The first-hand experience of a Spainguru Community member
After some encouragement within this group to move to Spain, I thought I’d share my experience with everyone in case it provides some encouragement among the comments about “getting a job in Spain is impossible”. If it is, I’ve achieved the impossible.
January 2024, I made it my life mission to move to Spain. I currently do cybersecurity for a Florida-based healthcare company.
In March 2024, I asked my leadership team if I could take my remote job to Spain on the DNV. My leaders were ok with it, but legal and compliance teams were not. I even tried to move to 1099 to absolve them from these concerns. They didn’t entertain it still.
I then decided I’d find another US-based remote job so that I could maintain my salary. It became extremely difficult to find a company that would allow that. It started to become a waste of time.
Given this, and the lack of wanting to work US hours, in late March I decided to go full force on finding a job in Spain. This would allow me to also fully immerse in the culture too. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to move to Spain was to remove myself from the US culture of the corporate rat race and constant stress of thinking everything is on fire all the time. I decided this was the right path.
I began applying to jobs listed online, but was incredibly discouraged by the questions about being “authorized to work in Spain”. Because no… I am not… not until you give me this job! So it was a chicken or the egg thing. I figured they were just filtering out my applications.
In May 2024, I started reaching out to my LinkedIn connections, because that’s what they’re there for, right?? One of my connections encouraged me to reach out to recruiters for assistance. I made some great connections along the way. Some tried to get me interviews at places they knew of, but nothing panned out.
Finally in late May, I pivoted my approach: I identified the companies in Spain I wanted to work for. Banks, healthcare companies, large global companies, etc. I searched for the recruiters that hire for these companies specifically until one stuck: a large global company.
They were completely supportive of my endeavors and got me interviews right away for a similar cybersecurity role that they happened to have open. Their interview process was straightforward, but it being summer in Spain, it was drawn out. I had 4-5 interviews over the next couple months.
In October 2024, I received my verbal offer. They started the work permit process right away.
It wasn’t until late December that I received the written offer. I negotiated and signed in January.
The same day I signed my offer in mid January, I received the work permit authorization from the company’s immigration department. I don’t think these two things were contingent upon the other, just ironic timing.
I mailed my documents with the work permit authorization to the Miami consulate a couple weeks later. It was received to the office on Feb 8 (via tracking info), on Feb 17 I sent them an email asking for verification of receipt since they are supposed to email you a login to check the status of the application.
On February 18 2025 I received that login info. On Feb 19 they emailed to let me know my “visa for highly skilled workers” was approved. They told me my appointment to retrieve the visa at the consulate was Feb 26.
I went to retrieve my visa on Feb 26 during the window they gave me. I waited there maybe ten minutes after they took my passport back. They brought me my visa in my passport, had me sign a document, and sent me on my way with a remark “welcome to Spain 😊”.
I am now working on my social security card. I applied online and am waiting resolution.
I fly to Barcelona on April 20 2025, where I have an Airbnb booked for one month while I look for a longer-term rental.
This post is meant to be encouraging to those that are feeling discouraged in this tough job market. It’s not impossible, but I know I am fortunate to have the career that I do. If it’s your goal to get to Spain, set yourself some goals and milestones and work on it daily to make it real life! I wish all of you much positivity in your journey! 💕
Comments
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“This is the best post I’ve ever read in this group.”
“It’s important to note she qualified for a highly skilled workers visa. She’s in a specialized, high-demand field. That’s not the reality for 95% of people who post here.”
“Highly skilled worker visa is completely different from a typical job in Spain. If anyone is in tech, there are opportunities—especially in regions like Aragon where they’re looking for talent.”
“It’s difficult in the medical field due to licensing, but tech jobs like cybersecurity are easier to break into with proper credentials and certifications.”
“Jobs in marketing may require fluency in Spanish, unlike international tech jobs where English is usually the working language.”
“Her persistence and preparation are commendable. Yes, she’s in a field that allowed it, but she still had to put in the effort and be strategic in her approach.”
“This isn’t a typical story, but it’s not out of reach either—especially for people considering a transition to in-demand sectors.”
“It does take planning and time. Some people might use this as motivation to begin training in highly skilled fields. Others may simply recognize that it’s not an easy road.”
“There’s a difference between being optimistic and being realistic. Most people in these groups can’t replicate her journey, but it’s an example of what’s possible if the pieces align.”
“She didn’t speak Spanish yet, but her role is client-facing across Europe where English is acceptable. Not all jobs in Spain require fluency.”
“If you want this kind of opportunity, you have to work toward it long-term. It wasn’t handed to her—she had the qualifications and actively pursued the goal for months.”
“Even with four degrees and decades of experience, many people struggle to get hired because their skills aren’t as scarce. But this post proves that with the right mix of skills, strategy, and persistence, it’s doable.”
Conclusion
The community overwhelmingly agreed that while the original poster’s success in securing a Highly Skilled Worker Visa to move to Spain was inspiring, it also reflected very specific circumstances.
Her background in cybersecurity, an in-demand global field, played a key role in her ability to secure a visa-sponsored position with a multinational company.
Most commenters emphasized that moving to Spain for work is incredibly difficult for non-EU citizens unless they have highly specialized skills. However, the story also served as a valuable case study for others: if you’re strategic, persistent, and work in a sector with labor shortages, it is possible to carve out a path.
Ultimately, her story reinforces the importance of planning, networking, and understanding visa options like the Highly Skilled Worker Visa or, alternatively, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa—depending on your goals and background.
This article is based on personal experience and is not legal advice. Make sure to consult with immigration and tax experts if you are considering moving to Spain.
