The fee or cost of the Spain working holiday visa differs in each country. It is subject to change as well. The Spanish embassy might provide further services, so it will raise the fee for visa processing.

When you schedule a meeting with the visa, ask them about the fee. Also, ask whether they accept cash or credit cards.

Can you visit other EU countries under Spain working holiday visa?

Yes. Spain is part of the EU, EEA, and the Schengen Area. When you have one of Spain visas, you can visit the countries that are part of the mentioned agreements. Yet, you may not stay out of Spain for the long term.

Websites to find a job in Spain. 

These are some of the websites that help you find a job in Spain: 

  • Infoempleo
  • Indeed
  • Trabajos
  • Monster
  • Tecnoempleo
  • Xpatjobs
  • Totaljobs
  • ThinkSpain
  • Turijobs
  • Infojobs

Let’s sum up…

You wish to see the third most visited country globally but don’t have the required fund? Well, Spain working holiday visa could be your option as it permits you to work and enjoy Spain at the same time.

This text explained who is eligible for Spain working holiday visa, requirements, the application process, FAQS, validity, etc. The article is your definite guide.

Do you need to know about other types of Spain visas? Read the left-sidebar to get what you want.

In case you require information about other country’s visas, go to the Visa Library’s home page.

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” Visa applicants beg you to share your experience or knowledge with visas. If you hold any, write them in the comment section below.

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