Interested in moving to Spain

Hi Nannette.

This is the information i found for you:

Recognition of Your Teaching Qualifications: Your U.S. teaching license may need to be officially recognized in Spain. This is done through a process called "homologación," where your qualifications are evaluated by the Spanish Ministry of Education to ensure they meet the country's standards. You can start this process by contacting the Spanish embassy or consulate.

Language Proficiency: Since you already speak Spanish, this will work in your favor! However, some schools may require proficiency in Spanish (B2 or higher) depending on the language of instruction. If you're applying to teach in English-speaking international schools, this might not be as necessary.

Work Visa: If you're not an EU citizen, you’ll need to apply for a work visa once you secure a job offer. Some schools may assist with this process, especially international schools.

Teaching Jobs: There are several opportunities in Spain for English teachers in bilingual schools, private schools, and language academies. Be sure to explore international schools, as they may prefer teachers with a U.S. background, especially if you are comfortable teaching in both English and Spanish.

Moving with Your Dog: Spain is generally pet-friendly, but make sure to look into the country's pet import regulations (vaccinations, microchip, etc.) and confirm that your accommodation allows pets.

@Nannette G

Very comprehensive info from @kevin1165.

If you want a teaching job in a middle/high school, I think you'll need very good Spanish. It might be worth getting some kind of official test done so you can tell folks you have B2/C1/C2.

You can job seek remotely specifically for middle school jobs. But it's typically not super easy, and you'll need a school that is willing to sponsor you so that you can get an employment visa.

If you'd consider teaching English in a language school, these jobs are often easier to get (but pay less). Once you're in Spain, and working, you can look for something that's a better fit for you.

If you're very committed to moving to Spain... and you have a chunk of savings (30k euros ish)... then you could consider the No Lucrativa Visa. The NLV is a non-working visa. but it's very popular as it's one of the easiest options. With the NLV you're a legal resident, and, as you're already in Spain, it's easy to attend interviews. With face-to-face interviews, it's probably easier to win a job offer, and convince them to help you with the employment formalities of changing your visa status (from NLV to an appropriate employment one). Or maybe you can change to self-employed, and take on contract teaching jobs. Additionally, being resident with your NLV makes it a lot easier to take whatever steps are necessary to be recognized as a qualified teacher in Spain.

Thank you so much for this info! It’s very useful.i do have the paperwork sorted, thankfully! I’ll just need to find the job now.

again, thank you!