Youth Mobility Visa Spain (Working Holiday Visa)
The Spanish Youth Mobility Visa (also known as the Working Holiday Visa) allows young people from Canada the ability to travel and work in Spain for up to a year.
Total Law’s team of specialist immigration lawyers can help you through the Youth Mobility Visa Spain application process. Call our team now on +1 844 290 6312 to access expert support services.
What is the Youth Mobility Visa in Spain?
The Spain Youth Mobility Visa is a visa programme allowing young people to travel to and work in Spain for a period of up to one year. It’s designed to promote cultural exchanges between the applicant’s home country and Spain, and to allow young people to experience life abroad.
This visa scheme has been open since 2018 but is only open to those who fit the eligibility criteria.
As the name suggests, the Working Holiday Visa is intended for both travel and work, and is not a sole employment visa. It can be used for work experience and professional development as part of a wider trip.
Page Contents
- What is the Youth Mobility Visa in Spain?
- Who can apply for the Spain Youth Mobility Visa?
- Required Documents for Youth Mobility Visa Spain
- How to apply for the Spanish Working Holiday Visa?
- The Visa Interview Process for Spain Youth Mobility Visa
- What is the visa fee and processing time for the Youth Mobility program?
- Upon arrival in Spain on Youth Mobility Visa
- Extending and Renewing a Working Holiday Visa in Spain
- How can Total Law help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Spain Youth Mobility Visa?
The Spanish Youth Mobility Visa holds fairly strict eligibility criteria, and applicants must fit this in order to be successful with their application. The applicant must:
- Be aged between 18 and 35 (30 for non-Canadian citizens)
- Be a Canadian citizen or hold Australian, Japanese, New Zealand or South Korean citizenship
- Be able to demonstrate that they have access to ‘sufficient funds’ to support themselves for the duration of their stay in Spain (a figure that changes annually and is €7,200)
- Be able to demonstrate a clean criminal record in Canada and all of the countries they have visited in the last five years
- Be able to demonstrate a functioning level of the Spanish language
- Intend to both work and travel in Spain, and not just work.
The Working Holiday Visa Spain does not include any facility for visa holders to be accompanied by family members or dependents.
Any employment can be taken up while in Spain by the visa holder other than posts that require specific academic training, qualifications or regulation.
Need some guidance on understanding if you fulfil the criteria? Call +1 844 290 6312 to talk through your circumstances with an expert at Total Law.
Required Documents for Youth Mobility Visa Spain
Applications for the Youth Mobility Visa Spain are to be accompanied by supporting documents to prove the applicant’s eligibility for the scheme. For a standard visa application, Canadian citizens should be able to provide the following:
- A valid passport
- A birth certificate
- Proof of travel insurance cover for the duration of their intended stay in Spain
- Proof of sufficient financial means (usually a bank statement or letter of sponsorship)
- A return travel ticket demonstrating the intention to leave Spain (or proof of sufficient financial means to buy one)
- Proof of a minimum of 2 years of higher education qualifications
- Proof of arranged employment in Spain
- A work authorization or NIE (Foreigner’s Identification Number)
- A support letter from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
- A criminal record clearance certificate from Canadian Police.
If you’re unsure of how to obtain any of the supporting documents or need more info, call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to a Total Law specialist.
How to apply for the Spanish Working Holiday Visa?
The application process for the Working Holiday Visa is fairly straightforward, but does require an in-person interview. Applicants to the Youth Mobility program may follow these steps to formalize their application:
Receive pre arranged contract
Applicants must have a pre-arranged contract for a short term job at a Spanish institution or company ahead of any application being made for the Spanish Working Holiday Visa.
Gather supporting documents
All evidential documents should be collated in advance of the application being made.
Complete application form
The visa application form is completed online, and the applicant should print copies to take with them to their visa interview appointment.
Attend Spanish Embassy or Spanish Consulate
A pre-booked visa interview at the local Spanish Embassy or Spanish Consulate is attended by the applicant. They take copies of the application form and all supporting documents for inspection by Spanish authorities.
Wait for visa decision
The Spanish Working Holiday Visa is not granted on the same day as the visa interview, and so the applicant leaves to await Spanish authorities to make a decision.
Travel to Spain
Once the visa has been granted, the applicant is free to travel to Spain and begin their working holiday.
For support at any stage of the application process, call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to a Total Law expert.
The Visa Interview Process for Spain Youth Mobility Visa
All applicants for a Spain Working Holiday Visa must attend an in-person visa interview at a Spanish Consulate or Embassy. This can be worrying for young Canadians but is a fairly simple process and isn’t particularly difficult.
The visa interview usually takes around an hour and is a one-to-one meeting with an immigration officer. They will ask questions around the applicant’s background (to check that they have reason to return to Canada after the stay in Spain), the intended stay in Spain and the work that will be undertaken. Applicants should also be prepared to answer questions on their reason for applying for the youth mobility program. All supporting documents should be brought in a file and ready to present.
For advice on the visa interview process, speak to an immigration expert on +1 844 290 6312.
What is the visa fee and processing time for the Youth Mobility program?
The visa application fee is to be paid when the initial application form is submitted online. This is €100 for Canadian citizens and is non-refundable.
On average, the processing time for Spanish authorities to make a decision on a Working Holiday Visa is between three to six weeks. However, if at any point during the processing period immigration authorities request additional information, the application is put on hold until such time as this is received. It’s therefore advised that applicants respond to any such requests as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary delays.
Upon arrival in Spain on Youth Mobility Visa
Once a Youth Mobility Visa holder arrives in Spain, there are some steps that should be taken. These are:
- Register with the local police. This will obtain the visa holder a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE)
- Open a bank account. This can be done with any Spanish bank and will allow for the payment of wages from the pre arranged work to be paid into here.
It’s also recommended that all documents relevant to the visa are kept in a safe place so they can be compiled if ever needed.
Already in Spain and need advice on how to proceed? Call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to a Total Law expert.
Extending and Renewing a Working Holiday Visa in Spain
The Working Holiday Visa for Spain cannot be extended or renewed past the 12-month validity period. It is a requirement of the visa that the holder leaves Spain once their visa expires.
However, if the visa holder wishes to return to Spain, they are free to apply for any other visa type from Canada; providing they meet the eligibility requirements for their desired visa type.
How can Total Law help
Total Law are a firm of immigration specialist solicitors. We work with travellers around the world to help ease their journey to live, work and study globally. No matter where you’re going or where you’re from, the Total Law team can support you through every step of the process and will communicate jargon-free for transparency.
Call our office today on +1 844 290 6312 and make the first move to your new life in Spain.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If an applicant doesn’t have immediate access to the funds required to demonstrate ‘sufficient financial means’ for their stay, they may instead present a sponsorship or guarantor who will provide them with the funds.
IPREM is an acronym for Indicador Publico de Rentas de Efectos Multiples. It’s an index used by the Spanish government to calculate the amount of grants, aids and social benefits that Spanish citizens can receive from the state, as well as to determine the minimum financial means required for visa applicants – as it ensures they’ll be able to cover this amount themselves.
The work that qualifies for a Working Holiday Visa should be paid, and therefore while the visa holder is free to take part in volunteer work, it cannot be the placement for which they are travelling to Spain.
The best job role for the visa applicant is likely to be suited to their existing professional experience and personality. However, the most common roles provided for under the Youth Mobility scheme are tutoring, teaching English, nannying and au pair work, camp counselling, restaurant and bar work and jobs in hospitality and tourism.
Undertaking training for the specific role is permitted, however, if the job role requires a specific qualification or regulation, it does not qualify under the Youth Mobility scheme – as it would be considered too specialist a job for a working holiday. Instead, applicants should look to apply for a full employment visa.
The immigration interviewer will ask questions on the applicant’s background and life in Canada. Talking through your commitments and responsibilities in the interview demonstrates that you have sufficient reason to return to your home country and makes it unlikely that you’ll overstay your visa.
The Working Holiday Visa permits a one-off stay in Spain and the holder must return to Canada at the end of their stay. However, once back in Canada, they are free to apply for other Spanish visa types that may lead on to residency or citizenship.
