STAY AND EMPLOYMENT OF U.S. CITIZENS IN SPAIN

This is a general information sheet provided as a public service. Because Spanish’s residence and work regulations change frequently and may even vary slightly in practice from province to province, ONLY the Spanish authorities can provide specific information about the matters discussed below.

Please understand that the Consulate General is unable to assist in obtaining extensions or adjustments of Spanish visas. That is entirely a Spanish Government function. The proper office to contact is:

Foreigners’ Office
Address: Marques de Argentera 4, 08003 Barcelona
E-mail: infoext@oue.barcelona.map.es
Phones: 060 and 93/520.14.10 (Metro stop: L4- Barceloneta)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 14:30 p.m.
Websites:
    - www.mir.es
    - www.map.es
   -  www.mtas.es
   -  Website Spanish Embassy in the U.S.:

Tourists

U.S. citizens traveling on regular passports for tourism, business or transit purposes may enter Spain without a visa. They are allowed a cumulative stay of up to 90 days during any six-month period. The 90-day period begins on the date of entry stamped in the passport, and applies to all the Schengen group countries (currently Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden). For immigration purposes, the Schengen group of countries is considered to have one common, external border (i.e., the 90-day does NOT restart when moving from one Schengen country to another).

Extensions of the stay beyond the initial 90-day period are granted ONLY in exceptional circumstances.

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Students

Those who wish to remain in Spain for more than 90-day period in order to study must obtain a visa from the Spanish Embassy/Consulate in the U.S. or in the country of last residence before coming to Spain and apply for a residency permit at the above mentioned Foreigners’ Office. Students may request an appointment by calling 93/520.9530 or through e-mail citaprevia@barcelona.map.es. The address is Marques de Argentera 2, 08003 Barcelona (Metro stop “Barceloneta”).

Residents

Those who wish to remain in Spain for more than 90-day period in order to reside must obtain a visa from the Spanish Embassy/Consulate in the U.S. or in the country of last residence before coming to Spain and apply for a residency permit at the above mentioned Foreigners’ Office.

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Workers

Those who intend to work in Spain must obtain a visa from the nearest Spanish Embassy/Consulate in the U.S. or in the country of last residence before coming to Spain and apply for a work permit at the above mentioned Foreigner’s Office.

Spanish authorities will issue a work permit only if it is demonstrated that there is no one in Spain who can do the job for which the foreigner is applying. The company requesting the services of the foreigner must present the work permit applications. Temporary work permits are available for artists, professors or other skilled personnel to perform temporary jobs. These temporary work permits cannot be extended.

As a general rule, U.S. companies operating in Spain employ Spanish and European Union nationals to the maximum extent possible. U.S. companies generally employ very few U.S. citizens below the executive level. The Consulate General does not have information regarding employment opportunities in Spain, and a company does not seek the Consulate’s help in finding U.S. employees.

For information regarding overseas employment with U.S. government agencies, inquire at the nearest office of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, or the personnel office of the specific agency in which a position is desired. For overseas jobs with the Department of State, please consult the following website: www.state.gov.

The law establishes penalties for those staying illegally in the country. A foreigner found living illegally in Spain can be arrested and held for up to forty days while an expulsion order is being prepared, and then be expelled from Spain.

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