Student stay in Spain and switching to a work permit
Studying in Spain is also the most common door to a working life here. The Regulation lets students work while they study and switch to a residence and work permit when they finish — without returning to their country to apply for a visa.
Studying and working
A study permit (estancia por estudios) allows you to work as an employee or self-employed as long as the activity is compatible with your studies, which must remain your main activity. The permit is issued for the duration of the course and can be extended.
Switching to residence and work
When you complete your studies and obtain the qualification, you can apply to modify your stay into a residence and work permit — as an employee, self-employed or, in some cases, to look for work. The application is made from Spain, within the two months before your student permit expires or the three months after. No new visa from your country of origin is required. The file usually includes a job offer or contract (or a business plan for self-employment), proof of the qualification obtained and the usual documents.
Common mistakes
Letting the student permit expire before applying; applying with a contract that does not meet the requirements; not counting the time correctly for future applications (time as a student counts only partially towards long-term residence and does not count towards nationality). We check all of this before submitting.