Wife is Us citizen, I'm British - I have been offered a job in Madrid, which is great, but
can my wife live there with me without a visa, so long as I get a 'family' visa (is there such a thing?).

Can she get a work permit easily?

Should we be taking the job before we have managed to get her a visa?

Iain

I'm afraid I can't really answer the visa question - I hope someone else can. I'm SURE there's a way for her to go as your wife. I would go ahead with the job. As for her working, that's going to be almost impossible, unless she teaches English illegally (very easy to do and should be considered). I've known a lot of American women in Spain because their husbands got a job there, and it drove some of them crazy that they couldn't work. A few - with really good connections at the US embassy - got jobs at the embassy or consulate offices, but don't count on it.

You may want to read through some of the threads on Americans getting work in Spain. If she's a teacher, she may be able to tutor kids who go to the American School of Madrid. The pay for tutors is higher there than in the US. Can she become a British citizen? That would make it all very easy!

Good luck!

Hi McNerlin,
Since you are European you don't need visa so your wife doesn't need one either (I believe) there is a law that says that the spouses of the residents of Spain have the same rights that the resident him/herself. Since you are a resident because you are going to work there your wife should be able to have a work permit. There is a politic group call CCOO that fights for the rights of the inmigrants, you don't have to join them. My sister in law went there when she married my brother and they assisted her. Well, they didn't finish the job but they gave her a document. We went to "la oficina de empleo" with that document and they put her on the list. By the way, you have to join the "lista de desempleados" in the "oficina de empleo" before you get a job (if it is legal). Most companys will make all the paperwork for you when they hire you.
I hope this helps.