Living in Spain

Sheet 20 - Authorization of residence for job search or start of business project

* The content of this page is merely indicative. Only the provisions of the regulations in force at the time of submission of the application are applicable. 

Last Updated: September 2025

Index of contents 

  • Type of authorisation
  • Basic regulations
  • Requirements
  • Exigible documentation
  • Procedure
  • Characteristics of the authorisation

TYPE OF AUTHORISATION 

This authorization may be requested by foreign persons who have been holders of a previous authorization of long-term stay for studies and who have completed their studies in an authorized higher education institution in Spain, reaching at least Level 6, according to the European Qualifications Framework, corresponding to the accreditation of university degree.

BASIC REGULATIONS 

  • Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, internships, volunteering, pupil exchange programmes or educational projects and au pair placement.
  • Additional seventeenth provision of Law 14/2013, of September 27, on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalization introduced by Royal Decree-Law 11/2018, of August 31.
  • Organic Law 4/2000, of January 11, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration.
  • Ley Orgánica 2/2023, de 22 de marzo del Sistema Universitario (DF 5ª). 
  • Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, approving the Regulations of Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration
  • Instruction DGM 1/2018, on the transposition into the Spanish legal system of Directive 2016/801/EU: Authorization of residence to the student for the search of employment or to undertake a business project.

REQUIREMENTS 

  • Not to be a citizen of a State of the European Union, of the European Economic Area and of Switzerland, or a family member of citizens of these countries, to whom the regime of citizen of the Union applies.
  • Do not appear as rejectable in the Member States of the Schengen Area.
  • Not to be found irregularly in Spain. 
  • Do not pose a threat to public order, safety or public health. 
  • Lack of criminal record in Spain and in the countries where he has resided for the last five years, for crimes existing in the Spanish legislation.
  • Not to suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health consequences in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations of 2005.
  • Be the holder of a long-term stay authorization for studies or extension of the same. 
  • Have completed studies and have reached at least Level 6, according to the European Qualifications Framework, corresponding to the university degree accreditation.
  • To have public or private health insurance in place with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.
  • Have sufficient financial means to defray the costs of residence and, where appropriate, those of their relatives, in accordance with the following amounts:
  • For its maintenance, monthly, 100% of the IPREM, unless it is duly accredited to have paid in advance the accommodation, in which case it will be 50% of the IPREM, for the entire duration of the residence.
  • For the support of their relatives, monthly 75% of the IPREM for the first relative and 50% of the IPREM for each of the remaining persons, unless it is duly accredited to have paid in advance the accommodation for the entire duration of the residence.
  • Pay the fee for the processing of the procedure.

EXIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION 

  • Responsible declaration detailing the means by which it certifies the sufficiency of economic resources.
  • Documentation certifying that you have finished your studies, having obtained at least, the degree of university degree. 
  • Copy of the passport in force or travel title, recognized as valid in Spain, with a minimum validity of one year.  
  • Documentation accrediting the availability of medical insurance. 
  • If the authorization of stay for studies was for a duration of less than six months:
  • Criminal record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin or the country in which you have resided for the last five years.

Important note: when documents are provided from other countries they must be translated into Spanish or co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted by a sworn translator.  

List of sworn translators.

On the other hand, any non-Community foreign public document must be previously legalized by the Consular Office of Spain with jurisdiction in the country in which the document was issued or, as the case may be, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation except in the case where the document has been apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country in accordance with the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 and unless the document is exempt from legalization under the International Convention.

Information on translation and legalization of documents.   

PROCEDURE 

  • Sujeto legitimado para presentar la solicitud la persona extranjera o su representante.

Information sheet on legitimated subjects. 

  • Place of presentation:  
  • Telematically, through the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (Mercurio), and addressed to the Delegation or Subdelegation of the Government of the province in which it will reside.  

Address information, telephone numbers and hours of service to the public. 

  • Deadline to submit the application: during the sixty calendar days prior to the expiration date of the validity of the authorization of stay by studies of which it is the holder. It may also be submitted within ninety calendar days thereafter, without prejudice to the initiation of the corresponding sanctioning procedure.
  • Corresponding fee: it will accrue at the time of submission of the application and must be paid within ten working days:  
  • Model 790 code 052, section 2.1.1. “Initial Non-Profit Temporary Residence Authorization.”

The subscription form can be downloaded from this page.

  • Deadline for the resolution of the application: twenty days from the day following the date of submission. Once this period has elapsed without the Administration having given an express response, it may be understood that the request has been estimated by administrative silence. (When it has not been possible to notify the resolution, it will be announced in the Single Bulletin Board (TEU). If you have opted for electronic notification or are legally obliged to use that medium, the resolution will be notified by publication in the electronic headquarters. If the resolution is not accessed within ten calendar days of its publication, it will be given as notified). 
  • The alien must personally apply for the alien identity card within one month from notification at the competent police station or police services in his/her place of residence.

The documentation to be provided in the application for the alien identity card can be consulted at the following link:

https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/procedimientos/index/categoria/34 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUTHORISATION 

  • Duration: 

With this authorization, they may remain in Spain for a period of twenty-four months that cannot be extended, in order to seek suitable employment, in relation to the level of completed studies or to undertake a business project.

During the validity of the residence authorization for the search for employment or to undertake a business project, you are not authorized to work. 

  • Family members: 

Students can be accompanied by the same family members who have already accompanied them during their stay for studies in Spain, as holders of authorization to stay as a family member.

  • He doesn't authorize them to work.
  • Modifications: 

In case of finding a suitable job in relation to the level of completed studies or having undertaken a business project, the corresponding authorization must be requested from among those regulated in Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January or in Law 14/2013, of 27 September.

For the non-application of the national employment situation, it is required that foreign persons have been in Spain for at least one year in a situation of residence.