Visas & Customs Requirements

Employment:

Those who wish to remain in Spain for an extended period of time in order to study, reside or work must obtain the appropriate visa from the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in their country of last residence. Foreigners, who intend to work in Spain , will have to present a valid contract to receive the visa. Once in Spain and with the visa, foreigners must apply for the residence/work permit at the nearest police station or immigration office in the district of residence. In Madrid , those applying for a work permit should go to the Delegación Provincial de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, onBreton de los Herreros, 41, 28003 Madrid , Tel. 91-441-1500.

Spanish authorities strictly enforce an immigration law requiring those interested in acquiring a residence and/or work permit to obtain, the following documents in the country of last residence:

1. special visa issued by the Spanish Consulate;
2. police clearance issued by the local authorities;
3. medical certificate and
4. proof of financial solvency.

Those married to citizens of a Schengen treaty country must also present a marriage certificate and their spouse's ID. Other documents may be required.

Applicants for work or residence permits must also provide proof of medical insurance. American citizens must bear in mind that it is extremely difficult to find a Spanish insurance company that covers non-residents. Additional insurance that has coverage overseas may be required until the actual residence/work permit is approved.

Spanish authorities will issue a work permit only if it is demonstrated that there are no qualified European Union citizens available to fill the position. Temporary work permits are available for artists, professors or other skilled personnel to perform temporary jobs. These temporary work permits cannot be extended.

The law establishes severe penalties for those working or staying illegally in Spain. The Spanish government may deport any foreigner found living or working in Spain with out a proper permit. It may also detain such a person pending deportation orders from the office of the Civil Governor.

The foreigner is entitled by Spanish law to appeal the expulsion orders. As a general rule, American companies operating in Spain employ Spanish nationals to the maximum extent possible. These companies employ very few Americans, usually executives. At the request of many of these firms, the Embassy does not make employment references. It is exceptionally rare for a company to seek the Embassy's help in finding an employee. Companies seeking employees often place advertisements in the publications listed on the General Info page.

Teaching Positions:

Unlike other countries where native English speakers may find it fairly easy to get a teaching job, Spain is a bit trickier. If you're an American, finding a job teaching English in Spain may be fairly difficult. But it's not impossible.

The key problem for Americans is that when schools in Spain look for English teachers, they tend to look towards Ireland and England. In order to hire an American to teach in Spain, the employer must petition the Spanish government to earn working papers for the teacher. In order to earn these papers, they must prove that the job cannot be done by a Spanish native. With all of this hassle in getting the legal paperwork, it's no wonder why E.U. residents tend to have an edge over Americans.

In order to obtain a legal work visa for teaching English in Spain, you must find an employer who is willing to petition for your work papers. Believe it or not, this is possible even if you are American. Some companies prefer teachers who speak American English-particularly those whose students will be interacting with the Western world. Large corporations that deal with America may very well prefer an American English teacher for their employees rather than a British or Irish one.

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