To move from temporary residence, such as arraigo, to a residence and work authorisation without leaving Spain.
Fixed price before we start
From student to residence and work
Official name: Change from long-term stay for studies or training to residence and work, or to residence with exemption from the work authorisation (Modificación de la situación de estancia de larga duración por estudios o actividades formativas a la situación de residencia y trabajo o de residencia con excepción de la autorización de trabajo)
If you are in Spain with a stay for studies and already have your qualification, you can move to a residence and work authorisation without applying for a visa. It can be as an employee (with a contract), self-employed or, in some cases, with exemption from the work authorisation. You apply in the 2 months before or the 3 months after your stay ends or you obtain the qualification.
In short
- Who it is for
- Holders of a stay for higher education, post-compulsory secondary education or certain vocational training who have obtained the qualification
- Duration
- 1 year; after that, it is renewed
- Can I work?
- Yes, as an employee or self-employed, and on a provisional basis from the moment it is accepted for processing
- Where to apply
- In Catalonia, the Generalitat (the Catalan government) if you are going to work here; in other cases, the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería)
To talk about your case, at any time (24 hours). Please don't send documents on WhatsApp: if we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.
Is this your procedure?
It is for you if…
- You have a stay for higher education: bachelor's degree, master's, doctorate or other higher education qualifications (art. 52.1.a).
- You have a stay for post-compulsory secondary education, for example the bachillerato (upper secondary school) or intermediate vocational training (art. 52.1.b).
- You completed a course to obtain a certificate of technical competence or a professional licence, or a complete level 2 or 3 grade C professional certificate (art. 52.1.e, 4th and 5th).
- You completed specialised health training in Spain (arts. 58 and 190.1).
- In all cases, you have obtained the qualification or certificate for those studies (art. 190.1).
It is not for you if…
Your stay is for a language course or as a language assistant: this route does not include those stays (art. 190.1).
You had a grant under a development cooperation or humanitarian action programme: art. 190.1 excludes it.
You have temporary residence (not a stay for studies) and want to move to residence and work: that is the article 191 change.
See: Change to residence and workYou finished higher education and do not have an offer yet: there is residence for job seeking or for starting a business project (art. 190.10), a different procedure.
If you were looking for…
- «change a student card to residence and work»
- It is this change (art. 190 of RD 1155/2024). You do not need to go back to your country to apply for a visa.
- «student permit»
- The official name is long-term stay for studies (estancia de larga duración por estudios). With higher education studies you can work while you study, without any other procedure, up to 30 hours a week and if it is compatible with your studies (art. 57).
Requirements
Be in Spain with a stay for studies under letters a), b) or e) 4th and 5th of art. 52.1 and have obtained the qualification or certificate.
RD 1155/2024, art. 190.1
Not have had a grant or subsidy under Spanish or your country's development cooperation or humanitarian action programmes.
RD 1155/2024, art. 190.1
As an employee: a contract signed by you and the employer, with continuous activity and conditions in line with the collective agreement. If it is part-time, the annual pay must reach the full-time SMI (Spain's national minimum wage): 17,094 € in 2026 (1,221 €/month in 14 payments). The national employment situation is not taken into account.
RD 1155/2024, arts. 190.2 and 74.1 (except letter a); 2026 SMI: RD 126/2026
The employer must be up to date with the Tax Agency (Hacienda) and Social Security and have sufficient means for its business and for the contract.
RD 1155/2024, art. 74.1.d and e
The application can be submitted by the employer or by the student. The fee for the work authorisation is always paid by the employer.
RD 1155/2024, art. 190.2
Self-employed: meet the requirements for self-employment.
RD 1155/2024, arts. 190.3 and 84
With exemption from the work authorisation: fall under one of the cases in art. 88 where no work authorisation is needed and meet the requirements of art. 89.2.
RD 1155/2024, arts. 190.4, 88 and 89.2
Have no criminal record in Spain and not be a threat to public order.
RD 1155/2024, art. 74.1.h
Apply on time: in the 2 months before or the 3 months after the end of your stay or the date you obtained the qualification.
RD 1155/2024, art. 190.6 (as worded by RD 316/2026)
Documents
Guide list only. Before we start, we tell you exactly which ones you need in your case.
- Application form for the change, signed.
- Full valid passport and your stay for studies authorisation.
- Qualification or certificate for your studies, or proof that you have obtained it.
- As an employee: contract signed by you and the employer, and the employer's documents showing that it is up to date and has the means.
- Self-employed: documents for your project under art. 84.
- Receipt for payment of the fee for the change.
Please don't send documents on WhatsApp or by email. If we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.
Deadlines
- Window to apply
- In the 2 months before or the 3 months after the end of your stay for studies or the date you obtained the qualification. Applying on time extends your stay until you are notified of the decision (art. 190.6, as worded by RD 316/2026).
- While you wait
- From the moment it is accepted for processing, your stay becomes a provisional residence and work authorisation, including full-time. If it is refused, you lose it (art. 190.7).
- Time limit for a decision
- General time limit of 3 months (additional provision 7). If they do not reply, as a general rule the application is deemed refused (additional provision 8).
- Registration and TIE
- The work authorisation takes effect when you register with Social Security. Within 1 month of it taking effect, apply in person for the TIE (foreigner identity card) (art. 190.8).
- Duration
- 1 year, with the effects that type of authorisation has when it is renewed (art. 190.9).
How we work
1. You tell us about your situation
On WhatsApp, by phone or with the form. A few lines are enough.
2. We tell you which procedure, which documents and what it costs
Before we start, with a fixed price and government fees on top. If it isn't the right procedure for you, we tell you.
3. We prepare your application file
We review your documents and make sure the file is complete and well explained. Once we have everything, we tell you the date it will be ready.
Online submission on your behalf when the procedure allows it.
4. Follow-up and an update on every development
We follow your file until the decision. If the authorities ask for anything else, we prepare it with you.
Fingerprinting for the TIE is done in person, by you: that part is yours.
In Barcelona and Catalonia
In Catalonia, if the job is here, the change from stay for studies to residence and work is submitted to the Generalitat (Departament d'Empresa i Treball, the Catalan department for business and labour), which is responsible for work authorisations (art. 138.2 of the Statute of Autonomy). The work fee is the Generalitat's and, for employees, the employer pays it.
Immigration in Barcelona: offices and data for the provinceFrequently asked questions
Can I start working while it is being decided?
Yes. From the moment it is accepted for processing you have a provisional residence and work authorisation, including full-time (art. 190.7). If it is refused, that provisional authorisation is lost.
Who pays the work fee?
The employer, when it is as an employee (art. 190.2). You pay the fee for the change, which you can see in the price box, and then the fee for the TIE.
I finished my master's 4 months ago. Am I still in time?
It depends on your dates, because both the end of your stay and the date of your qualification count. If your stay has less than 2 months left, or expired less than 3 months ago, you are still in time (art. 190.6).
Does the employer have to show that it cannot find workers in Spain?
No. For this change, the national employment situation is not taken into account (art. 190.2, which excludes art. 74.1.a).
My family is with me in Spain. What happens to them?
If your family members are with you with a stay as family members of a student (art. 56), you can apply for their residence at the same time, showing financial means and suitable housing. What is granted is family reunification residence (art. 190.5).
Review and sources
Written with the help of AI and reviewed by the Un Papel Menos team on 13 October 2026.
Last updated: .
Legislation
Sources
- BOE: Royal Decree 1155/2024, consolidated text (updated on 22 September 2026) · accessed on 13-10-2026
- BOE: Royal Decree 316/2026 · accessed on 13-10-2026
- Generalitat de Catalunya: immigration procedures submitted to the Generalitat · accessed on 13-10-2026
- SEPE: amount of the SMI in 2026 · accessed on 13-10-2026
Related procedures
If your work, family reunification or non-lucrative residence is about to expire: renewal of the authorisation and a new TIE.
€245VAT included · government fees not included
If you have residence in Spain and want to bring your partner, children or parents: authorisation and visa for them.
€490VAT included · government fees not included
Tell us about your situation
Before we start, we tell you which procedure fits your situation and what it costs.
Or, if you prefer:
- Message us on WhatsApp
To talk about your case, at any time (24 hours). Please don't send documents on WhatsApp: if we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.
Phone
+34 623 82 89 38At any time, 24 hours a day, every day.