Living in Spain or Italy?

Question

Okay, this may be a silly question but I want to know how you go about living in Spain or Italy. I know that I would need to get a visa. But is it easy to get a job or find an apartment if you are American and only speak english?

Answer 1

Unless you have a EU passport, you have absolutely no chance of getting a job in either Spain or Italy.  You would need some sort of specialist skills not available within Europe, and be employed by a company with branches in those countries who is willing to send you there.  The only visa available to you is the automatic Schengen tourist visa which allows you to stay within the Schenge area for 90 out of each 180 days.  So, in essence, as a US citizen you're only allowed to stay in either Spain or Italy for three months.

Answer 2

I don't think it is easy for you to get a job either in Italy or Spain if you don't speak Italian or Spanish. You should learn spanish or italian before you get a job. At least for jobs dealing with public, like stores, restaurants, etc. If you are looking for a high qualified job like in a engineering consultancy or an architecture bureau, that might be OK. For the apartment you shouldn't have any problem. I advise you to take some Italian or Spanish before coming here.

good luck with your experience in Europe

Answer 3

It's not a silly question, but also not a realistic one I'm afraid.

Every year there are thousands of foreigners coming to Spain trying to get work and live here so this makes life very difficult for all. apartments are easy to come by no matter where you base yourself, but the problem of work will be uppermost in your mind first.

I have lived here in Spain 17 years, speak fluent Spanish and had a great job once, now I find it difficult to get work so your chances of finding it are alot slimmer than someone like me who speaks the lingo.

I'm sorry but either learn the language or choose somewhere else to go it may be better for you. Good luck.

(If I could come to the US I would, but you guys don't let anyone in either lol)