As a Canadian citizen, you can live, work, and travel in Spain through the Spain Working Holiday Visa, also known as the Youth Mobility Program. Under the agreement between Canada and Spain through International Experience Canada, eligible Canadians can receive a work permit valid for up to 12 months per participation. The Working Holiday category is available once, although Canadians may be eligible to participate a second time under a different category of the youth mobility agreement, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for that category.
Whether you dream of strolling through Barcelona, exploring Andalusia, or enjoying tapas in Madrid, a working holiday lets you experience everyday life in Spain while earning money to support your travels.
In this guide, we’ll explain who is eligible, the visa requirements, how to apply, and everything you need to know before starting your adventure in Spain.
| Spain Working Holiday Visa for Canadians | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Validity | Up to 12 months per participation |
| Maximum Participation | Up to 2 times under different categories |
| Age Requirement | 18–35 years |
| Annual Quota (2026) | Up to 967 visas |
| Proof of Funds | Minimum CAD $2,910+, plus a return ticket or sufficient additional funds to purchase one. |
| Medical Insurance | Valid for the entire Schengen Area for the full duration of your stay, with a minimum coverage of €30,000 (approximately CAD $45,000). It must include medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation of mortal remains. |
| Residency Requirement | You must reside in Canada when applying and submit your application to the Spanish Embassy or Consulate responsible for your place of residence. |
| Processing Time | Approximately 8–12 weeks after submission. |
The Spain Working Holiday Visa, also known as the Youth Mobility Program, allows eligible Canadians aged 18–35 to live, travel, and work in Spain.
Canadians can receive a work permit valid for up to 12 months per participation and may participate up to two times, subject to eligibility requirements and visa availability.
Canada receives an annual allocation of 967 Youth Mobility visas for Spain as of 2026 although availability may change if the agreement is updated.
Unlike a tourist visa, a Working Holiday Visa allows you to legally work in Spain while travelling. This gives participants the opportunity to earn income, gain international work experience, and explore the country during their stay.
To apply for a Spain Working Holiday Visa, Canadian applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Spain offers much more than sunshine and beautiful beaches. A Working Holiday gives you the opportunity to experience everyday life in one of Europe’s most vibrant countries while earning money to support your travels. From lively cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia to charming coastal towns and historic villages, Spain offers something for every type of traveller.
Beyond its rich culture, Spain is known for its relaxed lifestyle, excellent work-life balance, and world-famous food. It’s also an ideal base for exploring Europe, as Spain is part of the Schengen Area, making it easy to visit neighboring countries during your time off.
Many Working Holiday participants find jobs in hospitality, tourism, customer service, and seasonal positions, allowing them to gain international work experience while improving their Spanish and building valuable cross-cultural skills.
If you’re ready to make the move, our Spain Send-Off Program can help simplify the process, from preparing your visa application to finding a job before you arrive. For additional in-country support, two weeks of accommodation and language lessons, our Kick-Start Spain Program is the perfect introduction to life in Spain.
Did you know that part of our Stepabroad team is from Spain? We pride ourselves on knowing the Youth Mobility process for Canadians very well and we work hand in hand with the Government of Canada to encourage Canadians to make the most of the agreement between countries
¿Te apetece vivir en España? ¡Te ayudamos en Stepabroad!
The working holiday visa for Spain is part of a larger Youth Mobility Program. This program provides opportunities for youth from Canada and Spain to experience work and travel in each other’s countries. Spain offers through the Youth Mobility Visa up to 5 work permit categories for Canadian Youth, labelled from A to E
Aimed for Canadians who want to have work experience in Spain but are not enrolled as a student in a postsecondary education institution in Canada.
a) Canadians with a post-secondary diploma wishing to obtain additional training in Spain through a prearranged contract of employment;
c) Canadians wishing to obtain additional training in the other country under a prearranged contract of employment in order to contribute to their professional development;
e) Canadians that want to work on a casual basis in order to increase their financial resources or to do volunteer work – This is the Working Holiday and most used category. The category we would be helping you with!
Aimed for registered Canadian students at a postsecondary school but haven’t graduated yet.
b) Canadian students registered in a post-secondary institution in Canada wishing to complete part of their academic training through a prearranged internship in a Spanish institution, including under institutional agreements.
d) Canadian students registered in a post-secondary institution in Canada who plan to travel to Spain during academic vacations and who wish to work on a casual basis.
| Before You Apply | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum Participation | 2 |
| Visa Validity | Up to 12 months |
| Processing Time | 8–12 weeks after submitting your application |
| Application Method | Apply in person. Applications by mail are not accepted. |
| Entry Deadline | On or before the visa start date. |
| NIE Fee | CAD $15.90 |
| Visa Fee | CAD $145.50 |
Youth Mobility Visa Processing Times: According to the Spanish Authorities, the processing times range from 8-12 weeks (depending on the Consulate or Embassy that manages your application) from the moment you submit your visa application. However, you must have time to prepare your Working Holiday visa application documentation. There will be lots of documentation that can take time to collect, so we recommend our participants start the visa process up to six months before they plan to depart.
You must enter Spain on or after the start date shown on the visa sticker in your passport. Entering before your visa becomes valid may affect the activation of your Youth Mobility Visa.
Cost of application: NIE $15.90 CAD + Visa $145.50 CAD as of 2026
Application method: Depending on your location in Canada, the application may be one or two parts. You must submit your application in person at your local Spanish embassy or consulate, depending on where you reside in Canada.
Your NIE will be your personal identification and tax number for Spain. It is required in order to submit your visa application. Please note that some Offices will allow applicants to apply for the NIE and visa application at the same time.
To get your NIE, you must gather the following documents and fill out the necessary forms:
Once you receive your NIE, you can submit your Spain Working Holiday Visa application. You will need to gather the following documents:
RCMP and other Criminal record checks
You will need a RCMP Criminal Record Certificate. This must be apostilled with The Hague Apostille Certification issued by Global Affairs Canada and translate it into Spanish. This process normally take between 1-3 months in total. If you have lived in any other country in the past five years, you will also need a Criminal Record check from that country. This must be legalized by the Spanish Consular Office with jurisdiction in that country, unless the country issuing it has signed the Hague Convention, in which case it must be apostilled.
Medical certificate
Obtain a medical certificate from a recognized doctor in Canada to prove you are in good health. Depending on the consulate, they may require you to authenticate and translate this document. This process also depends on your Province that can take between weeks to a few months.
Once you have all the above documents gathered, submit them to the Spanish Consulate. You must request an appointment to apply in person.
There are two Consulates (Toronto and Montreal) and one Embassy (Ottawa) in Canada. Each consulate is responsible for certain regions in Canada. Be sure to request your appointment and submit your Youth Mobility Visa application to the consulate whose jurisdiction you reside in.
Review your application thoroughly before paying to ensure you made no mistakes and have filled in everything correctly. If your visa application is denied, you are not given a refund for the application fee.
Once you have submitted your Spain Working Holiday Visa application, all that’s left to do is wait for a decision. Processing times typically range from as little as one week (if you already have a NIE) to up to 12 weeks. However, depending on your individual circumstances and the volume of applications, processing may take longer.
You might have to return to the processing office in person to get your visa stamped on your passport. Once that step is completed, time to prepare for your Working Holiday in Spain with your Youth Mobility Visa! Say bye to Canada, ¡nos vamos a España!
Once you receive your passport back with your visa inside, you are ready to go! After entering Spain, you must go to the nearest Oficina de Extranjería (Foreigners’ Office) or a police station authorized to process TIE applications, so you can request your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero).
Besides this, once you get settled, you will need to go to Oficina de Empadronamiento (city hall registration) at your Ayuntamiento in Spain, so you can get your Certificado de Empadronamiento. It’s official, you live now in Spain!
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. While Stepabroad is a Recognized Organization (RO) designated by the Government of Canada and we strive to keep our content accurate and up to date, visa requirements, application procedures, government fees, eligibility criteria, and processing times are subject to change without notice by the relevant government authorities. We cannot guarantee that all information will remain current at the time you review it. Applicants are ultimately responsible for ensuring they meet all official requirements.
If you would like the most up-to-date guidance tailored to your situation, we encourage you to contact our team. Through our Spain Working Holiday Program, we provide personalized support to help you navigate the application process with confidence.
Yes, the Spanish Authorities offer a program for Canadians called Youth Mobility Visa. This program offers different visa categories with different requirements. The Working Holiday visa for Spain is just one of the many categories they offer to Canadians under the agreement between Countries.
You must email your Office that will manage your working holiday visa application to request an appointment. Please note that some Offices might take longer than others to respond to you with a visa appointment.
The official requirements have become much stricter since Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024. The Spanish Consulates now require more than just an RCMP criminal record check.
During our visa consultation meeting with you, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to obtain a suitable criminal record check. This new process involves a lot of steps, so we recommend signing up and starting your journey at least 6 months before your intended departure to Spain!
Processing times for a Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) vary depending on the Spanish Embassy or Consulate where you apply. In general, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to up to two months to be issued.
Some Spanish Consulates in Canada allow applicants to request their NIE at the same time as their Spain Working Holiday Visa application, while others may require it to be requested separately. We recommend checking with the Spanish Consulate responsible for your place of residence, as procedures can vary.
If you join our Spain Working Holiday Program, we’ll explain the process that applies to your consular jurisdiction and guide you through each step to help avoid unnecessary delays.
Unfortunately, no. Spain does not offer a priority or expedited processing service for Youth Mobility or Working Holiday Visa applications. All applications are processed according to the standard timelines established by the Spanish authorities.
While some countries can issue a Working Holiday Visa within a matter of weeks, Spain’s application process is generally much longer and can take several weeks or even months, depending on your circumstances and the volume of applications being processed.
For this reason, we strongly recommend starting your application at least six months before your planned departure. This will give you enough time to gather all the required documents, complete the visa process, and avoid unnecessary stress before your move to Spain.
The travel insurance for the Spanish visa application must span your entire duration of stay in Spain, while also including hospitalization and repatriation. There is also a minimum amount of coverage that you must purchase, but we will provide more information and recommendations on insurance providers during your visa consultation call!
The official forms issued by the Spanish government are only available in Spanish and do not have official English versions.
The good news is that, as part of our Spain Working Holiday Program, we’ll guide you through each document during your visa consultation. We provide English translations and explain exactly how to complete every form, so you can submit your application with confidence and avoid common mistakes.
Yes! Canadian citizens can apply for the Spain Youth Mobility Visa up until the day before their 36th birthday, provided they meet all the program’s eligibility requirements.
That said, timing is extremely important. The Spain Youth Mobility Visa application process can take several months, as it involves obtaining supporting documents such as a criminal record check, apostille, certified translations, medical certificate, and attending a visa appointment.
For this reason, we strongly recommend starting your application at least 6–8 months before your 36th birthday. Applying early gives you plenty of time to gather the required documents, accommodate any unexpected delays, and submit a complete application before you age out of the program.
The earlier you start, the smoother your application process is likely to be.
12 months
CAD$599
Ready to work and travel in Spain? Our Send-Off Package will help you make the big move. Your personal adviser will guide you through every step of the process, from visa support to the ‘life admin’ of setting up in Spain, ensuring you arrive fully prepared to start your Working Holiday.
2 weeks
CAD$1,699
Our Kick-Start Spain Program gives you the opportunity to experience living in Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia! We’ll set you up with two weeks of Spanish language lessons and fun organized social events; a ‘Becoming Local 101’ crash course, if you will.
12 months
From CAD$599
Get ready to learn more about Spain! Thanks to International Experience Canada (IEC) Canada and Spain signed an agreement so Canadians between 18 to 35 years old can work and travel in Spain for up to a total of 24 months - Learn more about it here!
Sign up for our FREE online academy - modules cover visa process, job search & more. Plus you could win prizes worth $1,799 to kickstart the trip!