Question
Is getting a job in Spain with a Spain student visa and foreign identity card realistic? I am a UK citizen.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”Sadly, Brexit has screwed you over completely as you are now considered a Third Country National”
”No chance”
”What I always say is that there is no impossible. But coming from a brexited country you definitely have way fewer opportunities than the EU citizens. Keep up and thank the people who ruined the dreams of 100s of 1000s”
”Yes, I have read that you can as long as it is not over 30 hours”
”I am from a non-EU country so it must be the same….. I got a student visa (TIE/NIE) which didn’t allow me to work (some do and some dont)… From what I’ve heard, those with studies at masters level or above allow you to work and the rest of them don’t (that’s technically speaking but some friends were able to work without studying a master’s, so they must take something else into account)… I encourage you to read more on the topic because the type of job you can get is supposed to be related to your studies, however, I’m not really sure about that”
”I worked last year on a student visa. The job doesn’t have to be related to your studies, but it just has to be shown that they are compatible, e.g. if your studies are in the morning, your job contract can’t state morning hours. It’s possible, but it can be difficult to find companies who are willing to take you on because, unless you have a student visa for superior studies, the company has to apply for your work permit, and lots of companies sadly don’t want to, and are put off by the fact that it says “not authorised to work” on the TIE, but it’s possible”
Here you can read How the Spanish student visa is affected by the new immigration law regulation in 2022
”Sorry to be brutal but Brits have it really difficult to work in any EU country. Employers prefer EU passport holders. And I think its fair play since Europeans also need a working visa to work in UK, they can’t work on a student visa”
”Are you from an Irish background? An Irish passport would help you if are entitled to one, since it is an EU Passport and can work freely in Spain.”
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, getting a job in Spain with a student visa and a non EU nationality can be challenging. While some mentioned the possibility of working with a student visa, it is not guaranteed and may be restricted by the type of studies. Finding companies willing to apply for a work permit can be difficult, as they prefer EU passport holders. However, it is not impossible, and further research and determination may help uncover potential opportunities. Having an Irish background and passport would provide advantages, so it’s worth exploring specific requirements and options for working in Spain under these circumstances.
