FAQ: Visa and Work

Do I need a visa for Spain?

If you hold a passport from one of the European Union countries then you do not need a visa.

If you are from the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland or Iceland you can stay up to 90 days without a visa. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, we will provide you with a letter of acceptance to assist you with your visa request.

If you are a citizen from another country, check with your local Spanish consulate or embassy first what the requirements are. You can find a list at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs at www.mae.es.

Do I need a visa for Argentina?

If you stay for less than 90 days, you do not need a visa unless you are a passport holder from one of the Caribbean countries.

If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you can apply for a student visa with the local Argentinean consulate or embassy. Babylon Idiomas will provide you with a letter of acceptance to assist you with your visa request.

Do I need a visa for Costa Rica

If you are a passport holder of any of the following countries, you can stay for up to 90 days without a visa: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, ungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA and Uruguay for a stay of up to 90 days.

If you are a passport holder of any of the following countries, you can stay for up to 30 days without a visa: Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominica, France, French Overseas Possessions, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Surinam, Taiwan (China), Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, Vatican City and Venezuela

All other passport holders require a visa for entry. Please contact your local Costarican embassy or consulate for more details.

How do I get a letter of acceptance?

If you need a letter of acceptance from Babylon Idiomas for your visa application, then we will send you one immediatelly as soon as we have received the deposit payment. Applicants from Western countries can normally obtain a visa within 3 to 6 weeks.

Please note that visa applications can be lengthy in non-Western countries and that the success rate for students from Africa, Middle East and some countries in Asia is very low. You stand the best chance of obtaining a student visa if you have strong college or university credentials and can prove to the Spanish authorities that you have the means to live for the duration of your studies.

Please obtain more information at the Spanish consulate or embassy. A well prepared and documented visa application will save you a lot of time and money.

Please note that Babylon Idiomas never enters in direct discussion with Spanish embassies or consulates.

We send our letters of acceptance by registered mail. If you wish us to send you the letter by express delivery, you will need to pay for the extra courrier charges.

What happens if I do not get a visa?

If you are not successfull in your visa application, we will need a copy of the official letter of the Spanish embassy or consulate which states that you are denied a visa.

We will then refund you the paid deposit minus a Euro 100 administration fee and courrier fees if applicable.

Can I work in Spain when I am studying?

If you are a EU citizen, you can work in Spain without a visa. You will need to obtain some documentation to be able to obtain a work contract. Our school managers will be able to help you with this.

If you are not a EU citizen, you can work a restricted number of hours with a student visa but experience has taught us that hardly any Spanish company recruits on that basis. You may be able to find something without paper requirements but that of course leaves you uninsured and possibly in breach of your visa status.

If you are looking for temporary work, then you are most likely to find something in a the tourist or hospitality sector. Please bear in mind that there are many other students looking for a job and that it most often takes a lot of time -and a bit of luck- to find something.

Our advice therefore is to always budget for your Spanish course on the basis of not having a job on the side. If you find one, that is a very nice bonus :)

Can I work in Argentina when I am studying?

All non Argentinean citizens will need a special work visa to work in Argentina. Of course, there may be jobs available where no papers are required but this leaves you uninsured and quite possibly in breach of legal requirements.

Can I work in Costa Rica when I am studying?

You will need a special work visa to work in Costa Rica. Of course, there may be jobs available where no papers are required but this leaves you uninsured and quite possibly in breach of legal requirements.

If you are looking for temporary work, then you are most likely to find something in a the tourist or hospitality sector. Please bear in mind that there are many other students looking for a job and that it most often takes a lot of time -and a bit of luck- to find something.

Our schools in Costa Rica can help you however find volunteer work in the area where you are studying. Please contact us if this interests you.

 

If you cannot find the answer here or on our website, contact us: we are here to help!