Residence for job hunting
The validity of the job search residency has always been 1 year, but recently a new policy has been introduced, making it valid for 2 years.
The purpose of the job search residence is to allow students who have already graduated to have more time to look for a job. While looking for a job, they can legally live in Spain. The government thought that 1 year might not be enough time to find a job, so it gave an additional 1 year.
Now students have 2 years to find a job.
The new law came into effect after December 23, 2022.
You can extend your 1-year residence permit after it expires.
If you have already applied for a 1-year work permit before the introduction of the new law and have been approved, you can apply for an extension when the permit expires.
After the extension, your stay will still be valid for 1 year, which adds up to 2 years. After that, you cannot extend your stay again.
Of course, if you have already found a job, or if you want to start a business, you can change your residence to a work residence or an employer residence.
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What should I do if my job search visa is pending to be resolved?
Theoretically, the immigration office should follow the new law.
However, if the date of application for a job search residence is before December 23, 2022, i.e. before the new law comes into force, it is advisable to write an additional letter to the immigration office requesting that the new law be implemented and that the residence be granted directly for a period of 2 years.
What should I do if my current job search residence has expired?
The normal extension of residence can be done 60 days before or 90 days after the expiration date. However, the law does not specifically provide for the extension of the residence for job hunting, which leaves room for interpretation by the immigration authorities. In any case, it can be confirmed that if the 1-year residence permit has expired for more than 90 days, it cannot be extended.
