Job Discussion Forums

[sonya85]

Hi everyone!
I'm planning to move to Barcelona at the end of August to look for a job teaching English. I have a TEFL and a few years of experience.
I do not have EU papers.
What is the best way to go about getting a job?
What are my chances with the current economic situation?

Thanks a lot!

[spiral78]

As a non-EU citizen, you have 90 days to get some employer to want you over all others enough to go to court to petition for an exception on your behalf to the national laws limiting hiring to EU citizens only.

You might want to google 'Schengen zone' for the 2009 rules for non-EU citizens and the 90 day time limit they now have to be inside the entire zone, before they have to leave for 90 days. A simple border run no longer suffices.

To say that you're 'moving to Barcelona' as a non-EU citizen, without having done more research on the limitations and restrictions - sounds like (perhaps I'm wrong and you actually know much more than your post indicates) you have entirely unrealistic expectations.

A 'move' to a new country requires a significant financial outlay - and it sounds like you are heading for problems, I'm afraid.

Please read other threads in this forum for the difficulties facing non-EU citizens, before you make the final decision to try this.

[sonya85]

Thanks for your advice!
I do know about he difficulties.
I was told that some schools do hire people without official papers.
Is it still like this?
I know about the 90 days policy. I was told that if you leave the country every 2 months for a weekend allegedly you get another 90 days.
Is this actually so?

[spiral78]

No, not anymore. As of January this year (2009) you have to STAY OUT FOR 90 DAYS (sorry - I'm not shouting at you, it's just that people still tend not to read this bit).

And it's not just that you have to stay out of Spain - you have to stay out of the entire Schengen zone. It means that you can be in most of continental Europe for only 90 days, then you have to go to Croatia or the UK or the US or somewhere quite different for 90 days.

The new laws were specifically designed to eliminate the legal border run option that has been used up until now.

[spiral78]

Some poster thought a few weeks ago that if you leave before the 90 days are up, it 'recharges.'

No - if you leave before the 90 days are up, you still have to stay out for 90.

They really have closed the loophole legally.

Just for the record - I don't agree with the law!
I personally think that if you can get employed and support yourself, you should be able to live in whatever country....but it's unfortunately not a perfect world yet!!

[sonya85]

Thanks again!
I guess it makes working there w/o EU Citizenship pretty much impossible.

[spiral78]

I've been reminded by another poster that you should check out the 'student visa and jobs' thread. Some non-EU citizens have been able to get legal status by getting student visas (I think mostly to study Spanish).

If you consider doing this, though, I'd encourage you to be sure to get the details really right - the penalty for overstaying is a 10-year ban on your entering the Schengen zone, and there have been a few spotty deportations in several countries this year.

[outofseoul]

[SirKirby]