Residence for Internships

Spain offers specific legal pathways for international graduates and students to take their first professional steps in the labour market. One of the most attractive options is the residence authorisation for internships, a status designed to develop professionally in the country with a job linked to the studies completed.

This authorisation allows two types of practical training to be carried out depending on its category:

• Internship contract (Contrato en prácticas): This is a paid employment contract between a company and a person who has already graduated. It grants all the labour rights of a worker and aims to consolidate experience in the sector of the qualification.

• Internship agreement (Convenio en prácticas): This is an academic agreement signed between the educational institution and the company. It allows students who are still completing their studies to carry out internships (curricular or extracurricular), maintaining an environment focused on learning.

The residence authorisation for internships allows you to sign an internship agreement or an employment contract for internships in Spain with the aim of improving your professional training and experience.

It can be requested if you have obtained a higher education degree — whether university, higher vocational training (FP de grado superior), artistic, sports, or plastic arts and design studies — within the two years immediately preceding the application date, or if you are currently undertaking such studies in Spain and hold a study stay authorisation.