legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

Work
Under these programmes, the following allowances may be granted:
Allowances towards social and labour integration, which include
1. Housing allowance: this allowance is aimed at helping refugees to find accommodation after the
granting of the status, when they must leave the reception centres. Priority is given to those
who have stayed in reception centres or have participated in the monthly payment programmes
run by the Red Cross. Only needy refugees are eligible. The allowance is intended to cover
rent, deposits, services contracts and equipment. It is a one-off payment of up to ESP 200,000
[EUR 1,202] for a single adult, and up to ESP 350,000 [EUR 2,104] for a family;
2. Self-employment allowance: this is intended to support the purchase of materials and goods
required for self-employment activities. Persons over the age of 50, single women with children,
young persons and heads of large families have priority. The allowance is a one-off payment of
up to ESP 850,000 [EUR 5,109];
3. Assistance towards access to the labour market: this financial aid is intended to help refugees
to find jobs. It may cover travel costs such as travel and transportation costs from the place of
residence to the place where the job is located.
4. Assistance for education and professional training is provided in order to enhance refugees’
qualifications or to enable them to adapt to Spanish educational and work systems. This
consists of scholarships, the amounts of which vary depending on the type of studies. Usually,
they include the payment of the enrolment fees and a monthly allowance, which ranges from
ESP 37,955 [EUR 228] to ESP 50,000 to [EUR 301].
Study allowances for vocational training, nursery schools, enrolment fees, study materials, travel
expenses, etc.;
Emergency allowances for vulnerable persons: The allowances may cover the payment of rent
deposits, housing rent and living expenses for refugees whose access to the labour market is
deemed to be especially difficult. Eligible persons are likely to be over 55 years of age, single
women with children, young people, persons suffering from serious illnesses, as well as persons
authorised to remain in Spain under the provisions of Section 17(2). of the Asylum Act (leave to
remain on humanitarian grounds or for reasons of public interest) while awaiting the issue of
residency and work permits.
Convention refugees have access to the labour market and do not need a work permit.
In order to be able to work, persons with humanitarian leave to remain and those with temporary
protection must submit a request for a specific permit (“autorizacion para trabajar”), which is a
simplified type of work permit. This is granted almost automatically upon request.
Access to adult education system
Under previous legislation, refugees were not entitled to receive state education allowances. Thus,
the CEAR was running a programme aimed at facilitating their access to Spanish universities
through the payment of allowances to cover enrolment fees, travel costs and study materials.
Since 1 February 2000, in accordance with Section 9(2) of the new Aliens Act, refugees as for any
aliens legally residing in Spain, have access to non-compulsory education under the same terms as
Spaniards, including the public allowance and grant system.
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Spain