We had the pleasure of helping Sofia, a news editor at the time, fulfil her dream of moving to Spain. After falling in love with the country during a visit, she knew it was where she wanted to live. Her only option to make the move? Enrol in a Spanish language school and apply for a long-term student visa. Fast forward to today, Sofia is a successful entrepreneur teaching languages and enjoying life in Barcelona.
Why Did Sofia Decide to Move from England to Spain?
I had been thinking of leaving England long before I landed in Spain. The travel bug bit me early, around 12 or 13, when I visited the Czech Republic. I loved it! For a while, I even considered moving to Germany and began learning the language. But about ten years ago, I visited the Spanish town of Lloret de Mar on a holiday and started travelling around Catalonia. That’s when I found myself in Barcelona, and it was love at first sight! I’ve since visited many regions of Spain, but Barcelona kept pulling me back.
I genuinely believe Barcelona is one of the most stunning European cities. It’s got everything—mountains, the sea, and mind-blowing architecture. Every time my plane descends over the city and I see the twinkling lights of Barcelona, I feel this overwhelming sense of happiness. It feels like I’m coming home.
What Advice Do You Have for Those Moving on a Student Visa?
When I arrived in Spain, I had an official B1 level of Spanish. If you’re like me and planning to move on a student visa, I’d recommend stating a lower language level on your documents. For instance, if you’re at A1, you can later enrol in A2, B1, B2, and so on. This means you can stay in Spain longer as a student who’s still learning the language. To modify a student visa into a work visa, you need to have studied for at least three years within the Kingdom of Spain. There’s no shortcut.
If I could go back, I’d have written A1 or A2 on my visa application—if you claim no language skills at all, they might refuse your application. Doing this would’ve saved me time, stress, and money, as I wouldn’t have needed to enrol in a master’s program just to stay in Spain as a student.
What Surprised You Most After Moving to Spain?
What really surprised me, and still does, is Spain’s terrible bureaucracy. Everything takes forever! You need a lot of patience, or life here can get frustrating. Oddly, in the same office you might get one person who refuses to issue a document, and another who sorts it out in five minutes.
For example, banks here are only open until 2 or 3 PM, so dealing with any issues related to accounts or cards is tricky if you work. And forget about weekends—everything’s closed, even grocery stores! That said, there are small convenience shops around Barcelona where you can grab the basics.
How Did You Modify Your Student Visa into a Work Visa?
After four years of living in Spain as a student, I applied to modify my visa into an Autonomo visa (self-employed entrepreneur). To do this, I had to:
- Write a business plan;
- Provide recommendation letters from potential clients;
- Have a certain amount of funds in my account;
- Submit a letter from my university showing I completed my course;
- Provide certificates proving I didn’t receive scholarships in Spain;
- Submit a document proving I can carry out my professional activity;
- Pay two fees.
I’ve now been paying taxes to the Spanish Kingdom as an Autonomo for three years. New entrepreneurs here get some perks: in my first year, I only paid about €70 a month. The amount gradually increases, and now I pay around €290 a month to Seguridad Social, plus a 20% profit tax every quarter.
Any Tips for Those Looking to Move to Spain?
Prepare in advance! Get your documents, diplomas, and any powers of attorney for family or close friends translated ahead of time. It’ll be tough dealing with legalities remotely.
For anyone looking to move and work in Spain, especially if you have kids, make sure you have a financial cushion. It’s naive to think you’ll land the perfect job within a month and instantly boost your financial and social status. For the first while, you’ll likely have to rely on your savings.