Programs and Calls

New Zealand Language Assistant Program in Spain

The Language and Culture Assistants Programme for New Zealanders in Spain has reopened. The application period will be open from June 2nd, 2026 (08:01 GMT+2) until June 30th, 2026 (19:59 GMT+2).

Official website

The call is open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents in New Zealand and citizens of Fiji and Tonga, as well as citizens of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands who reside in Fiji.

The Ministry of Education does not charge application fees. If you receive any request for a payment to submit your application, you are not applying for the official Ministry of Education program.

Online Information Session – June 2026

Friday, June 5th: 4:00 pm — Join the meeting

Applicants for the 2026–2027 academic year must follow the steps below. You may begin this process as soon as possible; there is no need to wait until the application period opens.

1. Create or update your profile on Profex 2 (Profex 2 instructions). Please note:

• Your passport number must match your Profex 2 registration number. It must be the passport you will use to take part in the program, and it must be valid as indicated below.
• Passport validity: at least one year from the expected date of entry into Spain. As the programme is expected to begin on November 1st, 2026, passports must remain valid at least until November 1st, 2027. However, due to possible delays in receiving the Letter of Appointment and the time required to obtain a visa, some applicants may begin the programme in December 2026 or even January 2027. To avoid any issues, your passport should therefore remain valid until the end of January 2028. If your current passport is not valid for this period, renew it before creating your Profex 2 profile.
• Applicants who already have a Profex 2 registration number which does not match the passport number they will use to apply for this program: they must request a change of their Profex 2 registration number before submitting their application, following these steps:
  • Upload the passport you will use to apply for the program, scanned in PDF format, to the “Attached Documents” section in Profex 2.
  • Write to the Ministry of Education at auxiliares.extra@educacion.gob.es informing them that you have uploaded a new passport and need to change your registration number in Profex 2.
  • Once reviewed, the Ministry's administrators will send you a confirmation email with instructions. (Please check your spam folder).
• Participants with dual nationality, New Zealand and from a European Union (EU) country except Spain. New Zealand applicants who are also citizens of an EU country other than Spain must register on Profex 2 with their EU passport (with the same validity mentioned above) and select the EU country in the “Nationality” section. When they submit their application, in the “Relevant information” section, they should select the option “New Zealand – Education Office of Spain in Wellington.” They must upload to Profex 2 the EU passport with which they are registering for the program and also their New Zealand passport, which proves their eligibility to take part in the “New Zealand – Education Office of Spain in Wellington” program option. They must enter Spain with their EU passport and will not need a visa. However, once in Spain, they must register with the EU Citizens Registry to obtain their NIE (Foreign Identification Number).
• Participants with dual New Zealand and Spanish nationality. Candidates who have New Zealand and Spanish nationality must register as New Zealanders, with their New Zealand passport in Profex 2, as this program is for foreign citizens, not Spanish citizens. However, they must enter Spain with their Spanish passport and will not need a visa.

2. Upload to Profex 2 the degree or academic transcript that proves the studies you have completed or are currently undertaking in 2026 (you must be enrolled in at least the second year of university). It is essential to:

• Include in the PDF file all the pages of the university degree, if you have completed your studies, or all the pages of the academic transcript, if you are currently studying for a degree.
• Ensure that the documents are official, provided by the university registry offices. Unofficial academic transcripts are not valid.

3. Request and have ready a recent letter of reference from a professor or employer (dated no earlier than 1 September 2025) to submit when the application period opens. The letter must:

• Be addressed to the Spanish Ministry of Education, with a maximum length of one page.
• Have the letterhead of the university, company, or contracting entity.
• Include the contact details of the lecturer/professor or employer.
• Be dated.
• Be signed by the Lecturer/professor or employer.
• The lecturer/professor or employer must explain how and since when they have known the applicant and indicate their qualities to become language assistant.

4. Write and have ready a letter of motivation to take part in the program, which you will need to submit when the application period opens. The letter must:

• Be addressed to the Spanish Ministry of Education.
• Be written in English. Length: 250-300 words.
• Be dated.
• Be signed by you.

5. Download the Health Statement and Sworn Declaration (Addendum I), sign both the statement and the declaration, and upload the document with both signatures to Profex 2.

6. Create and submit your application on Profex 2 once the application period opens. Please refer to and follow the steps in the handbook for new applicants

Visa application

For information and documents required for the L.A’s visa application, candidates should contact the Embassy of Spain directly emb.wellington.sc@maec.es ccing the education office in NZ asesoria.nz@educacion.gob.es

Visa Application

Spanish Consulate in New Zealand

Applicants must apply for their visa at the Spanish Consulate corresponding to their place of residence.

• Embassy of Spain – Consular Office in Wellington
• Address: 50 Manners Street, Te Aro, 6011 Wellington
• Telephone: (+64) 4 802 56 65
• Email: emb.wellington.sc@maec.es

RENEWALS

Those language assistants who wish to renew for another year and receive the letter of acceptance while in Spain, should contact the Oficina de Extranjería (Foreigners Office) in the city where they are living to seek their advice regarding the renewal of their student visas.

Testimonials

• Adam Scott's testimonial. Language assistant 2024-25
• New Zealander Language Assistant testimonial
• Being a language assistant in Spain: testimonials from different places

More information

• Language assistants' duties