Spanish Pathway Program – Study with work permit in Spain

Planning to study with work permit in Spain during your studies? You're in luck! Thanks to the updated Immigration Regulation (Reglamento de Extranjería, May 2025), international students are now allowed to work legally up to 30 hours per week without needing a separate work permit. This applies to students enrolled in official higher education programs such as:

• Bachelor’s Degrees 
• Master’s Degrees 
• Vocational Training Programs (Formación Profesional)
   

However, to truly benefit from this 30-hour work authorization, one crucial factor comes into play—your level of Spanish.

Even though you may study in English-taught programs, the majority of part-time jobs in Spain require at least a B1/B2 level of Spanish for basic communication with customers, colleagues, and supervisors. Whether you’re applying for jobs in hospitality, retail, tourism, admin, or even internships, Spanish language skills are often mandatory. Learn Spanish in Spain. 

✅ Increases Job Opportunities While Studying
✅ Required for Most Entry-Level Positions
✅ Essential for Internships and Networking
✅ Boosts Your Chances of getting a job / work during and after studies
✅ Helps You Integrate into Spanish Culture and Society

Learn Spanish First till B1/B2 level

The majority of part-time jobs in Spain require Spanish communication skills—even basic. If you're planning to work while you study, mastering the Spanish language is not optional—it’s strategic.

Tip: Move to Spain 6-8 months early and enroll in an intensive Spanish course (A1 to B1/B2) before your formal Bachelor, Master, or Vocational training program begins.

To succeed both academically and professionally in Spain, we strongly recommend that international students start learning Spanish before or alongside their main program. Enrolling in an intensive Spanish course before starting your Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Vocational Training will significantly improve your employability during your stay in Spain. 

If you're starting from zero or low Spanish level and want to work in Spain during your studies:

Step 1:
- Enroll in a long-term Spanish language course (minimum 6 months, 20h/week)
- Goal: Reach B1/B2 Spanish level

Step 2:
- Apply for your desired academic program:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Vocational Training
   

Step 3:
- Apply for a student visa covering both Spanish + academic programs (or change to academic program once in Spain)
- Start working up to 30 hours/week during your formal studies

Jobs available to international students:

• Restaurants, cafés, and bars 
• Retail stores 
• Customer service / call centers 
• Hotels, tourism & hospitality 
• Internships in tech/startups 
• Private language tutoring (if you're fluent in English or another language)
   

Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, and Seville offer more job opportunities and student-friendly environments.