r/SpainAuxiliares

(Disclaimer: I already posted this in r/tefl, but since I’m referring to the NALCAP program specifically, I feel like id get better answers here.)

So my question relates to a few different subjects:
1: Moving for the program.
2: Finances while on the program.
3: What happens after coming back.
Feel free to answer one or all of these.

For point 1: wtf do I do with all my life’s worth of stuff? Sell it? Put it in storage? Ship it overseas? What will I do about furniture once I’m there??

2: I’ve heard that you don’t make a lot of money on these teaching programs. How would I support myself?

3: I’d be leaving my corporate job in America, and the hiring situation here is currently ABYSMAL. Would I be throwing my career away to work some minimum wage job when I got back? With the meager pay on these programs, where would I move when I get back? My mom’s house?

I know people have been in my shoes many times, so any advice, corrections, or clarifications would be appreciated. For my own context, I’m an American in my 20s with a college degree but also college debt. I don’t have a massive savings or rich parents. I really want to do this program bc YOLO, but I also fear leaving a career that pays decent, going abroad for a fun year or two and then coming back to a bleak reality. Ideally, I’d like to get citizenship in Spain, but that also seems very very difficult, as I am not rich.

Hi everyone!

I was accepted into BEDA last month and have all of my documents prepared already and the only thing I'm missing is the official acceptance letter. Has anyone received it yet from BEDA/comillas? I have my visa appointment scheduled at the end of the month and I'm worried I won't receive it in time

I interviewed in February and I still haven’t heard anything, do I still have a chance at being accepted to BEDA? Has anyone reached out to BEDA or is that crazy?

I've generally heard that BEDA tends to be a 9-5 commitment even if you only are working ~20 hours. Is that because most private schools have classes until 5? I've been assigned ESO/bach and looking on my school's website it appears their schedule runs 8:30 - 2:30. So I was wondering for people currently in BEDA, do most of your schools go til 5, or do you have to stay after classes end to do planning periods? Just trying to get a general idea for what my schedule might be like next year. Thanks!

So, I applied for and interviewed with BEDA back in March. I didn't think I'd get it because 1. My interview went pretty poorly in my view and 2. with all the other aux programs shuttering, BEDA would have stiff competition so I probably wouldn't get it.

With the months of April and May going by with no word from them, I really thought that was it. Then NALCAP all of a sudden opened, and my hope was back. I applied just hours after the call went out, which is a reversal of what I did last year. (my rec letter came in just two days before the call closed.)

Then, this morning, I get an email that I was selected for BEDA! This is great, but it presents a problem. I think I want NALCAP (assuming I am accepted) more because it seems BEDA is more expensive and demands more, but honestly, as I have no experience with any of this, I'd appreciate some feedback.

If you were in my position, what would you do?

Hello! My girlfriend would like to apply to one of the multiple programs next year. I am a Spaniard and she is from the US.
She is right now studying a bachelor's in General Studies with a concentration in English. She'd graduate by May next year.

Keeping this in mind, I know it is important to start the process as soon as possible, around January, would she be able to apply even though she wouldn't have her bachelor's yet in January?

I'm mostly asking regarding the private organizations like BEDA or Meddeas. I know the public program allows this but it seems to be in a kind of precarious situation right now so I want to make sure we have alternatives.

Im currently an aux in Madrid and im renewing in the Balearic islands since Madrid is not available. However, truthfully, i dont know if i would’ve chosen Madrid again because my commute has been brutal and i dont think i could do it again (~3ish hours total everyday) but otherwise my school has been good. Wondering if anyone is in the balaeric islands and could share with me about their experience. I used to live in Hawaii so I do love island life and I’m okay with traveling less around Europe because I did that so much this past year. Thanks in advance!

I'm graduating with my master in Global Higher Education this year after interning with NALCAP for the first year. I'm still applying to jobs but want to stay in Spain (preferably near Madrid) and at least apply for renewal in case I don't positively hear back.

Since my degree is in study abroad student affairs, does anyone know of regions I could renew in that would be best to transition into a regular job from (especially in study abroad or student affairs for a university)?

I think I'd like Northern Spain like La Rioja, País Básico, and Galicia, but I would think that study abroad in Sevilla would need more study abroad coordinators like me.

In Vancouver I know we need to go to Toronto twice to get our visa. Is there any way to plan when to get it as I need to book flights and take vacation time off. And flights go up from Vancouver to Toronto quickly, if anyone has experience or ideas please share:)

Hi! I just submitted my application this morning, and then saw on this reddit that most people submitted minutes after it opened. I didn't realize it was first come first serve? Because I'm applying a week into the application period, am I not likely to get a spot? Thanks for the help!

Hey, has anyone gotten admitted into Nalcap yet? What's your inscrita number? I've noticed that it seems a little random. I've seen someone in the 800’s get accepted

I've seen reports that Madrid alone had something like 2,800 aux placements. I'm genuinely wondering what happens if they don't go ahead with the aux program next year what exactly will happen? Will they end up hiring locally to fill the spots for the school year, or do the schools just have to manage without auxes since they can't exactly hire auxes? Would the school save money that would go towards having an aux assigned for that year and I guess the ministry sure would do? Is it cheaper for them not to have auxes period rather than pay the required social security 🧐

As a first-time aux coming from the furthest country from Spain, a large chunk of my savings will already be going toward flights. I've also seen a lot of people say that the stipend isn't enough to comfortably cover living expenses, depending on the region.

I'm curious: how much of your own savings did you end up spending during your time in Spain, and which city/region were you placed in?

I currently have Catalonia as my first choice, but after reading about the cost of living there, I'm starting to second-guess that decision. I'd love to hear about your experiences and whether you felt the stipend was enough where you were.

*I'm US based, btw*

I'm a bit clueless about this whole process cause I've never had to do it before. I want to make sure I'm going about it in the best way possible. I've heard a lot of people say that the best option is to start by getting an electronic fingerprint at the post office. Is that what you did?

Overall, I'm looking for tips and guidance!! I was also curious if anyone went through Travelvisapro.com. It's the website that BLS suggests.

Thanks in advance for yall's help!!

hi everyone, im a first time applicant and I’ve heard conflicting things on when we should start applying for the background check, apostille and visa process. I don’t think we can apply for the visa before getting a placement, but I was wondering considering the timeline is so short this year, should we be starting the process by getting the background check done now? I know some people are saying do it ASAP but I’m not sure if i would be wasting my money/time by doing this before knowing if im even getting a placement yet. Wondering how other first time applicants are going about this?

I've still not submitted my application because I'm waiting for the letter of recommendation from my company. As it is mentioned in the official website that the letter must be on the company's letterhead.

I've sent the mail to the HR but so far I haven't received any response and now I feel like if I keep waiting for it I might be too late to apply (if not already).

What do you guys think I can or should do in this matter?

I know similar questions have been asked but I’ve read so many different answers so I wanted to get opinions on my exact situation. I am a US citizen. My visa in my passport expires August 31, 2026. My TIE expires July 15, 2026. I do not plan to renew my TIE or do another year as an aux. I want to travel through Spain in late July and early August, then travel to other parts of the EU like Italy, France, Croatia, etc. for the rest of August and September.

Do I need to exit the EU for my 90 day tourist visa to kick in or does it automatically kick in? Will I have problems flying to other parts of Spain after my TIE expires? Will it be ok since my visa is good until August? Does any of this matter if I have 90 days in the EU as a tourist since I am a US citizen?

Any and all information is helpful and thank you in advance!

Is BEDA still sending out actual placement email? or are they now at the conditional offer email phase?

Who hasn't heard back from BEDA yet? or who has received email this week? any updates?

Hi there, are there any updated group chats ahead of the 2026/27 cohort for any Auxilliar program in the country for the moment for networking and help purposes?