Planning to work while you travel around Spain? Here’s everything you need to know about the Spanish Working Holiday Visa: what it is, who can apply, how to apply, the cost, and what to do if your application is denied.
The Working Holiday Visa is a youth mobility visa that lets nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand aged 18-30 (35 for Canadians) live, work and travel in Spain for up to 12 months, with tourism as the primary purpose.
It’s available only to nationals of countries that hold a bilateral youth mobility agreement with Spain, and it doesn’t require a prior job offer or a university exchange programme.
As each agreement affects the characteristics of this visa and hence each applicant will face different scenarios, our initial recommendation is to check country-specific details and document checklists published by each Spanish consulate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, exteriores.gob.es.
Which nationalities can apply for the Work and Holiday Visa Spain?
Five countries have a youth mobility agreement with Spain:
- Canada
- Australia
- Japan
- South Korea
- New Zealand.
Only nationals of these countries can apply, and each country has its own specific requirements.
Main requirements for the Working Holiday Visa Spain
We can divide the requirements into 2 big groups.
On the one hand, there are some general requirements to apply for the working holiday visa that all candidates must fulfil. But, on the other hand, there are also specific requirements subject to each eligible country.
Below you will find both lists.
General requirements
- Never having participated in the programme before
- Aged 18–30 (up to 35 for Canadians)
- Holding a NIE (Foreigners’ Identification Number)
- Travelling without dependent family members
- Sufficient funds: 100% of the IPREM per month (approx. €600/month)
- Health insurance for the full stay, with no co-payments, reimbursement requirements or waiting periods, equivalent to Spain’s National Healthcare System
- A return ticket, or funds to buy one
- No criminal record and no entry ban in the Schengen Area
Bear in mind that all documents must be legalised and, where required, translated into Spanish.
Specific requirements
Beyond the general requirements, each of the five countries with a youth mobility agreement with Spain (Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) has its own additional conditions. All applicants need a valid passport, comprehensive health insurance and a clean criminal record, but details vary: the exact amount of funds required, extra medical documentation, or whether a prior job offer is needed.
Australia and Japan stand out as the most particular cases. Australia requires proof of a minimum Spanish level (a DELE A1 certificate or equivalent) plus at least two years of higher education, while Japan asks for a specific medical certificate ruling out diseases that could pose a public health risk. Neither country requires a pre-arranged job offer.
New Zealand and South Korea largely follow the general framework, with no prior employment contract needed, though applicants should contact the relevant Spanish embassy (Wellington and Seoul, respectively) to confirm the exact document checklist.
Canada has the most flexible process, but also the most segmented: there are five different applicant categories depending on whether the goal is training, an internship, or simply travelling and working casually, with a prior contract only required in some of them. Canada also asks for a motivation letter, proof of accommodation, and a criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years of residence.
Each country also has a limited annual quota (for example, 3,400 for Australia, 2,000 for New Zealand, or 500 for Japan), so it’s worth applying early and confirming the exact checklist with the consulate before gathering documents.
How to get your Working Holiday Visa for Spain
Let’s explore how the process works for obtaining your working holiday visa:
1. Obtain your NIE
2. Present all the required documentation
Submit the full set of general and country-specific documents, the ones you have in the section above.
Two examples of country-specific requirements:
- Canada: a motivation letter explaining the purpose of the trip
- Australia: proof of a minimum level of Spanish
3. Arrange an appointment at your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate
4. Get your TIE
Once in Spain, register your address at the town hall (empadronamiento), then apply for your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) at the nearest Foreigners Office or police station.
Pros and cons of the Work and Holiday Visa
While the working holiday visa is a great way of discovering Spain as well as earning some money, it has some important restrictions and conditions.
- Travel, not employment, must be the visa’s primary purpose, and this must be clear from the motivation letter and any consular interview, or the application can be denied.
- You can’t work for the same employer for more than six months.
- The visa is not renewable.
Frequently asked questions about the Working Holiday Visa for Spain
Let’s now answer some of the most frequently asked questions on this special type of visa:
Can I stay in Spain after my working holiday visa expires?
Generally, no but there are three exceptions:
- Canadians can do the programme twice, in two different categories, with a minimum 3-month break between stays.
- An extension is possible in exceptional circumstances, requested at the police station of your province of residence.
- You can switch to another immigration status, such as the digital nomad visa (valid for up to 3 years).
Can I apply for a working holiday visa for Spain more than once?
No, you cannot apply for a working holiday visa more than once. As explained above, you can apply for it just once.
What happens if I overstay my working holiday visa in Spain?
It depends. If you overstay your working holiday visa and you don’t carry out any aggravating activities, such as illegal work, you might only face economic penalties, rather than expulsion.
However, you must be aware that overstaying is illegal; it constitutes a serious infraction of the LOEX. These penalties can range from 500€ to 10.000€.
Bear in mind that if you not only overstay, but also perform any aggravating activity, you may be banned from the Schengen area for 3-10 years and will be deported to your country.
Is there a quota or a limited number of visas per year?
Yes, there is a quota that limits the number of visas per year, and it changes depending on the country:
- For Canada: depends on the year. Check it with the respective embassy or consulate.
- For Australia: 3.400 visas
- For Japan: 500 visas
- For South Korea: depends on the year. Check it with the respective embassy or consulate here.
- For New Zealand: 2.000 visas
Can I convert my working holiday visa into a student or work visa?
Yes. Either your reason to convert is that your visa has expired, or because you got your WHV denied, you can opt for a:
- Student Visa: no age limit or language requirement; requires enrolment in a Spanish institution and proof of funds (100% of IPREM per month).
- Digital Nomad Visa: for remote workers employed outside Spain; requires a university degree or 3+ years of relevant experience. Valid for 1 year, extendable to a 3-year residence permit.
- Job Seeker Visa: for applicants aged 16+ with a pre-arranged Spanish job offer and employer work authorisation; no age cap, open to permanent or seasonal roles.
What can you do after your working holiday visa gets denied?
If you working holiday visa application got denied, here’s what you can do:
- Recurso de Reposición (administrative appeal): within 1 month of notification, filed in Spanish with the same consulate, addressing each ground for refusal. The consulate must respond within 1 month.
- Recurso Contencioso-Administrativo (judicial appeal): within 2 months, before the High Court of Justice of Madrid. Requires legal representation; suited to cases of procedural or legal error, not simply missing paperwork.
- Reapply next quota cycle: the most practical option when the issue was correctable (insurance, apostilles, bank statements). Quotas are annual.
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