Working holiday and language assistant routes
You know whether you are eligible for a youth or programme route and how it compares with a student or work route.
This topic covers the routes to Spain built for young people and programme participants: working holiday visas, the language assistant (auxiliar de conversación) programme, and other stays with a set purpose, such as au pair, volunteering and traineeships.
Pick the article that fits your situation
Working holiday visa for Spain, which nationalities and ages qualify
Shows which nationalities can use a Spanish working holiday visa, and the age, length of stay, funds and document conditions. It is for young people outside Spain who want to check whether they qualify before applying.
What a Spanish working holiday visa lets you do
Explains what a Spanish working holiday visa allows: how much you can work, what you can study, where you can travel, and why you cannot extend. For people from countries with a working holiday agreement with Spain.
Becoming a language assistant (auxiliar de conversación) in Spain
Explains who can join Spain's language assistant programme, what you need to qualify, and how and when to apply. It is for graduates and final-year students from eligible countries who want to work in a Spanish school.
Language assistant visa, pay and placement, what to expect
What to expect as a language assistant in Spain: the visa you need if you are not from the EU, what you are paid, how many hours you work, your health cover, how regions are assigned, and whether you can stay a second year.
Au pair, volunteering and traineeship stays in Spain
Spain allows au pair, volunteering and traineeship stays, but not through one dedicated visa each. EU citizens need no visa or permit for any of them.
Working holiday, language assistant or student route, which fits a young person?
Compares the working holiday, language assistant and student routes to Spain on work rights, length of stay and who can apply. It is for young people deciding which route suits their nationality, budget and plans.
About this topic
Pick the working holiday visa if your country has an agreement with Spain and you are 18 to 30 (up to 35 for Argentina and Canada). Pick the language assistant programme if you hold a degree and are from a listed country. Pick the student route if neither applies. Which route fits a young person compares them side by side.
Working holiday and language assistant routes: the whole process, step by step
From first check to life in Spain
- Pick your route. Compare the working holiday, language assistant and student routes in which route fits a young person.
- Check that you qualify. Working holiday: your nationality and age against the agreement list. Language assistant: your nationality against the yearly call in Becoming a language assistant. Au pair, volunteering or traineeship: other purpose-based stays.
- Working holiday: apply at the Spanish consulate before you travel, with the 80 EUR visa fee. You cannot apply from inside Spain.
- Language assistant: apply on the Ministry's platform from January to late March or early April, accept your placement, collect the placement letter (carta de nombramiento) and, if you are not from the EU, apply for the student visa from July to September. The visa has no fee (visa, pay and placement). The year runs from 1 October to 31 May, eight months.
- Arrive and apply for your TIE (foreigner identity card) within 30 days of arrival, if you stay more than 6 months. The fee is 16 EUR.
- Live the stay within its limits and plan what comes next. A working holiday lasts up to 12 months (rights and limits). Apply for any change of status before your authorisation expires.
Documents you may need
- Working holiday visa: eligibility, funds and documents
- Language assistant application: Becoming a language assistant
- Language assistant visa (non-EU assistants): visa, pay and placement
- Au pair, volunteering and traineeship: agreements, training plan and proof of means, on the stays page
Explore places
Where you live changes the details. See how Spanish regions and cities compare on rent, jobs, weather, safety and healthcare.
What to read next
More in Eligibility and route selection
Route map and first choices
You leave with a short list of Spanish routes that fit your passport and situation, and know which ones to read next.
Short stays and Schengen limits
You can count your days correctly, know what a short stay allows, and avoid the myths that lead to overstay.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
You know which free-movement category you fall under, what you must be able to show, and where the rules are lighter or stricter than for visa routes.
Also in Immigration and residency
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.