Your Guide on Jobs and Finding Work in Spain

Jump right in:

• How to get a job in Spain
• Average salary and minimum wage
• Self-employment
• Business culture
• Social security and benefits
• Maternity and paternity leave

How to get a job in Spain

A fundamental part of your move is knowing how to get a job in Spain as a foreigner. Below, you’ll find helpful insights on how to apply for a job, the job market, requirements, and eligibility for working in Spain, as well as tips for interviews and networking.

What are the requirements to work in Spain?

• For EU/EEA nationals

EU nationals are free to work and live in Spain without restrictions. If you’re a non-EU national, you’ll need a work and residence visa to work in the country. Requirements for this include a job contract with a Spanish employer as well as other necessary documents. For more information, take a look at our guide on Visas and Work Permits.

• For non-EU/EEA nationals

To work in Spain as a foreigner, you must meet the following requirements:

• you’re staying in Spain legally
• you have a clean criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you’ve previously resided
• you entered Spain legally without being denied entry or being deported
• you’ve paid the fee for the temporary residence application
• you have a signed work contract signed
• you have the qualifications that are legally required for the position

In regard to your qualifications, make sure they are recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Professional Training. There are specific forms for recognizing university degrees  and non-university degrees.

Are you eligible to work in Spain?

Job opportunities in Spain for foreigners can be limited, as in many cases employers must prove that no suitable candidate is available in Spain or the EU. For most non-EU applicants, a job offer is generally required in an occupation listed on the shortage occupation list. This is published quarterly by the Public Employment Service (Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal).

The immigration office also has to confirm that it is not possible to fill the job vacancy by a Spanish citizen or resident. To find out more, check out the Ministry of Labor’s website for all the conditions under which foreigners can work in Spain.

Do’nt forget to check if your employer is properly registered with social security. As for your job contract, make sure all the terms abide by national labor regulations. Once you have this contract, you’re given a temporary work and residence permit which in many cases has an initial duration of one year but may vary depending on the type of authorization granted. This may be limited to your occupation and geographical area. This temporary permit only comes into effect after you obtain the work and residence visa.

What’s the best way to get a job in Spain as a foreigner?

There are many options when it comes to working in Spain as a foreigner. As a non-EU national, the first place to look is the job shortage list, which includes many of the occupations with greater hiring possibilities for non-EU workers, although there are exceptions such as highly qualified professionals, intra-corporate transfers, students, and family members of EU citizens. Once you know you’re eligible to work in Spain, you can begin your job search.

Many expats tend to take up jobs in the tourism sector. Since speaking English is a good asset in Spain, a common job opportunity for foreigners is also teaching English as a second language.

Some of the most popular websites to find a job in Spain are:

• Infoempleo
• Infojobs
• Mil Anuncios

There may be specific platforms for your business sector, so it’s also a good idea to look for empleo (employment) followed by your desired position. International platforms for job searching can also be useful, such as Glassdoor, Indeed, or LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to search for multinational companies that may have offices in both Spain and your current country. These could be a good starting point to make connections and look for opportunities.

You can also visit the Ministry of Labor and Social Security , which covers all the information and procedures for working in Spain. The SEPE  (Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal) is the national public service for employment, and you can also find information on job searches and job offers there.

How to apply for a job in Spain

When applying for a job in Spain, it is a good idea to follow the Spanish-style CV. It should include the following information, preferably in this order:

• personal details: full name, date of birth, nationality, marital status, address, phone number (with the international code)
• photo (recommended, but not mandatory)
• work experience
• education
• languages
• skills
• other interests, relevant for the position, such as driver’s license, willingness to relocate, hobbies, etc.
• references (optional)

Sticking to this format will avoid extra effort on the part of recruiters, and will also give your application the best possible chance. Be sure to tailor your CV to the job offer in order to best showcase your qualifications.

Languages are highly valued in the Spanish job market, so make sure to highlight this. It’s also a good idea to write your resume in Spanish to ensure the language barrier does not hinder your chances.

Tips for writing a cover letter (carta de presentación)

Submitting a cover letter with your application is a common practice in Spain. Even if a job posting does not ask for one, it is a good idea to include it. On that note, emphasizing your motivation to live and work in Spain will reassure recruiters that you are committed to the job.

Cover letters should not be longer than one page. A simple structure will suffice (introduction, body, and conclusion) along with your personal information. If possible, try to address the letter to the recruiter. The use of formal language is always recommended. If you write the letter in Spanish, use usted when addressing the reader, as opposed to the informal tú.

Tips for interviews

When you get an interview in Spain, you’ll want to be familiar with the most common practices. Here are some dos and don’ts you may find helpful:

• Practice some Spanish before an interview. This will show commitment to integrating into the culture and an interest in staying.
• Familiarize yourself with specific expressions in the Spanish job market and your business sector.
• Dress to impress. The dress code tends to be slightly on the formal side, and a lot of importance is placed on first impressions and the way you present yourself.
• Mention contacts you may have within the company or business sector. In Spain, your network and personal connections are highly valued, especially for securing a job. -Avoid greeting recruiters with kisses on the cheek unless you are certain it aligns with the company culture or you have an established personal rapport. In most business environments, a handshake is the standard and safest option.
• Don’t arrive late. You may notice punctuality to be fairly relaxed in social situations in Spain, but this doesn’t apply to the working culture. You should aim to arrive five to ten minutes before an interview.
• Don’t address the recruiter as tú. As mentioned earlier, use the formal usted, or the plural ustedes. However, if the recruiter or company culture is more relaxed, and you are asked to use the informal pronoun, it is appropriate to do so. In that case, the informal plural is vosotros.

Tips for networking

Networking is increasingly important in the Spanish job market. When networking in Spain, it’s common practice to take an acquaintance out for lunch or tapas. If you need to meet people from your business sector, you can always attend business-focused events. You’ll find these to have a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Aggressive sales pitches are generally not well-received.

It's always a good idea to have a business card on hand and to follow up with your contacts either through LinkedIn or via email.

If you want to know where to start networking, InterNations organizes local events in many Spanish cities. You can meet locals or other expats, who can prove to be valuable networking contacts.

Average salary and minimum wage

According to data on salaries collected by Spain’s statistical institute (INE), the average annual gross salary in Spain is 28,049.94 EUR (approx. 32,800 USD). By gender, men earned 30,372.49 EUR (approx. 35,500 USD) and women earned 25,591.31 EUR (approx. 30,000 USD).

In Spain, salaries can be paid in 12 or 14 installments. Most workers receive 14 payments, which include two extra payments: one in summer (June) and one at Christmas (December). Others receive 12 payments with the extra amounts prorated monthly. This system is a matter of tradition and convenience, and there is no legal obligation to pay in 14 installments.

As of 2025, the minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional — SMI) is 1,184 EUR (approx. 1,400 USD) gross per month in 14 payments, totaling 16,576 EUR (approx. 19,500 USD) annually.  While the minimum wage is intended to guarantee a minimum standard of living, it may not be enough in cities with a high cost of living, such as Madrid or Barcelona. Housing costs, basic utilities, food, transport, and family circumstances significantly affect whether the SMI is sufficient to cover living expenses.

What is a good salary in Spain?

What determines a good salary in Spain will depend on several factors, such as your qualifications, the cost of living in your city, and your overall lifestyle. To get a good sense of what a good salary is, consider the cost of living (including rent) for a single adult in these major cities.

The average cost of living per month (including rent)

Generally, if you wish to live comfortably in Spain, a single person’s net salary should at least match these ranges, while a family household usually needs 3,000–3,500 EUR net per month to cover expenses comfortably. For a more relaxed lifestyle that also allows you to save, a joint monthly income of at least 4,000 EUR is recommended.

For reference, the minimum annual gross salary required for a highly qualified professional residence permit is 40,077 EUR (3,340 EUR/month) for technical, scientific, and intellectual professionals, and 54,142 EUR (4,512 EUR/month) for executives and managers.

The most in-demand jobs and how much they pay

Below is a list of some common occupations and their average annual salary in Spain. In general, jobs in IT are in demand in Spain, but any job that requires English proficiency is also a good option for expats.

Average gross annual salary

Self-employment

Self-employment in Spain may be a good option if you want more freedom in your career, but you should not expect many benefits to come with it. Whether you plan on opening a retail store, starting a small company, or working as a freelancer, it’s better to know in advance how to be self-employed, and how to avoid common mistakes.

This section covers all the requirements for registering your business, what social security benefits to expect, and maternity and paternity leave for self-employment.

How to be self-employed in Spain

There are different formalities depending on the type of self-employment work you wish to take. Here is an overview of the administrative steps required to set up a business as a self-employed worker in Spain:

• All economic activities must be registered with the tax agency (hacienda o agencia tributaria) and social security (seguridad social).
• You can handle most formalities online by obtaining the single electronic document, Documento Unico Electronico (DUE).
• If you wish to open an establishment or retail store, you need a license from your city council, ayuntamiento, and a construction license if you plan to restore a building.
• You need to inform the autonomous community of the launch of the workspace (if you hear about the need to legalize a libro de visitas before a labor inspection, know that this is no longer mandatory).

In general, expect a lot of paperwork when first trying to set up your business. This guide provides an overview of the procedures required to begin your career as a self-employed worker in Spain. You can also find a complete list of documents and procedures online.

DUE: The fastest way to set up your business

You can set up your business online by applying for a Documento Unico Electronico (DUE), which is an electronic document that contains all the information about your business.

This process is faster than the traditional way of applying in person at social security and tax offices, but it may still be time consuming as it requires filling out many forms. You can find step-by-step tutorials on all the formalities at Punto de Atención al Empreendedor (PAE), the service centers for entrepreneurs. These will include filling out your personal information, communicating your type of activity, and completing your tax declaration.

Required documents and steps to apply for a DUE

When applying for a DUE you will need:

• the official application form (EX-18 for EU citizens, EX-17 for non-EU citizens)
• residency and self-employment visa (for non-EU citizens)
• proof of payment of the applicable fee (Modelo 790, code 012)
• a valid and in-force passport or national identity document, plus copies of all pages
• proof of address in Spain, such as a certificado de empadronamiento
• recent passport-sized photographs
• if applicable, a criminal record certificate from the country of origin
• your certificate of registration for the Impuesto de Actividades Economicas (IAE), business activity tax
• the code of your financial activity, according to the Clasificación Nacional de Actividades Económicas (CNAE)
• an estimation of your earnings (for the social security scheme registration)
• a bank account for direct debits of the RETA (Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers)

This process notifies both the social security and the tax agency of the start of your business.

Alternatively, you can process the forms with the social security and tax agency yourself. You will need to register the start of your economic activity at a tax agency office by presenting Form 036 or its simplified version (Form 037), which most autónomos (self-employed) opt for.

You must also register with the social security as a Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos (RETA), also known as the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers. We will cover RETA further in this guide.

One of the advantages of being an autónomo is the reduced steps and formalities involved in setting up your business since you do not need to register as a legal entity, or support the costs of creating one.

How to set up a company in Spain

You can set up a limited company (Sociedad Limitada, SL) or Sociedad Anónima (SA), entirely online through CIRCE.

You can find all the information you need in the Portal PyME.

In general, to start a company in Spain you will need to:

• register the company name (check the list of available company names)
• apply for a NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal) at the tax office, or Delegación de Hacienda
• open a bank account in your company’s name (for a SL the minimum deposit is 3,000 EUR)

What are the top self-employed jobs in Spain?

In general, jobs that require language skills are popular among expats. A popular freelance job is teaching English, but there are many other sought-after positions for remote work as well, such as freelance writer, designer, digital marketer, developer, etc.

You can rely on popular websites for freelance work, such as Upwork or Freelancer. These sites allow you to search for a job in the area that best matches your skillset.

Self-employed benefits in Spain

There are several benefits associated with being self-employed in Spain through the RETA (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos), such as healthcare, pension, temporary disability, permanent disability, maternity and paternity leave, risk during pregnancy, and unemployment benefits.

If you’re registered with social security as a self-employed person (RETA), and you pay the necessary contributions, you’re entitled to public healthcare, just like any other employee. This applies to you and can also extend to your family members if they meet the requirements (legal residence in Spain, economic dependence, and being spouse, partner, or dependent children under 26, or older with disability).

You are also entitled to a state pension while working as an autónomo. If you have made contributions in another EU state, these will also count towards your pension in Spain, and vice-versa.

Aside from having your personal assets at risk in case of debt, one main disadvantage of being self-employed is the combination of mandatory RETA contributions and taxes, which can be high even with low income. As a self-employed worker, you are taxed as an individual, and therefore pay taxes according to your level of income. This is different from small companies, which are generally subject to a corporate tax rate of 25% (23% for some small companies, 20% for cooperatives, and 15% for new companies during the first years).

Business culture

As with most countries, the business culture in Spain varies depending on the company size and industry. The working culture in Spain is still rooted in hierarchy, especially within family-owned businesses, government enterprises, and other traditional industries.

However, this structure has been changing in recent years. Around 40% of managerial positions in Spain are occupied by women, which is above the European average of around 34%, placing Spain among the EU leaders in female representation.

What are working hours like in Spain?

Workdays in Spain are typically Monday to Friday, and the working hours established by the Spanish labor law are 40 weekly hours. In many companies, workdays start at 09:00 and finish around 18:00, usually with a lunch break of about one to two hours. The traditional long lunch break of up to three hours (13:30–16:30 or 14:00–17:00) is less common today and mainly seen in smaller towns or more traditional sectors. After the lunch break, the workday may continue until the early evening.

You may have already heard of the popular siesta, the Spanish mid-day nap. This traditionally meant that the country would temporarily shut down for around three hours during the lunch break. Most businesses and services were closed during this time. Nowadays, this is no longer a general rule, and you’ll typically find establishments open throughout the day, especially in big cities.

What is the workplace dress code?

In accordance with Spanish culture, Spain’s workplace dress code is conservative and, in some cases, still regarded as an indication of professional status. Of course, this will largely depend on each company’s culture, but, in general, the dress code in Spain is similar to that of other European countries. Business attire is considered appropriate if it’s not too revealing, too loose, or too flamboyant.

If the business setting is more formal, both men and women should wear dark-colored business clothes. Women are not always required to wear suits, although they may choose to do so in more formal environments. Keep in mind that importance is still placed on appearance, so do your best to look professional and to pick up on clues regarding the dress code from your professional environment.

Social security and benefits

Generally, if you’re doing any kind of paid work or wish to have access to the benefits of social security, you need to be registered at the social security and pay monthly contributions. You’ll be issued a número de afiliación de la seguridad social, which is the equivalent to the social security number in Spain and a social security card. Foreigners can get a social security number in the same way as nationals.

Everyone legally residing in Spain is entitled to social security benefits if they are:

• workers employed by others -self-employed people -work partners of associated work cooperatives
• students
• civil servants or military personnel

**How to get a social security number **

If you’re going to be working for a Spanish employer, you don’t need to worry about applying for a social security number, because your employer will complete this process for you. It’s their duty to notify social security of the start and end dates of your professional status in the company, and of any changes such as medical leave, or maternity or paternity leave.

However, if you’re not employed by others, you should get acquainted with the procedures to obtain a social security number and to pay your contributions yourself.

How to apply for social security as a self-employed worker

As a self-employed worker, you must notify social security of your professional situation. Self-employed workers have to register with the Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos (RETA), the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers of the Spanish Social Security. The RETA corresponds to the official form TA.0521, and you must also present Form 036 or 037 to register your economic activity with the Tax Agency. You must apply before starting your economic activity, with a maximum of 60 days in advance. If you already started, you must still apply, but it will be considered overdue.

As of October 2018, you can no longer apply for self-employment in person. Instead, you must register online by creating a username and password at cl@ve, social security’s online platform.

You’ll need:

• your Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE, Foreigner’s Identification Number) or Tarjeta de Identidad de Entranjero (TIE, Spanish Resident Card), your social security number (NUSS or NAF), and an estimate of your monthly net income.

• your certificate of registration for the Impuesto de Actividades Economicas (IAE, business activity tax).

You may then begin making monthly contributions to social security. For self-employed workers, the minimum contribution is around 200 EUR per month under the new real income contribution system, and it varies depending on declared income. You can make these payments either at local financial entities or through the social security website.

In general, it’s recommended that you hire an accountant to deal with social security contributions and taxes, as it’ll help avoid mishaps with legal procedures.

What are the social security benefits in Spain?

Paying contributions will give you access to several benefits from Spanish social security. Benefits include:

• healthcare
• temporary disability
• risk during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• maternity and paternity
• caring for children affected by cancer or other serious illnesses
• permanent disability, and permanent non-disabling injuries
• retirement
• death
• family benefits (such as the care of a minor, adoption, large families, single parents, and mothers with disabilities);
• unemployment benefits (SEPE)
• benefit for the cessation of activity of self-employed workers
• social services (IMSERSO or competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities with transferred competences)
• mandatory insurance of old age and invalidity
• school insurance

Here is a complete list of the benefits (compensations) you are entitled to if you pay social security in Spain.

Maternity and paternity leave

The right to maternity and paternity leave in Spain means you’re temporarily excused from working if you become a parent or guardian, and that you’re entitled to maternity and paternity benefits (a monetary compensation).

If you plan to have children in Spain, you’re entitled to parental leave, which includes pregnancy, adoption, fostering, and guardianship. Mothers also have the right to healthcare before, during, and after birth, as long as they’re registered with the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS).

Who is entitled to maternity & paternity leave?

In general, you’re entitled to maternity and paternity leave if you’ve paid contributions to social security. This is known as contributory leave and it applies to all workers, whether they are traditional or self-employed.

Mothers are entitled to maternity leave if they’ve paid contributions for 180 days in the seven years prior to giving birth, or 360 days of contributions throughout their working lives. Mothers who are under 21 years of age don’t need to have paid contributions to benefit from maternity leave. If they’re at least 21, but under 26 years of age, they only need to pay contributions for 90 days within the seven years before childbirth, or 180 days of contributions throughout their working life.

If you’re working but have not paid enough contributions, you’re still entitled to maternity leave and benefits, under what is called non-contributory maternity.

Men in Spain are entitled to paternity leave if they have paid contributions for 180 days in the seven years prior to the start of the leave, or 360 days over the course of their working life.

Length of maternity & paternity leave

Spain grants both parents 16 weeks of fully paid and non-transferable parental leave. The first six weeks after birth are compulsory and must be taken immediately, while the remaining ten weeks can be used flexibly within the child’s first year. This period may be extended in special cases, such as hospitalization of the newborn, multiple births or adoptions (two extra weeks per child), or when the child is disabled (two additional weeks). Overall, Spain offers one of the most generous parental leave systems in Europe.

Benefits for high-risk pregnancies

These benefits apply during the time your contract is interrupted and they end the day before you give birth, when maternity leave begins.

Benefits for risk during breastfeeding

These benefits apply when a medical report certifies that the mother is unable to continue working in her position due to risks for the breastfeeding child. They end when the child reaches 9 months of age, when the mother resumes work, or when she stops breastfeeding.

How to apply for parental leave

If you’re working as an employee, you must apply directly to social security for parental leave. Your employer is only responsible for reporting your work absence. If you’re self-employed, you should apply through social security’s electronic office or visit a local office. You can find a complete list of application forms for parental leave on the social security website.