1) Ideally we want to be working while living there, so we think our best route would be applying for work visas and working as English teachers? I have a BS degree in Biology but he doesn't have anything (only high school). What English certification programs would you recommend that would be competitive in finding an English teaching job or any that set you up with a job (do they all need college degrees)? We were thinking TESOL?
Yes, TESOL. There are language schools who help certify and place you... try one of them. You could contact schools or universities in Spain directly. You both will need certifications.
2) We have a friend that was able to stay in Spain without a work visa by traveling between Spain and another UK country (work visas are needed if staying for more than 90 days consecutively ). We would love to do this, if we could financially afford it. If it came down to it how much American dollars would you recommend it take to support two adult individuals for 7 months. Just needing basics: travel, food, house/apartment? We were thinking $30,000 (American).
Yes, thats an option, though very expensive. You could try couchsurfing to cut down on costs.
Please keep in mind, Spain is going through a terrible recession, and many Spaniards are moving to other countries for work. So, your options/success rate may be limited.
At the least I would budget $2500 a month for you to get by on (this really varies). Big cities are more expensive, while smaller towns are less. The south of Spain is relatively cheaper. You could consider renting an apartment for a month or 2 and buying food from a grocery store. That would be much cheaper. You could use that place as a base to do day or 2 day trips and see places. If you have 3-4 such 'bases' you should be able to cover most of Spain.
3) How difficult is finding work in Spain as an English teacher? We are trying to learn some Spanish, but we aren't fluent. Is it really necessary to get a work visa or can we find under the table jobs (any job, not just teaching english)?
Under the table jobs - that's illegal buddy!! Just dont do it, please.
Yes you would need a working knowledge of Spanish.
4) When applying for a work visa, I know its required to provide proof of a job contract from a company in Spain. How should we go about this? Should we get our english certifications and try looking for English teaching jobs in Spain via online and contacting them AND THEN apply for the work visa? Or the work visa first? What is considered proof of work contract? On average how long does the work visa process take?
Your employer will help you with that.
Finally, here's my overall recommendation (what I would do if I were in your shoes):
Go to Spain for a holiday (anywhere from 3-6 weeks). Get a feel for the place, the culture etc. You can then do a recce and talk to potential employers in person. Also, scope out places where you would like to live/work. Then, after your trip, decide what you want to do.
Good Luck!!
1. You need a job offer to work in Spain and to make this offer, and begin the work visa process, the employer must prove that there are no Spanish or EU citizens available to fill this position. This means that employers are not going to bother with Americans when there are hundreds of qualified Spanish, British and Irish English teachers looking for work. Spanish people get first priority, the British and Irish next because they are EU citizens!
2. It is illegal to work in Spain without a Work Visa regardless of the number of days you are in the country. If your friend was working he was also breaking the law. You can stay for 90 days in Spain, and the Schengen Zone, as a tourist. Then you must leave for a non-Schengen country such as the UK for a further 90 days before reentering Schengen. This does not give you the right to work in Spain.
3. There are no under-the-table jobs. Why would an employer take the risk of employing illegals when there are so many unemployed, qualified, legal Spaniards and other Europeans who will work for low wages anyway. You need to be aware that the unemployment rate in Spain is incredibly high.
4. You can only apply for a Work Visa until you have a job and then the employer will start the process for you. And, this isn't going to happen - see 1!
No, you can't work while you're in Spain. Not legally, anyway.
And you won't be working illegally either because it's NO PROBLEM to find native speakers of English from the UK and Ireland to work in Spain. Not only are they highly qualified, but there are no visa issues - and believe me when I say they are falling over each other to get at whatever jobs are going. So forget that lark.
You can visit Spain for up to 3 months, as a tourist. You cannot work in Spain during this time. You will have to prove that you can afford to live there for three months, and show a return ticket.
If you want to live and work in Spain, or indeed any other EU member state, for longer than 3 months, you will have to get an employment visa. Employment visas are not issued to TESOL teachers. They are issued to high end professionals in medicine, engineering - that kind of thing. Basically for people with highly sought-after technical and other skills, not wannabe teacher who clearly don't know the first thing about doing research.
What makes your notion of you working there like this even more laughable is that the locals in Spain are finding it hard to get a job. It is cutthroat. The only work available for native speakers of English is teaching, and even then ... like I already said, it's highly competitive.
So forget this notion of you ever teaching English in Spain. Never going to happen.
1. Job. Youth unemployment is over 50 percent.
For teaching jobs,, see http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/.
The rest follows the job. But, it is easy enough to disappear anywhere if you have enough money and health insurance. I know an Italian guy who has lived in Florida for years like that.
My boyfriend and I live in America (Hawaii) and we would like to move to Spain for 7-8 months. Correct me if I'm wrong or add additional advice!!! Sorry its long, I just want to make sure I'm fully prepared and informed.
1) Ideally we want to be working while living there, so we think our best route would be applying for work visas and working as English teachers? I have a BS degree in Biology but he doesn't have anything (only high school). What English certification programs would you recommend that would be competitive in finding an English teaching job or any that set you up with a job (do they all need college degrees)? We were thinking TESOL?
2) We have a friend that was able to stay in Spain without a work visa by traveling between Spain and another UK country (work visas are needed if staying for more than 90 days consecutively ). We would love to do this, if we could financially afford it. If it came down to it how much American dollars would you recommend it take to support two adult individuals for 7 months. Just needing basics: travel, food, house/apartment? We were thinking $30,000 (American).
3) How difficult is finding work in Spain as an English teacher? We are trying to learn some Spanish, but we aren't fluent. Is it really necessary to get a work visa or can we find under the table jobs (any job, not just teaching english)?
4) When applying for a work visa, I know its required to provide proof of a job contract from a company in Spain. How should we go about this? Should we get our english certifications and try looking for English teaching jobs in Spain via online and contacting them AND THEN apply for the work visa? Or the work visa first? What is considered proof of work contract? On average how long does the work visa process take?
