Au pair in Spain - Student Visa

You do not held a European Union passport and you would like to au pair in Spain. ​Which legal steps do you have to take to enter Spain?

If you are going to do a short stay up to 90 days, you can most likely enter as a tourist with your passport in order.
This will depend on whether your country and Spain (Schenghen territory) has an agreement on this matter.

But if there is no such agreement, it may well be that you would have to get a tourist visa before arrival to Spain.  Please check with Spanish consulate in your country of origin.

If you plan a stay longer than 90 days, for sure you will have to apply for a student visa.
In Spain, there is no "au pair visa" as such, instead a student visa applies.
Last regulations state that the au pair has to get the student visa before entering Spain.
In the past, it was possible to enter as a tourist and once in Spain apply for a change of status into a student visa, but NOT ANYMORE.
Au pairs have to be able to face all costs related to it: visa fees and related and language course fees.
Please check with Spanish consulate in your country of origin.

Student visa
You have to enroll as a full time student - 20 lessons per week
You have to face the cost of the visa and associated to it (visa fees and associated and studies - host families have no obligation to contribute).
Generally speaking, Spanish consulates will require student visa applicants for au pairing, to enroll in centers accredited by Instituto Cervantes.
Official School of Languages (E.O.I) do not meet the student visa requirements.
Another possibility is taking universitarian studies.

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