Volunteer on Camino

whyteway · Jun 13, 2018

Hola,
I walked the Camino Frances last year and am trying to return to volunteer at St.Anton Albergue.
Getting a visa from Australia to stay long term in Spain is near impossible.
Does anyone have any suggestions how I can get a long term visa for Spain???
Mucho grasias
Anthony

Anamya · Jun 13, 2018

Hi there

How long is "long term" for you? Australians can stay up to 90 in Spain with the normal tourist visa.
If you want to stay longer than that, maybe you should get in contact with the Embassy of Spain in Canberra to inquire about the "Work & Holiday Visa", or if you are willing to take some Spanish classes, maybe the student visa.

The link to the Embassy is http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/CANBERRA/en/ConsularInformation/Pages/inicio.aspx

whyteway · Jun 13, 2018

Anamya said:
Hi there

How long is "long term" for you? Australians can stay up to 90 in Spain with the normal tourist visa.
If you want to stay longer than that, maybe you should get in contact with the Embassy of Spain in Canberra to inquire about the "Work & Holiday Visa", or if you are willing to take some Spanish classes, maybe the student visa.

The link to the Embassy is http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/CANBERRA/en/ConsularInformation/Pages/inicio.aspx

Hi Anamya
Thanks for your reply.
I'm 60 yrs old, so I can't do the work/ holiday visa & the problem with the Spanish lessons is you have to attend the classes & they are expensive.
I'm hoping someone might know of a way via a sponsorship program for volunteering.
Thanks

Saint Mike II · Jun 13, 2018

whyteway said:
Hi Anamya
Thanks for your reply.
I'm 60 yrs old, so I can't do the work/ holiday visa & the problem with the Spanish lessons is you have to attend the classes & they are expensive.
I'm hoping someone might know of a way via a sponsorship program for volunteering.
Thanks

Hola @whyteway , without being impolite why did you want to stay longer than the 90 days?? Most volunteer periods at albergues are between two weeks and four weeks. St Anton is now being managed by a Spanish group or fraternity, however if you PM Rebeka Scott she can probably put you in touch with this group. If you wanted to work/volunteer with them they may be able to provide a letter of introduction that you can give to the Spanish Embassy. Best of luck. Cheers

whyteway · Jun 13, 2018

Saint Mike II said:
Hola @whyteway , without being impolite why did you want to stay longer than the 90 days?? Most volunteer periods at albergues are between two weeks and four weeks. St Anton is now being managed by a Spanish group or fraternity, however if you PM Rebeka Scott she can probably put you in touch with this group. If you wanted to work/volunteer with them they may be able to provide a letter of introduction that you can give to the Spanish Embassy. Best of luck. Cheers

Hi,
I would like to volunteer for months and possibly do some more walking prior to the 2019 season.
I've just found Rebekah's contact and sent her an email.
Many thanks

jl · Jun 13, 2018

To obtain a visa for the country you wish to stay in most Schengen countries require:-
a return ticket
travel insurance for the duration
accomodation receipts - or a letter stating that you will be staying with....
A police check
bank statements showing that you are able to support yourself - in other words show that you have sufficient funds.

That is a general summary - there may be other reuirements for specific cuntries (eg I think you may have to present at the German Embassy and be finger printed)

Australia has bi-ateral trade agreements allowing one to stay in a number of countries for an extra period - eg you can stay in Germany and Italy for an extra 90 days if you meet the requirements (leave the Schengen and re-enter)

Your other option is that if you are walking you could leave the Schengen and go to the UK and walk - there are many paths there to follow - eg St Oswald's way, St Cuthbert's way, West Highland Way, Hadrian's Wall Path and so on. These could easily occupy you for the required exit of 90 days, and you could stay up to 6 months before re-entering the Schengen.

Tincatinker · Jun 13, 2018

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...h-spanish-visa-application.51888/#post-628621

Try this thread for a success story

whyteway · Jun 14, 2018

jl said:
To obtain a visa for the country you wish to stay in most Schengen countries require:-
a return ticket
travel insurance for the duration
accomodation receipts - or a letter stating that you will be staying with....
A police check
bank statements showing that you are able to support yourself - in other words show that you have sufficient funds.

That is a general summary - there may be other reuirements for specific cuntries (eg I think you may have to present at the German Embassy and be finger printed)

Australia has bi-ateral trade agreements allowing one to stay in a number of countries for an extra period - eg you can stay in Germany and Italy for an extra 90 days if you meet the requirements (leave the Schengen and re-enter)

Your other option is that if you are walking you could leave the Schengen and go to the UK and walk - there are many paths there to follow - eg St Oswald's way, St Cuthbert's way, West Highland Way, Hadrian's Wall Path and so on. These could easily occupy you for the required exit of 90 days, and you could stay up to 6 months before re-entering the Schengen.

Thanks Jl,
I appreciate your advise.
I feel called to be in Spain and in particular on the camino for an extended period, and in reality if I was seriously cashed up , which Im not , I could buy a vias/ property and reside anywhere in Europe and the requirements for a non working visa are ridiculous .
Living anywhere in the world now other than your own country is near
impossible.
Bureaucratic walls are going up faster than actual walls.
Again I appreciate you advise.
Cheers

Trude · Jun 14, 2018

whyteway said:
Thanks Jl,
I appreciate your advise.
I feel called to be in Spain and in particular on the camino for an extended period, and in reality if I was seriously cashed up , which Im not , I could buy a vias/ property and reside anywhere in Europe and the requirements for a non working visa are ridiculous .
Living anywhere in the world now other than your own country is near
impossible.
Bureaucratic walls are going up faster than actual walls.
Again I appreciate you advise.
Cheers

You could go with the no visa for the 3 months and then when you are there apply to extend to walk the Camino. It may be easier from there.
If they will not extend you will have to leave. But you need to stay out of the Shengen area for 3 months before you can go back from my understanding. Good luck.