Work in Spain

Spain is one of the most appealing destinations to work in Europe, with world famous cities and beautiful islands. Whether you are looking for temporary summer jobs somewhere exotic, are keen to boost your work experience, or fancy moving to live and work in Spain long term, view our guide and apply today.

Jobs in Spain

Guide to Working in Spain

Capital: Madrid
Government Type: Parliamentary Monarchy
Languages: Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Religion: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Climate: Mediterranean climate in the southern and eastern coastal areas as well as a temperate climate further inland.
Currency: Euro (EURO)
GDP per capita): 25,500
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Exports: machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, other consumer goods
Major Industries: Agriculture, Cement, Chemicals, Engineering, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry and Timber Products, Iron and Steel, Mining Manufactures, Metal Processing, Petroleum Refining, Transport Equipment, Wine Making, Yarns and Textiles.
Minimum Wage: 1050 Euros per month

About Spain

Spain is modern country with a proud history. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain’s powerful global empire was larger than any other, and set the way for the European colonial era. After decades of dictatorial rule under Franco in the twentieth century, Spain has finally emerged as a modern democracy. It is a member of NATO and of the European Union and today has one of the most vibrant economies in Europe.

Spain’s cultural heritage comprises both the Islamic and Jewish traditions as well as the Roman Catholic, and many Spanish towns, such as Toledo, Granada and Cordoba bear witness to this. Spain’s achievements in the arts are led by Velazquez, Goya, and by Pablo Picasso, who is perhaps the best known artist of the twentieth century.

Spanish literature also has a rich tradition, with Cervantes’ Don Quixote being one of the most popular novels ever written. Spanish cinema in recent years is also very popular with the films of Pedro Almodovar and Alejandro Amenabar.

There is no end of things to do when working in Spain and you will never feel bored here. Spain has miles and miles of beautiful coastline, great weather and splendid mountain ranges. In summer, you can head over to the beach, and in winter, you can ski on the mountains.

Best Places to Find Jobs

Apply to work in Spain and live the good life. Relax on endless beaches by the glistening Mediterranean Sea. Laze away the warm evenings in one of many tapas bars, listening to flamenco music over a glass of sangria or wine.

Explore cities, visit the rolling hills of the Basque country or the splendid majesty of the Pyrenees. From short term seasonal and summer jobs, to full time roles See its proud history evident in prehistoric cave paintings, Roman ruins, and crumbling castles.

Some of the most popular places to live work in Spain include Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Ibiza, Mallorca and Tenerife.

Seasonal and Summer Jobs in Spain

The tourism industry hires thousands of seasonal workers every year, summer is a popular time to seek temporary work in Spain. Holiday resorts, hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants are in need of staff from managers to chefs, reps, cleaners, drivers, bartenders, djs and more.

Working a summer season on the beautiful Balearic or Canary islands is really popular. Who wouldn’t want to live somewhere like Ibiza, Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Menorca.

There are lots of job openings for English teachers and health care workers all year round. Many families in Spain also hire household help such as housekeepers, cooks, drivers and au pairs.

Tips for Finding Work in Spain

The Spanish job market is far from buoyant at the moment and anyone living in Spain can expect high competition no matter what the sector. Job searches can last up to six months, and sometimes even beyond that. Unless you’re looking for a work in catering, retail or teaching a working knowledge of Spanish can be an important requirement.

Be aware that with job opportunities are so scarce some companies might be reluctant to employ foreigners over a Spanish citizen and there are several restrictions and regulations surrounding foreign employees.

A lot of people are employed on a word of mouth basis, so connections can be incredibly useful. Utilise any and all you might have! This might sound pretty dire but don’t be put off, just be prepared for some setbacks.

Jobs in Spain for Foreigners and Non-EU Citizens

Lots of local and international companies staff from around the world but the Spanish Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo) must approve employment of foreigners who are not from countries belonging to the European nation states. A visa must also be obtained prior to entering Spain.

Visas and Work Permits

To get a job in Spain it isn’t necessary for an EU citizen to have a work permit.

A non-EU national must apply for a work permit, and this involves proving that they have the skill set employers are requiring. With competition for work so fierce, some companies, particularly smaller companies, just won’t consider a non-EU citizen. Non-EU nationals must also acquire an activity-dependent residency permit.

There are several main types of work permit, and each requires the applicant to meet different criteria. Contact the Spanish embassy or consulate for a detailed explanation of what permit you will need and how it can be obtained. The process can be notoriously slow, as long as six months in some cases, so get the ball in motion early!

Working in Spain FAQ

Spain is one European nation that welcomes non-resident workers. To guide aspiring workers, the following is a brief overview of Spain’s employment rules for foreign workers.

Language
Learning a little conversational Spanish will greatly help in communicating with the locals. Proficiency in the Spanish language is definitely an advantage because most high-paying occupations require fluency in Spanish.

Employment Concerns
Discrimination of foreigners is uncommon. Majority of Spanish employees accepts the presence of foreign workers and works with them peacefully.

Salaries
Although Spanish salaries are generally quite low, (averaging 12,000-18,000 euro’s a year) the cost of living in Spain is below average for an EU nation. Rather than being paid monthly, in Spain salaries are often distributed over 14 payments. This means that before Christmas and summer the normal salary is generally doubled.

Among members of the European nation, Spain has the lowest percentage (less than one percent) of workers receiving minimum wage. Salaries are also distributed less evenly in Spain then in other nations; the average worker will receive significantly less than their boss. National insurance and tax are deducted from the salary of a foreign worker.

Contracts
Make sure you get an official work contract from your employer. Read and fully understand the provisions stated in your employment contract. Request a copy translated in English if it happens to be written in a foreign language.

A temporary contract in Spain lasts from three to nine months. Working beyond the specified period obliges an employer to offer a long-term contract.

Employment regulations in Spain ensure the well-being of laborers as many provisions are geared to the advantage of the workers. For example, employing a person without issuing working contacts are prohibited. Employer who fails to comply with this requirement have to pay a certain fee.

Workers cannot be fired without a valid reason. A worker who believes he is unjustly dismiss from a job may present a demand for conciliation within 20 days after receiving the dismissal letter.

Hours
Working hours in Spain includes a 2-3 hour break between 2 to 5 pm. This is what they call siesta. During this time when the sun is at its hottest, companies and establishments closes and reopens in the evening.

Holidays
The jobs might be few and the wages might be low, but when it comes to the allocation of holiday time Spain is amazing. It is law for any contracted employee to receive a full month of holiday time a year on top of any national and regional holidays. And it gets better. If a holiday happens to fall on a Tuesday or Thursday it is usual for employees to be given Monday or Friday as an extra day off.

Currency
Spain is a member of the European Union (EU) and the euro-zone. This means you can move from certain EU counties to others without having to exchange funds. However, it also means that the fortunes of one country have an effect on the currency of others.

Coins start with the 1 cent piece and end with the 2 euro piece whilst notes can be found in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro denominations. Whilst the denomination side of the coins remains the same throughout the euro-zone the face side image varies from country to country.

Although foreign currencies can be changed into euro’s at currency exchange kiosks at airports and banks (among other places) it is more important now than ever to transfer your funds at the right time. Getting the best exchange rate possible can save you money and really help your global transition. If you’re emigrating it’s strongly recommended that you seek advice from a trusted currency broker.

Banks
If your stay in Spain is going to be of some duration you’ll probably need a Spanish bank account. There are roughly 30 national banks in Spain, with the two largest being Santander Cenral Hispano and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA). There are also numerous regional banks.

As always, shop around and find the bank which offers the best services for you. If you deposit foreign currency into a Spanish Bank account you will need to request immediately that it be converted to Euros. If you don’t you may encounter problems when you try to do it later.

Resident and non-resident bank accounts are the two types available for foreigners in Spain and these do not vary much when it comes to fees and services. The principle difference between the two is that the bank may refuse to issue non-resident account holders with a credit card or offer an overdraft facility.

In order to open a non-resident bank account you’ll need to produce a valid identification document or passport and corroborate your non-resident status by providing a ‘certificado de no residencia’ (although some banks may not require this).

A ‘certificado de no residencia’ can be applied for and collected at a Spanish police Station. If you become a resident at any time after opening the account you must inform the bank and present them with a copy of your ‘tarjeta de residencia’. Be aware that every two years the bank will conduct a check on your residency status.

Of course there is always the option of banking online. If you wish to open an online Spanish account the best options are Openbank and Bankinter.