Build a career
in Spain’s restaurant industryA legal path to live and work
A profession, a diploma and a student visa D — legal grounds to live and work in Spain
From application to legal status in Spain
We walk the first five steps with you — up to the student visa
Legalisation after the move is governed by Spanish law; the decision rests with the state authorities
After that it is Spanish law: you look for work yourself, in a different field if you wish
A profession Spain is hiring for
Small groups. Teachers from the restaurant industry
Practice in working venues
In real bars and restaurants in Valencia — not only in the classroom
Small groups
Up to 14 people — the teacher has time for everyone.
Teachers who practise
Working bartenders, sommeliers and chefs from Valencia restaurants.
A personal mentor
Guides you from day one to the diploma and keeps you on track.
Flexible schedule
You can pause the course — paid hours do not expire.
Why a student visa rather than Digital Nomad
Two popular ways to move to Spain — Digital Nomad and studying.
- Income≈ €2,850/month (200% of minimum wage)You must prove income of ≈ €2,850/month (200% of the minimum wage, 2026).
- ContractA contract with a foreign companyYou need a contract with a foreign company or agreements with clients.
- TaxesIRPF 45–54%, Beckham regime 24%Tax resident: IRPF up to 45–54%; the Beckham regime at 24% is for employees.
- IncomeNot required — funds in your account are enoughNo income to prove — it is enough to show funds in your account.
- ContractNot neededNo contract needed.
- TaxesNo income declaration requiredDeclaring substantial employment income is not a condition.
A student visa is not tied to income or contracts and does not pull you into a heavy tax regime — a simpler and more predictable way into Spain.
A language course or a profession
A language course gives no right to work, no profession and no route to a work permit
If the goal is not just to spend a while here but to stay and work in Spain, a profession gives you grounds that language courses do not. Let us work out whether it suits you.
What the TIE card is
On a full-time course longer than 6 months you receive a physical residence card — the TIE
- A physical card, not a stamp
A plastic card confirming legal status in Spain
- Study is the legal basis
The «estancia por estudios» type — for the length of the course
- Tied to the institute
The basis is your course at IEAE, stated on the card
- The right to live and work legally
Up to 30 hours a week while you study
- You can travel the world
Not just Europe — worldwide. Important: do not be away for more than half the period
How the card is issued
You get the D visa at the consulate in your own country and enter Spain on it. Within the first 30 days after arrival you give your fingerprints at the immigration office — and you are issued a physical TIE card for the length of your studies. The visa opens the door; the card confirms your status once you are in the country. We support you through this step.
What you will master
From sommelier work and mixology to running a venue of your own.
Know Spanish wines and work with the guest the way a restaurant does.
- to taste and describe wine
- to find your way around Spanish D.O.s
- to pair wine with dishes and advise the guest
8 modules · 640 hours
From sommelier work to running a venue
4 more modulesCollapse
A specialist for every track
Every track is led by a working professional — a sommelier, a head bartender, a barista trainer
You are not taught by one generalist. Each track is led by a professional who does exactly this every day — a sommelier for wine, a head bartender for cocktails.
Tasting, Spanish appellations, pairing with dishes.
IBA classics, signature recipes, mixology.
Espresso, milk texture, the basics of latte art.
Bar gastronomy and the economics of a venue.
The jobs this opens up
The course prepares you for work in Spain's restaurant industry
High demand: hospitality accounts for around 1.8 million jobs in Spain, and in season 100,000–130,000 vacancies go unfilled.
Students who have already moved to Valencia
They came from China, Turkey, Armenia and Russia — and they are studying here
She spent about two months on the documents and is now on the barista module.
He got the visa first time and moved to Valencia for the autumn intake.
She put the package together with the institute and arrived right at the start of the intake.
He applied in spring and the visa came through in a month. He now studies and works part-time in a Valencia bar.
The institute has been running since 2002. Students from many countries come to Valencia and go on to work in bars, coffee shops and restaurants across Spain.
What you walk away with
Not just a course, but a legal start to a life and a career in Europe.
Visas and residence permits are issued under Spanish immigration law; the outcome depends on the applicant.
A hybrid format that fits your rhythm
Some classes online, some on campus. Weekdays only
· weekends free
Classes on weekdays · weekends free
Theory online; practice and the training bar on campus.
Weekday classes — compatible with work and life.
We will fit the timetable around your work or circumstances.
Course fees
On the call we will arrange instalments and a start date
- 9 months of full-time study
- 80 hours of practice in Valencia restaurants
- An IEAE diploma
- Professional training for work in Spain
- Support with the visa documents
- A personal mentor until you have the diploma
While studying you may legally work up to 30 h/week
A campus in the heart of Valencia
Ruzafa — Valencia's fashionable quarter: bars, coffee shops, nightlife
Ruzafa is the fashionable bohemian quarter of Valencia, known as the city's SoHo — for its bars, its creative coffee shops and its bright nightlife.
- The historic centre — within walking distance
- The bars, coffee shops and market of Ruzafa — next door
- The Turia park and the main station nearby
Come to an open day
See the campus, meet the teachers, ask your questions
Come and see for yourself — look around the campus, meet the teachers and ask anything you like
Frequently asked questions
Answers on the visa, the diploma, work and payment
Answers on the visa, the diploma, working while studying and payment
On completion you receive an IEAE diploma. The institute is accredited with SEPE/LABORA and the programme follows the official standard (640 h).
We will go through your situation on a free consultation
Let us look at your situation
5 questions, one minute — we will send an assessment for your country. Free
- Whether a visa D is realistic from your countryWhether a student visa D is realistic from your country specifically
- What it costs in full: course, visa, the moveWhat it costs in full — course, visa, the move, with no hidden extras
- Which documents you need and what follows the courseWhich documents you need and what follows the course — work and life in Spain
- All above board: an accredited instituteAll above board: an accredited institute in Valencia and a legal D visa
Which country do you actually live in?
Start typing the name — search will help.