Move to Spain: What Are My Options With Little Money, No Diploma, but Fluent Spanish?

By
Bruno Bianchi
-

Question

“I want to move to Spain but I don’t know what’s the easiest route I have very little money no high school diploma but I got basic knowledge of working on cars and construction I’m also bilingual I speak fluent Spanish and English. I’m a Mexican citizen but I was raised in America so I have the Mexican passport”

Answers

“Very little money and no high school diploma? Maybe deal with these two problems first? Do you think the world is really free movement for all? If that’s the case then we don’t need visa or passport control then”

“A lot of Hispanics here in Spain don’t have HS diploma and are working in Bars and taking care of the elderly”

Move to Spain: What Are My Options With Little Money, No Diploma, but Fluent Spanish?

“Exactly this! If someone coming to Spain wants to work in the restaurant industry or assisting elderly/children they are much better off speaking fluent Spanish than having a diploma anyway”

“So true—not only just Hispanics but also Spaniards as well. This issue also applies in the US! I thought all US citizens got education until I arrived in the US and realized none of this true. This is an issue in many countries, not just Spain or the US”

“I have a couple thousand saved up maybe around 7-8k I have been saving this money since I was 19 I am 22 now I can’t afford to find another job since I am an immigrant and the situation in the US is a bit insane atm but I do hold a Mexican passport”

“Most visas to Spain require you have a certain amount of money in the bank” – “Around how much?”

“Depends on what visa, but for student visa at least 800€ for each month you stay. For NLV you need over 28k for a year and so on”

“With a Mexican passport, you can fast track for Spanish citizenship, but only through the NL Visa. ‘Legally’ you won’t get a job here. And even if you did get a job under the table—the pay is super low… Your best bet is to get a job where you are and save up for the visa. Just flying over and getting a job is not quite how it works. The Arraigo Social route is also a possibility. There are quite a few videos on YouTube and TikTok about Arraigo Social”

New Arraigo Options in Spain (2025) Explained by Immigration Lawyer

“Here’s what I’d suggest for your situation: don’t apply for a visa at all but go to Spain as a tourist on your Mexican passport. Once there, if you can stay under the official radar for two years, Spain allows you to apply for ‘arraigo social’ (after being in an ‘irregular’ situation in Spain for 3 years) or ‘arraigo laboral’ (2 years, if you can show evidence of having worked the whole time). That’s how I understand it at least, perhaps someone else in this group knows more”

“Without knowing what passport(s) you hold, it’s impossible to give specific options. But almost all will require money or highly qualified work if you’re not an EU citizen. I suggest checking out the Spanish consulate website in your jurisdiction which will list all available visas. If you can qualify for a working holiday visa, that might be a good option”

“Try to seek asylum. Jobs in the restaurant industry are easy to get. After two years residing here, you qualify for citizenship. Do it—Spain will treat you way better than America does 😢”

“There are thousands of people like you in Spain. They work taking care of elderly, babysitting, cleaning, stores. Can you apply for political asylum? Many older people hire people like you to help as maids or in homes. It is doable. Probably easier to get one of these jobs than a professional one”

“What many people do is come as a tourist and apply for political asylum. It takes time, but eventually it may be granted—or not. If not, you might get residency for humanitarian reasons. After two years of legal residency, you can apply for Spanish citizenship if you’re from a country colonized by Spain”

“If you have no money you won’t make it, no jobs in Spain”

“No idea if this is feasible, but you might want to look at formación profesional programs and get a student visa. Admission page from the Comunidad de Madrid: https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/educacion/admision-formacion-profesional“

“Also look in other regions of Spain with lower cost of living. There are free vocational education programs in every region”

Conclusion

Based on the community responses, moving to Spain with little money and no diploma is undeniably challenging, but not impossible.

Several members suggested taking advantage of Spain’s “Arraigo Social” or “Arraigo Laboral” residency paths, which allow for legal status after living unofficially in Spain for two to three years.

A Mexican passport provides an advantage, as it allows for a shorter path to Spanish citizenship. With only two years of legal residence in Spain you would be able to apply for Spanish citizenship.

While visa options such as the Non-Lucrative Visa (Counts for citizenship by residence) or Student Visa (doesn’t count for citizenship by residence)  require proof of significant financial resources, some members recommended exploring asylum claims or seeking informal employment opportunities—though these routes come with legal risks and uncertainties.

Others emphasized the value of learning new skills, saving more money, or entering Spain through a student visa tied to vocational training.

Ultimately, knowing Spanish fluently is a strong asset and may open doors in the care, hospitality, or domestic work sectors. However, a stable plan with legal pathways and sufficient savings is essential for long-term success.Make sure to consult with immigration experts in order to take informed decisions.

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