Visa and Visa Programs - Spain
Understand Spain’s Education Visa process for TEFL/TESOL participants, including study requirements, working limits, and what EU passport holders need to know.
Participants from outside of the EU will arrive in Spain on the Education Visa.
In order to obtain this visa, participants need to be enrolled in a program provided by our in-country language school partner. This program includes 20 hours per week of language classes for the first month, and 10 hours per week thereafter.
Students are required to attend classes consistently at school in central Barcelona. Spanish classes are daily during the week and will average two hours per day for five days per week in the mornings.
Note that if taking Catalan or another language, classes may be at a different time of day.
Irish citizens who are part of the EU, or any other EU passport holders, do not need to obtain an education visa. Irish citizens have the right to move to Spain and will need to register as residents there within 90 days in order to stay longer than that period of time.
The education visa allows participants to work for a maximum of 30 hours per week in a role related to their studies. Participants will be hired by a local school under an internship agreement which states that the teacher is working for the school to gain experience in line with their studies. The internship (convenio) allows them to get a social security number and legally be paid a local wage. Teachers typically work for 15 to 25 hours per week (up to 30) so they will have time to study alongside this.
Please note that Irish citizens are not limited in terms of the number of hours they can work as they are members of the EU so no limitations on work. Moreover, they do not need to pay for the education visa, and are not required to take the DTP.
This visa will be for 11 months. Participants do not necessarily need to stay in Barcelona for 11 months, but they must be able to teach until at least the end of the school year in June.
Under the education visa, participants will take part in the following:
- 20 hours per week for the month following the TEFL course
- Thereafter 10 hours per week
- There will be intermittent breaks in language classes during Christmas, Easter and the month of
August.
The school is located in central Barcelona and classes will take place mainly in the mornings.
Proof of Financial Means
You must provide an original and a copy of documents certifying that you (or the legal representative or relative that supports you) has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of your stay and return, as well as that of the family members accompanying you.
Applicants must show proof of approximately 700 Euros per month for the duration of the program, ~$8400 for one year.
We will guide you throughout the entire application process including the exact documents and wording required for your Visa application.
It is not guaranteed that someone with a criminal record will have their education visa granted. It is preferred that candidates should not have any criminal record.