Visa guide · Europe
Auxiliares de Conversación: Teaching English in Spain
Spain's government language assistant program. Stipend plus a student visa for non-EU citizens.
Auxiliares de Conversación is the Spanish Ministry of Education's program that places native-English language assistants in public schools across Spain. It's the most common entry point for North American teachers without EU citizenship. You're technically a 'language assistant,' not a teacher, and you work 12-16 hours per week.
What you need
- 1Bachelor's degree from an accredited university (or be a senior undergraduate)
- 2US, Canadian, UK, Australian, New Zealand, or Irish citizenship (program varies by year)
- 3Basic Spanish helpful but not required
- 4Clean criminal background check
- 5FBI background check (US) apostilled with The Hague apostille
- 6Student visa from a Spanish consulate (non-EU citizens only)
The process
Step 1
1. Apply via Profex (Jan-Apr)
Profex is the Spanish Ministry's portal. Applications open mid-January and close mid-April for the following October start.
Step 2
2. Get placement (May-Jun)
You're assigned a region; specific school assignments come later. Madrid, Andalusia, and Galicia have the most spots.
Step 3
3. Apply for the student visa
Once accepted, apply at a Spanish consulate in your home country. Bring the carta de nombramiento (acceptance letter), proof of funds, and apostilled background check.
Step 4
4. Arrive in Spain by October
Most contracts start October 1. Register with the Foreign Office (TIE card) within 30 days of arrival.
Common questions
Can I live on the Auxiliares stipend?
Madrid and Catalonia pay 1,000 EUR/month for 16 hours; other regions pay 700 EUR for 12 hours. You can live modestly in smaller cities; in Madrid most teachers supplement with private classes.
Can I work other jobs on the Auxiliares visa?
The student visa allows up to 30 hours/week. Many Auxiliares teach 12-16 hours at their assigned school plus 10-15 hours of private English lessons.
What's the difference between Auxiliares and BEDA?
BEDA is a separate program run by Catholic schools in Madrid. It pays more (1,100-1,400 EUR) but with more hours and stricter expectations. Auxiliares is the government program; BEDA is private.
Country guide
Teach English in Spain
Auxiliares de Conversación, language academies, and private classes.
See the full Spain guide →Other visa guides
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