A profession in Spain's restaurant industry
A profession in Spain's restaurant industry, in 9 months
Sommelier work, mixology, specialty coffee and management in 9 months
Master four crafts: sommelier work, mixology, specialty coffee and running a venue, and earn an official qualification that gives you legal grounds to live and work in Spain.
The course in numbers
Who the course suits
From zero or already in the trade: the course gives a qualification and grounds to be in SpainWhether you start from zero or already work in the trade, for a career or for the move, the course gives an official restaurant-industry qualification and legal grounds to be in Spain.
Move to Spain legally and stay
A full-time course gives grounds for a student visa, work while you study and a route to a work permit.
International studentsMore: International studentsThe decision rests with the consulate and Spanish immigration authorities
From zero to a restaurant-industry professional: step by step, with practice.
Turn experience into an official qualification and grow into a bar manager.
The management module: economics, licences, purchasing, profitability.
Pick your goal and we'll go through your situation.
8 modules, 640 hours
Every module is a skill, with topics and hoursEvery module is a separate professional skill, with topics, hours and dates.
A full on-campus course in 9 months. On completion — the institute's diploma naming the programme Certificado Profesional Grado C Nivel 2, HOTR0508.
An official diploma people
work with across Spain
Instituto IEAE is accredited with SEPE/LABORA. On completion — a diploma naming the programme Certificado Profesional Grado C Nivel 2
Instituto IEAE is an institute with an education licence, accredited with SEPE/LABORA. The course is built to the official standard. On completion you receive the institute's diploma and a certificado de aprovechamiento. The diploma names the programme: Certificado Profesional Grado C Nivel 2, HOTR0508 — the one that under article 190 of the regulation opens the route to a work residence permit.
- The right to work in the profession legally
Recognised across Spain, not only in Valencia
- A profession and a diploma: an argument when moving to work status
Unlike language courses, which carry no qualification, you leave with a profession and an IEAE diploma built to the official standard.
An institute in Valencia since 2002. SEPE and LABORA accreditation. On-campus study with practice
The institute has been working in Valencia since 2002. SEPE and LABORA accreditation for the HOTR0508 speciality. On-campus study in a classroom, with practice.
The jobs this opens upThe jobs this opens up and what they pay
Professions in real demand, from the first job to managementRestaurant-industry professions with real demand and real pay, from your first job to running a venue of your own.
You can work in any city in Spain. Tips come on top
Many open vacancies in the sector
Recognised by employers across Spain
80 hours of practice: skills in your hands
A profession is a way to work and to establish yourself legally in the country.
Employment depends on you, on your skills and your drive. After the course you can find work, including in an adjacent or a different field.
From a student visa
to a work permit in Spain
A student visa is a legal way in, work while you study and a route to residence
- 1You arrive and study legally
A full-time course over 6 months gives a visa D and a TIE card
- 2You earn while you study
Up to 30 h/week on a separate work permit
- 3You move to a work permit
After the course the card can be modified into a permit with the right to work, with no 3-year wait
- 4You work in any profession
The contract may be in any field, including IT, and not only in hospitality.
- 5You stay in Spain for the long term
From there, subject to conditions: work permit → renewal → long-term residence.
The student card is study status (estancia), not residence. The work permit is arranged after the course
International studentsHow this works for international studentsThe decision rests with the consulate and Spanish immigration authorities. This is not legal advice
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.
9 months, from the basics to practice
8 modules in order, from wine to practice. A new intake every 3 months
Getting in is simpler than it looks
No entrance exams. Documents depend on your consulateThere are no entrance exams. Education documents are requested by the consulate rather than the institute, and requirements differ from one consulate to another.
The institute does not request them to enrol you. Whether they are needed, and which ones, depends on the consulate you apply through.
We'll go through your situation on a consultation
From application to the first day
The application commits you to nothingThe application commits you to nothing.
- 1Applicationreply within a day
We reply within the working day
- 2Consultationfree
We go through visa and timing, free
- 3Payment€1,000 deposit
A €1,000 deposit, and the rest after the visa is approved
- 4Contract and visa documents2 working days
The full consulate package in 2 working days
The course starts in Valencia
You arrive for the start of the intake: your first step to life in SpainYou arrive for the start of the intake. This is your first step to living and working in Spain.
Book a consultationCourse fees
On the call we'll arrange instalments and a start date
- 9 months of full-time study
- 80 hours of practice in the equipped hall
- An IEAE diploma
- Professional training for work in Spain
- Institute support until you have the diploma
Up to 30 h/week on a separate work permit
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 the institute's diploma and a certificado de aprovechamiento. The diploma names the programme: Certificado Profesional Grado C Nivel 2, HOTR0508 — the one that under article 190 of the regulation opens the route to a work residence permit. The institute is accredited with SEPE/LABORA and the programme follows the official standard (640 h).
Yes, but not automatically. The law allows up to 30 hours a week, and a separate work permit is issued for it: your employer or you file the application. The permit is valid within the Valencian Community. Practice that is part of the course needs no separate permit — the student status covers it (art. 57 RD 1155/2024).
Yes. While studying you may legally work up to 30 hours a week, and the job does not have to be related to the course. After you finish, when converting student status into a work permit, the contract may be in any profession, not only hospitality, up to IT and other fields (regulation RD 1155/2024).
Yes. The 640-hour full-time course lasts longer than 6 months and carries 20 teaching hours a week, exactly the load the law requires for a type D student visa. The consulate makes the decision.
The 80 hours of practice take place at the institute, in a hall equipped for restaurant service. That is where you practise and consolidate your skills under a teacher's guidance.
Classes run on weekdays, Mon–Fri, 4 hours a day. The programme runs for 9 months and a new intake opens every 3 months.
No work experience is required. Send an application and we'll call, work out whether the course suits you and help you gather the documents.
The course is designed for ages 18 to 35. This is the programme's own limit, not a visa requirement. If you are older, write to us and we'll look at your case separately.
Teaching is in English, with translation into five languages: Spanish, Arabic, French, Russian and Chinese.
We'll go through your situation on a free consultation
Let's look at your situation
5 questions, one minute, and we'll 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?
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