Work in Spain

With a large expatriate community and a low cost of living compared to other European countries, have you considered working in Spain?

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and it's long been a favourite with Brits looking for a life in the sun. In fact, in 2023 it was estimated that 284,000 British citizens were living and working in Spain.

The cost of living in the country is low compared to other European countries, meaning that in your spare time, you'll be able to enjoy all the culture Spain has to offer.

Living and working in the country, you'll also get the opportunity to learn the third most common language in the world, which will no doubt impress employers wherever you work in the future.

While there are plenty of positives to working in Spain, you need to be aware that the country has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union (EU). In the second quarter of 2024, the rate stood at 11.27%. Youth unemployment is also relatively high at 25.5%.

Competition for jobs is fierce and the majority of international workers tend to gravitate towards bigger cities, where jobs are more readily available. Popular destinations for expats include Madrid and Barcelona, the two largest cities in the country, and Valencia and Seville.

Jobs in Spain

Securing work in the country can be a challenge as you'll be competing against Spanish graduates for jobs. However, there are a number of things you can do to increase your chances of success.

The first is to look for work in major cities, where vacancies occur on a more regular basis. Having a solid grasp of Spanish will also be incredibly useful. To further increase your chances of finding work, concentrate your search on the Spanish job sectors that are performing well. These include consulting, teaching English as a foreign language and the service and tourism sectors.

The service sector dominates the Spanish job market and major industries in the country include:

• agriculture
• banking and finance
• construction
• energy
• manufacturing
• pharmaceuticals
• textiles
• tourism

Spain is also home to a number of large international companies. These include:

• Abertis (infrastructure)
• ACS Group (civil engineering)
• Almirall (pharmaceuticals)
• Banco Santander (banking)
• Ebro Foods (food processing)
• Ficosa (automobile production)
• Iberdrola (utilities)
• Inditex (apparel)
• Logista (logistics)
• Telefónica (telecommunications).

For the latest jobs in Spain, visit:

• Expat.com
• Reed
• The Local
• XpatJobs

Skills shortages

There are some sectors of the Spanish economy currently experiencing skills gaps, and these shortages could lead to employment opportunities for international workers.

Shortage occupations occur in sectors such as:

• accounting and finance
• consulting
• engineering
• IT
• marketing
• medicine
• tourism
• web development.

How to get a job in Spain

The standard application process is similar to that in the UK. Prospective candidates apply for jobs by submitting a CV and cover letter, or by completing an application form. The format of these application documents is similar to what you're used to in the UK. Most workers apply for jobs from their home country - typically through a jobs portal - or find temporary work before looking for something permanent.

The language you need to submit your application in will sometimes be stated in the job advert, so make sure you read it carefully before applying. However, as a rule, unless you're applying to work in an English-speaking office, all applications should be made in Spanish.

Informal ways of securing work are also popular among jobseekers in Spain - for example, through word of mouth, networking or speculative applications.

Summer jobs

Spain has a strong tourism industry, in 2024 it’s expected that the country will welcome over 90 million visitors. Popular tourist destinations include the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands, and Benidorm. With such a high percentage of British tourists visiting Spain, there's always a need for English-speaking workers in its tourism and hospitality industries.

Temporary positions are the easiest to secure. You could find work in bars, restaurants and hotels, as a water sports instructor, or at tourist attractions such as theme and water parks. If you have some childcare experience, you could also look for work as an au pair.

In addition to the job sites listed above, you may be able to find summer jobs, seasonal work and gap year opportunities at:

• Season Workers
• thinkSPAIN

Bear in mind that since the UK's departure from the EU, UK nationals will now need a visa to take on seasonal work in Spain.

Voluntary work has become an increasingly popular option for graduates looking for work experience. Not only will it put your language skills to the test and help you to understand Spanish culture, but volunteering also provides you with an opportunity to make important contacts and enhance your CV.

Teaching jobs

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a popular source of employment for international workers.

However, being a native speaker of English isn't enough to secure a teaching job. Instead, you'll need a TEFL qualification to ensure success. You can either take a course in your home country or once you arrive in Spain.

For more information and to see what opportunities are currently available, take a look at:

• i-to-i
• Oxford TEFL
• Premier TEFL
• Spainwise
• TEFL Iberia
• TtMADRID

You can also apply to work as an English language assistant through the British Council's English Language Assistants scheme.

Internships

In Spain, work experience is held in high regard. Students that have completed two to three years of work experience prior to applying for graduate roles hold a significant advantage.

Internships in the country usually last between two and three months, but the length of a placement depends on the employer and the needs of their business. Due to Spain's growing technology and thriving tourism and hospitality sectors, internships of this kind are easy to find.

To look for a placement in Spain, see:

• AIESEC UK - for students and recent graduates (in the past two years).
• IAESTE UK - for science, engineering, technology and applied arts students.
• The Intern Group - a leading provider of international internship programmes in Madrid.

Spanish visas

Following the UK's departure from the EU, the rules for UK citizens travelling to EU countries have changed. You can travel to countries in the Schengen Area (which includes Spain) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. During this period, you can attend business meetings, seminars, conference or trade shows or meet clients, but you must not receive payment from a Spanish company for these activities or it may be classed as work.

If UK nationals plan to work in Spain or stay for more than three months, you must apply for a visa and work permit. There are different types of Spanish work visas depending on the kind of work you do and the length of your employment. Some of the most common types are:

• Long-term work visas
• Seasonal work visas
• Au pair visas
• EU Blue card.

While most visa applications are made through the Spanish Embassy or consulate in your home country, for some types of work your prospective employer makes the application on your behalf.

EU nationals, European Economic Area (EEA) citizens and those from Switzerland can work in Spain without the need for a work permit. If you plan to stay in the country for longer than three months, you'll need to register at a police station or the local Foreign National Office. This will provide you with a registration certificate and a non-national identification number (NIE).

Language requirements

If you don't have a strong grasp of Spanish then jobs can be hard to find - unless you're looking for a job with a multinational company, or work in the expat community or tourist areas.

There are lots of Spanish-speaking courses in the UK and many good websites exist to help you to learn a language or improve your skills. There are also opportunities to take Spanish classes once you arrive in Spain.

How to explain your qualifications to employers

You should find that your UK qualifications are comparable to their Spanish equivalents, and will therefore be recognised by employers.

Despite this, workers involved in regulated professions - for example, lawyers and doctors - will need their professional qualifications recognised in Spain before they can start work. Certain authorities are responsible for the recognition of professional qualifications. For more information, see the EC regulated professions database.

To get a degree from outside of the EU recognised in Spain, you'll need to contact the Subdirección General de Titulos y Reconocimiento de Cualificaciones, of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, and fill in the required form.

What it's like to work in Spain

The average working week for full-time employees is just over 40 hours, with traditionally long lunch breaks in the afternoon still observed by some businesses. Because of this, workers can sometimes stay in the office as late as 8pm.

Each municipality in Spain has 12 public holidays a year. Eight are national holidays that are set by the government and celebrated throughout the country, two regional public holidays are set by local governments and two municipal holidays set by the town hall.

Spanish workers also receive 22 days of paid annual leave per year.

The monthly minimum wage for Spanish workers in 2024 is €1,134 (£954.53).

Find out more

• Discover what it's like to study in Spain.