Looking for a job: Apprenticeships

Well, that would depend on what nationality you are. If you're British, then you will need to have a visa just to come over to live in Spain, and working would be a lot more complicated than it was before Brexit as he would need a work permit too and would be limited to jobs that a Spanish person could not do. If you hold an EU passport however, then getting some sort of work would be a lot easier, taking into consideration that there is high unemployment in Spain - especially amongst the young, so the competition would be fierce and the wages are generally pretty low as well. Speaking Spanish would be an advantage too as English-speaking workers looking for work are ten a penny.

Thanks for your message. Yes, we are from the u.k. and it is a bit of a headache for us. Most 16 year olds don't know what they want to do, but moving to Spain proves even more difficulties. Thanks again for your advice 

Would you recommend an English speaking college to learn? After the first year, would job opportunities become easier? We maybe interested in setting up our own business. Would this allow our son to work immediately as we would own the business? Thanks 

Firstly, you will all need a visa to move to live in Spain. 

Most people on this forum are moving here when they are retired with the Non-Lucrative Visa. I and several others have posted lots of details on this visa, which you could search for on this forum. The key requirements are that a). you can't work; b). you need to have approx. €27,000 for the first applicant and approx. €7,000 for each dependent - per year, for 5 years, as 'means of maintenance' (i.e. money to live off). c(. no criminal record; and d). pay for private healthcare for each applicant.

The other options are as follows:

1. Working visa - this needs to be applied for in conjunction with your employer - i.e. you can't just get a working visa and then move to Spain and try & get a job. This needs to be renewed every year and, for example, your employer may have to prove why they couldn't employ a native Spaniard instead of you. Note: Unemployment rates in Spain are high and the average salary in Spain is around 2/3rds of the average salary in the UK. You will also really need to be fluent or at least have good conversational Spanish, in addition to having the required qualifications, etc. to do the job.

2. Self-employed visa ('autonomo visa'). If you intend to be self-employed or start your own business, then you need this visa. You need a full business plan, evidence of contracts for work already in place; and sufficient 'means of maintenance' for you to live on if the business fails. Again, this needs to be renewed annually.

3. If you can satisfy any of the above for yourselves, your son may be eligible for a Student Visa, which has different requirements.

Please see below for a link to quite a detailed article on these and other options, which should be helpful:

Hope this helps!

Are you planning on working as well when you come over? I presume that you have researched the various visas and what you would be able to do and what you wouldn't. Relocating to Spain from a third country isn't a simple project these days and if it's not done correctly, could cause problems for you later on. I would suggest that you join the Citizens Advice Spain's Facebook group and also check out their website where you will find all the answers to your questions and if not, you can ask for their advice.

https://www.facebook.com/CAB.Spain

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/

Thanks ever so much for all your help and information. We're most grateful.