Job Discussion Forums

[marclar]

I am an Australian who has recently completed my TESOL certification and am now working through my specialist electives. I am planning to go to Spain (Andalucia) as this is where my boyfriend is now living, (he is a Spanish citizen who has recently moved back to Spain to start his phd).

We want to continue our relationship obviously, and so I am moving there in August/September 2011. I will be heading over for 3 weeks at the end of March to visit him and also to investigate what my job opportunities might be.

My bf is currently living in Granada but has had an offer to do his phd in Sevilla, he is still deciding so I will end up in one of these two cities.

I am aware that as a non EU citizen I am going to find it very difficult to find work, I dont even care at this point if I end up woring as a teacher or not anymore, as long as I can get some sort of work earning enough to get by. (I will be living with my partner and his housemates, so my living expenses will not be a lot when split 4 ways) and I am not fussed if my nightlife has to be non existenst, as long as im with my partner.

After all that...my question is this: HOW DO I DO IT?!!! Surely there are Australians who have/are living and working in Spain legally, and I would love to hear from any of them (or anyone who knows of an aussie over there) How did you do it? What loop holes are there I should know of?

Would I be eligible to get a student visa? I would be willing to study just about anything at a close by university if it meant staying in Spain. and then I can do private english tuition work to pay my share of rent etc maybe?

I need help! LOL! Im desperate to get there and like I said, any job or study option I would consider, as long as it was in (or near) the city my bf ends up living.

Can I do it? Or are you all going to tell me my relationship is doomed and I should start drinking my sorrows away now? haha :S

[spiral78]

Marrying him would be the best and possibly only simple way to do it legally.

You could also contact universities and enquire about student visas and courses. How's your Spanish?

Other options for legal work are very few to non-existent. Basically, you have to be able to do some sort of work that not enough EU nationals are available to do. EFL doesn't count as there are tonnes of qualified UK nationals to fill the jobs. Bartending, waitressing, etc ditto - then you're also completing with the locals, obviously. No employer will jump through the legal hoops to hire a non-EU member citizen for a low-level job for which he can find hundreds of local applicants.

Your visit in March should give you enough time to find out something on the study option. I'd definitely plan to visit all possible universities, and would try to set up interviews with their study advisors in advance. Alternatively, visit the local marraige board:)

[Insubordination]

I can't advise you on the student visa option, as I don't know anything about it. I hope someone else can.

Some people work illegally but the whole Schengen zone thing would pose a problem for an extended stay. Do you have a parent born in Britain or Ireland? If so, you can get a British or Irish passport. That's how I did it. The only Aussie teachers I met in Spain had a British or an Irish parent. Are you entitled to NZ citizenship? If so, you could get a Working Holiday Visa for Spain.

There are a fair number of EU countries with Working Holiday Visas for under 30s, but Spain ain't one of them. It is apparently 'being negotiated'.

My only other suggestion is to get a WHV in a nearby country like France or Italy or even England. At least you could Ryanair each other once a month for about a year, which is the typical duration of the visa.

Good luck!

[marclar]

We have discussed the possibility of marriage as an option, although i dont think we would be eligible as we never lived together here and I think I read somewhere that the couple needs to prove they have been in a living together (marriage like relationship) for a certain amount of time. What this time is I am not sure. If anyone knows any of the rules for a non Spanish citizen marrying a Spanish citizen please let me know, because marriage isn't completely out of the question for us. Although i'd rather not get married just for the sake of staying there...kind of unromantic haha.

As for my Spanish level, it is pretty basic at the moment, but I start intensive classes with a university here in Adelaide in Jan. 1st year Spanish condensed into 10 weeks, and then 2nd year Spanish condensed into 10 weeks. So I'll have 2 years worth in just 6 months. It was the most intense course I could find as I am aware I will need to speak it as well and as quick as I can. Plus I plan to continue learning Spanish once there.

I agree that yes, in March I will need to visit every university and educational institution I can to find out about being a student. Obviously if my spanish level isnt high (maybe intermediate at best by Sept) then study might not be realistic either.

Although I have heard there are english language institutions over there, (one in Marbella I know of) which isnt too far from Granada or Sevilla. Although when I looked Marbella University up on the internet, they have only about 3 bachelor degrees to choose from and were very expensive! But if its the only way I suppose I would consider it. I sent them an email anyway and they said I was eligible and even sent me an application form!! I think I will wait to speak to them once there in March though.

I have also heard that some universities have english language courses or campuses...not sure on the accuracy on this.

I have my bf doing lots of ground work over there atm on my behalf, LOL

Lets hope he comes up with a realistic solution to our problem!

As for the working illegally thing...I will admit it crossed my mind, and my bf's, but the risk is far too great. If I got caught and banned from coming back the r/ship would be over anyway so no point in taking the risk.

Worst case scenario, I will just try the long distance thing for a longer amount of time but from UK. I dont have parents born in UK or NZ, but I have grandparents born in UK, so I can qualify only for an acestory visa, which doesnt help me at all in regards to Spain, but does mean I can stay in the UK for 5 years.

Maybe my man will consider coming back to OZ or even the UK until we have lived together long enough to satisfy the marriage laws?

Any other advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone know of any english language institutions over there apart from Marbella University? or would enrolling in a course to learn Spanish suffice to meet student visa requirements?

[spiral78]

Does anyone know of any english language institutions over there apart from Marbella University? or would enrolling in a course to learn Spanish suffice to meet student visa requirements?


You have to be enrolled in a proper, full-time set of courses at university to qualify for a student visa.

[cks]

I always made sure that I am legally in the EU because I love my boyfriend and someday we will get married. So don't knock the getting married for the residency issue because it is unromantic. Someday you may want to be married to him and will ache to be with this man at all times and yearn to live in Spain.

If you try to work illegally and get banned from returning to Spain, you are right- the relationship will be completely over. Perhaps you should live with him for 90 days without working, or working online for an Aussi company- go back home to think things through, and then return after the 90 days are up to marry him if you choose to do so.