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Residence and nationality

Changing from student stay to work or job-search residence

Modificación de la estancia por estudios a residencia y trabajo o búsqueda de empleo

What it is

Anyone in Spain with a stay permit for higher education, secondary education, training activities or specialised health training can switch to residence and work as an employee or as self-employed if they have obtained the degree or certificate for their studies and have no criminal record. To work as an employee you need a signed contract (if part-time, with annual pay of at least the full-time minimum wage); it is applied for with form EX-26 through Mercurio and the employer pays the fee. To become self-employed you must prove your qualifications and a sufficient investment. In both cases the decision period is three months, silence means refusal and the permit lasts one year. Those who finish undergraduate or higher studies can apply, in the 60 days before or the 90 days after their stay permit expires, for a residence permit of up to 24 months to look for work or start a business, which does not allow working; it is decided within 20 days.

Official wording
Es una autorización de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena que podrá obtener la persona extranjera que se halla en España en situación de estancia por estudios superiores, enseñanza secundaria, actividades formativas o formación sanitaria especializada.

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

When

When you finish your studies or training and obtain the degree or certificate. For the job-search residence, in the sixty days before your study stay expires or the ninety days after.

Official wording
Haber obtenido la titulación o certificado correspondiente a los estudios o formación realizados.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Choose the route

    You can move to employed residence and work (with a contract), self-employed (with a project and qualification) or, with at least a university bachelor’s degree, to a residence of up to 24 months to look for work or start a business, during which you cannot work. You must not have been funded by development cooperation or humanitarian programmes.

    Official wording
    Durante la vigencia de la autorización de residencia para la búsqueda de empleo o para emprender un proyecto empresarial, no se está autorizado a trabajar.

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Employed route: file EX-26

    You or the employer file it online on Mercurio, with the signed contract and company documents. The employer pays the fees. Decided within three months (without a reply, refused); the authorisation lasts one year and takes effect with Social Security registration.

    Official wording
    En todo caso, será el empleador el que asumirá el pago de la tasa.

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Job-search route: file EX-26

    You file it online on Mercurio with a declaration of your financial means, the bachelor’s degree, a passport valid for a year and health insurance. Decided in twenty days; without a reply, deemed granted.

    Official wording
    Plazo de resolución de la solicitud : veinte días contados a partir del día siguiente a la fecha de presentación.

    Official sources

  4. Step 4: Apply for the TIE

    Within one month of Social Security registration (employed route) apply in person for the TIE at the police station.

    Official wording
    En el plazo de un mes desde que el trabajador se haya dado de alta en Seguridad Social, deberá solicitar, personalmente, la tarjeta de identidad de extranjero

    Official sources

Documents

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🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

Fees

Form 790 code 052, section 2.5, and, for the employed route, form 790 code 062, section 3.2.1 (paid by the employer). Paid within ten working days.

Official wording
Modelo 790 código 052, epígrafe 2.5 “modificación de las situaciones de las personas extranjeras en España”.

Official sources

Related procedures

Terms used on this page