How Long Can You
Stay in Spain After Graduation?
Your student visa doesn't expire the day your course ends — but you do need to act before it does. Here is exactly what you have time for and what your options are.
How Long Can You Stay in Spain After Completing Your Studies?
Your Spain student visa is tied to your course. When your course ends, your student visa authorisation does not automatically extend. However, you do not have to pack your bags on the last day of class — but you do need to act before your visa expires if you want to remain legally.
What Happens When Your Course Ends
- Your student visa remains valid until its stated expiry date — not the last day of your course
- If your TIE card expires after your course ends, you remain legal until the TIE expires
- You must take one of the authorised next steps before the TIE card expires
- Simply staying beyond the TIE expiry without action puts you in an irregular situation
Authorised Options to Remain
- Apply for the job seeker visa extension (university graduates only)
- Have an employer apply for a work permit on your behalf
- Apply for another visa type (non-lucrative, digital nomad)
- Return to your home country and reapply for a Spanish visa from there
What to Do and When — Staying in Spain After Graduation
3 Months Before Your TIE Expires — Assess Your Options
Begin assessing which post-study pathway applies to you: job seeker visa, work permit, another visa type, or return home. Speak to an immigration specialist if you are unsure which route you qualify for. Time is your most valuable asset at this stage — do not leave the decision until the last moment.
2 Months Before Expiry — Prepare and Apply
If applying for the job seeker visa, gather your university degree documentation, proof of qualifications, and financial evidence. If pursuing a work permit, confirm your employer is ready to initiate the application. Submit the relevant application before your TIE expires.
TIE Card Expiry — Must Have Active Application or New Status
By the date your TIE card expires, you should have either: a pending application with a receipt (resguardo) proving you have applied, or a new visa/authorisation already in place. Without either, you enter an irregular situation immediately.
After Expiry — New Status Confirmed
Once your new application is approved or your new visa is issued, you are legally resident under your new status. Update your TIE card to reflect the new authorisation type and period.