The job search visa is a one-time residency which allows someone who has recently graduated to remain in Spain and search for work or set up a business.
This authorization has a 12-month duration and allows the holder to apply for a work permit once a suitable job offer is found or a business plan is successfully developed.
The application process is very straightforward since the request is submitted online and the deadline for approval or rejection is only 20 days. If after this deadline no response is given, it will be understood that the visa has been granted.
Students can submit their application during the 60 days before the end of their student permit or 90 days after the expiration date.
This permit will also be available for family members who have been living with the applicant in Spain.
IMPORTANT: THIS PERMIT DOES NOT ALLOW THE HOLDER TO WORK. IT IS A NON-LUCRATIVE AUTHORIZATION.

STUDENTS RECENTLY GRADUATED:
To be able to opt for this visa, the applicant must have finished studies on a level 6 or above of the European Qualification Framework. In Spain, the equivalent will correspond to University degrees, Masters and PhDs mainly.
Additionally, not all universities issue valid degrees for the purpose of this permit.
ECONOMIC MEANS AND HEALTH INSURANCE:
As a non-lucrative residency that doesn’t allow you to work, the applicant must prove to have economic means and health coverage for the duration of the residency.
For the economic means, an individual will need to prove to have 100% IPREM, unless accommodation is granted for the whole duration of the residency. In this case, only 50% IPREM would be needed.
When applying with family members, additional funds are needed and rates would be established at 75% IPREM for the first family member, and 50% IPREM for each new member onwards.
DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION:
The application must be addressed to the immigration office from where the student is based. It must be presented online through a public electronic register (Red SARA).
The basic documentation needed is the following:
- Personal documents such as passport and TIE card
- Degree and certificates
- Proof of economic means
- Health insurance policy
- Paid fees.
- City hall registration certificate (empadronamiento)
CHANGING THE JOB SEARCH VISA TO A WORK PERMIT
As mentioned before, this authorization does not allow the holder to work and it’s not renewable.
In the case of a job offer, a new application must be submitted for the specific work permit that will directly depend on the contract conditions.
It is important to highlight that if a job offer is on the scope of the Entrepreneur’s Law (14/2013), then the change can be done at any time from the job searching visa to a highly qualified worker visa, to a residency for internship or to an entrepreneur visa as long as the requirements for those permits are met.
If not, the change of visa would take place under the Immigration act, which requires 12-months of residency first. In this case, applications must be submitted close to the expiration date of the original visa.
You may also be interested in….
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- Sufficient economic means: IPREM
- Health insurance for the EU residence application
- EU CERTIFICATE IN SPAIN, WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
- Spanish Residence permit for family of EU nationals
- Spanish nationality: Am I eligible?
- Non-Lucrative visa (NLV)
- RESIDENCE FOR INTERNSHIP
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