Dear GoMad Nomad:
Currently I am living in Donostia, Basque Country, with my girlfriend. At the end of the month we are likely to move to Madrid, to hunker down over winter. My problem is that neither of us have more than a tourist visa, which entitles us to only three months in Spain. I remembered that you had lived in Madrid for some time, and wondered how you stayed in the country, whether by obtaining a visa, or making occasional runs for a border, to refresh your entry visa, or some other way. I am sick of borders, fronteras, imaginary lines dividing countries.
-Moving to Madrid
And another letter:
Dear GoMad Nomad,
I am looking into teaching English in Spain, but I will just have a tourist visa so I need to do it under the table. I have an online TEFL certificate but no teaching experience. Do you know of any good ways of breaking into that with my limitations?
-In new territory
Dear Moving to Madrid and In New Territory:
Unfortunately you can’t just leave the country (or the EU or the Shengen zone) and return immediately. You actually need to leave for three months, because you are permitted only 90 days in a 180-day period. This applies to those from the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, among others.
Fortunately, the Spanish are pretty relaxed at Passport Control and they generally don’t check your stamps very closely. Many EU and Shengen countries don’t even stamp your passport, which may complicate things or may work to your advantage, allowing you to stay extra time.
But…sometime they do check. This is a very real risk. I have a very good friend who was denied entry into Spain because he had already used his 90 days in 180-day period in Shengen countries. He was held at the airport in Madrid for three days before being allowed to return home.
I know plenty of North Americans and Australians that were living and working in Spain illegally, having left and entered multiple times even though they were over their limit. But that was before the economic crises of 2008. Friends of mine that are still teaching English in Spain say the job availability is scarce, so it might not be an optimal time to move to Spain. Read this article for more on teaching English in Spain.
Working without a work visa
Although obviously illegal, there are plenty of US citizens working in Spain without a work permit. If you’re smart, the risk is minimal. Start contacting English schools while you’re still at home to see what kind of response you get. If you’re determined to move to Spain anyhow, just do it. If you can’t find work at a private language academy, you can try to find private tutoring gigs. They usually pay 15-25 Euro per hour.
Getting an extension
I am under the impression that you can apply for an extension to add to your 90-day visa free period. But, as of 2011, this is going to require an apostilled criminal record check from your home country. Go to your local police station in Spain to apply.
Getting a work visa
To get a work visa for Spain, you have to be in your home country to complete the paperwork and take it to a Spanish embassy or consulate. Contact Spanish schools while you’re still in your home country and try and secure a job in May or June in order in order to start work at the beginning of the school year with all the official documents in hand.
The debate continues…
There is quite a debate over all this on different forums on the web. I have read and heard stories that reveal conflicting reports to all the information I just gave you. Please feel free to comment with your personal experience or any information you might have that coincides or conflicts with my views.
Sincerely,
Stephen
So in addtion to your information, we found out this, which may only be specific to holders of New Zealand passports, as it seems our little non threatening pacific island has some special relationships with European countries.
We were told independently from both the New Zealand embassy in Madrid and the Spanish consulate in Wellington that time spent in Spain doesn’t contribute to the three months(90 days) allocated in the Schengen Area (european zone). Therefore you are not olbliged to spend 3 months out of the country before you can reenter again as a tourist. We have done a boarder run to England all ready without a problem.
In the same email they said that getting back to back tourist visas were okay but that boarder officials (if you can find one to give you a stamp in the first place) may not know this.
I submit this email from the Spanish Emabssy in Wellington
“If you are a NZ citizen you may stay in Spain without visa for up to 3 months regardless of the time you have spent in any other Schengen area countries.
You can even stay more than three months in any 6-month period, provided the continuous period is not longer than three months.
Lastly, if you do this [leave the country and come back repeatedly], and although it may be a difficult thing to do with no border controls, be sure to get your passport stamped on the way out and also upon coming back, so the periods may be properly computed.”
Well, HMTM, This is good news for you and thanks for sharing. I wish I came from a little non-threatening Pacific Island!
I did this from Madrid http://www.vaughanvillage.com/ – great experience and a free week of food and accom in a plush hotel with the only thing you have to do is speak English for a week.
@Heather I did Vaughn Town and Pueblo Ingles as well. They were great experiences. I wrote a post on that too: https://gomadnomad.com/2010/06/10/volunteering-in-spain-with-vaughan-town-and-pueblo-ingles/
hi i am a filipino working here in hk as a domestic helper,working right now for my spanish employer who just arrived in hk a month ago.if ever they want to relocate back to spain madrid in 3 years time would that be possible that i could come with them to continue working for their family?so i could stay in spain too?and which visa am i getting?am half spanish and half filipino.looking forward for your reply.thanks…