Working in Spain

For a foreigner, working in Spain comes down not to finding a vacancy but to a permit: you can only be hired with the right to work, and you get it either together with a residence permit or through an employer before you arrive. After that it is an ordinary labour market — with high unemployment, strong seasonality and salaries below the European average.

How do you find the best position as someone from Russia? Is it realistic to find current, in-demand vacancies without intermediary agencies? This article explains. You will learn where to find the latest available job ads from direct, private employers.

How to get a job in Spain: step by step

1. Sort out your right to work. If you already have a residence permit that allows you to work, you look for vacancies on general terms. If not, you need an employer willing to arrange a permit, or another route: the job-search residence permit after a Spanish university or, if you work remotely for foreign companies, the residence permit for remote workers.
2. Prepare a CV in Spanish. Most vacancies require Spanish; international companies require English. If your profession is regulated (doctor, lawyer, architect), your degree will have to be recognised in Spain.
3. Search on job portals and through networks. InfoJobs, LinkedIn, the website of the state employment service SEPE and sector-specific platforms; for seasonal work, ads in the resort regions.
4. Get a permit if you do not have one. The employer files the application while you are abroad, and after approval you receive a work visa at the consulate.
5. Start working legally. The employer registers you with social security — no later than three months after entry — and within a month of registration you must apply in person for the TIE foreigner’s card.

The working week in Spain

Under the Workers’ Statute, the normal working week in Spain is no more than 40 hours on average over the year; the specific schedule is set by the collective agreement or employment contract (Article 34). Rest is at least a day and a half in a row each week, usually from Saturday afternoon to Sunday (Article 37), and paid holiday is at least 30 calendar days a year (Article 38). There are no more than 14 paid public holidays a year, two of them local.

Congress rejected the bill to cut the working week to 37.5 hours on 10 September 2025, so in 2026 the previous 40-hour limit still applies.

Does Spain need skilled workers?

Spain has long ranked high in Europe for unemployment. This is important to bear in mind when looking for work in the country. Every company is looking for professionals: there is a real need for top specialists who can do the job competently and have extensive experience. The country has a positive attitude towards foreign workers. Russians, Belarusians and citizens of other countries are actively hired.

There are few vacancies in Spain compared with the number of job seekers: finding a good position is not easy, but it is possible. For Russian speakers with the necessary knowledge, many positions are available that you can apply for right now.

Salaries

The minimum interprofessional wage in Spain in 2026 is €1,221 a month over 14 payments a year. Average salaries vary considerably by region and sector.

Pay depends on the region, the employee’s experience and other factors. The highest earnings are currently found in Madrid, Barcelona and other large regions. People earn much less in the Canary Islands. A breakdown by sector and city with current figures is given in a separate article on salaries in Spain.

Pay is usually highest in IT, finance, medicine and engineering, and lowest in tourism, retail and services, where there is a lot of seasonal work.

Looking for vacancies

It is best to look for vacancies on well-established portals. For example, the LinkedIn social network helps with finding business contacts. You can find good options both in big cities and in smaller towns — for example, in Madrid, Valencia or Barcelona. Seasonal employment is growing actively in the coastal areas. We will tell you where to look for interesting offers.

Searching on websites

Spain has free portals where you can start your search. They list vacancies from businesses in various sectors and with various schedules: seasonal, remote, permanent or temporary work, full-time or a few hours. Job seekers can also use print publications, which an older audience likes. Most people prefer online job resources — for example, Trabajando or InfoJobs. With sites like these it is easy to find a position as a Russian relocant. Many portals have convenient features that are easy to get the hang of.

Job seekers can post CVs on specialist sites, and many employers will respond to them. It is best to correspond in Spanish from the start, as employers need to understand your level of the language.

Recruitment agency

Some agencies that find jobs abroad have an extensive database of vacancies from Spanish employers. A recruitment centre will help with documents and sort out accommodation issues. Some companies help you settle into the new country.

Searching on your own in the country

You can look for work after coming to the country as a tourist, but you cannot work on a tourist visa. Once an employer is found, they apply for a work permit, and you get a work visa at the consulate of your country of residence and only then enter to work.

Requirements for foreign job seekers

Job seekers from other CIS countries can work legally in Spain from the age of 16. Many professions are open only to those with a relevant degree. Graduates of Spanish universities have it easier: after graduating they can get a 24-month job-search residence permit and look for a contract while already in the country. But qualifications have to be validated, as not all Russian degrees are recognised in the EU. Some may be recognised as equivalent to Spanish ones if the person has gone through the relevant procedures.

Do not even try to build a career in another country if you do not know Spanish or English. Most companies require employees who have mastered Spanish, but you can get a job at international organisations with good English.

Permission to work

A national visa does not always come with the right to work. If you have no employer in Spain and your income comes from abroad, a different route will suit you — the residence permit for remote workers. To be employed, you need a permit from the authorities allowing you to work in Spain. A permit is always tied to a specific ground of stay, so first decide on your status — all the current options are summarised in our overview of residence permits in Spain. The ground also determines whether you will later have to inform the authorities of a move to another employer: under some permits you notify Extranjería of a change of employer, while others do not require this at all.

Today work permits are governed by regulation RD 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025. The main options are:

• Residence and employment permit. The employer files the application while you are abroad. The initial permit is issued for the duration of the job but for no more than a year, and it is limited to an autonomous community and occupation, except where no labour market test is needed — for example, for shortage occupations (Article 73). A renewed permit is issued for four years at once, and you can work anywhere and in any job on it (Article 81).
• Seasonal work — a separate permit for employment of no more than nine months in a calendar year (Article 100).
• The EU Blue Card and the permit for highly qualified professionals — for highly skilled, well-paid work, under a simplified procedure.
• Job-search residence — for graduates of Spanish universities, for 24 months.

The process takes time, so it is worth preparing documents in advance: criminal record and medical certificates have an expiry date.

Getting a visa for work in Spain

The visa must match the work permit you have obtained.

To apply for a visa, you need to gather the following documents:

• International passport.
• Three photographs. The photos must be taken in a studio, against a white background, with your hair pulled back.
• Criminal record certificate. Getting one can take time: see to it in advance so you can send the full set of documents on time.
• A medical certificate. You need to confirm that you have no infectious diseases.
• Proof of financial stability. You can provide a bank statement or other certificates.
• Copy of employment documents. You will need the approved work permit and the signed contract.
• Receipt. It is important to attach proof of payment of the fee.

Documents in a foreign language are translated into Spanish, and official certificates are legalised or certified with an apostille. Be sure to check every word for errors, as even one missing character in a name can lead to refusal.

The work visa is not the last step. After entry, the employer registers you with social security, which must be done no later than three months, and within a month of registration you apply in person at the police for the TIE foreigner’s card.

In-demand professions

In Spain many businesses need specialists who take their duties conscientiously. Professionals with higher education, special skills or knowledge are especially in demand. You can build a career here in almost any sector.

The following professions are especially in demand in Spain:

• doctors;
• engineers;
• finance professionals and bank staff;
• senior managers;
• IT specialists;
• builders;
• drivers;
• mechanics;
• chefs;
• tour guides;
• junior medical staff;
• beauty professionals.

We have covered four fields in separate articles — with degree requirements, the procedure for validating qualifications and real pay rates: working as a doctor, as an architect, as a pastry chef and as a groom at a stable.

You can also work in Spain without special knowledge. For example, cleaners, maids, waiters and call centre operators earn less. But such jobs can be a good start for settling in a foreign country. The official list of hard-to-fill occupations is published by the SEPE employment service: for these, the employer does not need to prove that no suitable local candidates are available, so hiring a foreigner is easier.

Taxes on salaries in Spain

Spain has a progressive tax system in which the rate increases as income rises. Tax rates range from 19% to 47%, but the top rate applies to income above €300,000 a year. How the tax base is calculated, which deductions apply and when the annual return is filed is covered in our guide to IRPF for employees.

Foreigners have options for reducing their tax costs:

• Personal allowance. About €5,500 can be set aside for essential needs. This applies to workers under 65. After that, the allowance rises to €6,700.
• Children and dependants. If dependants live with you, you can reduce your taxes.
• Disability. The tax base is reduced for people with disabilities and their family members if property is being renovated or housing is rented.
• Regular social contributions. Paying social fund contributions on time helps reduce the rate.
• Donations. Charitable contributions also help you pay less tax.

Relotus-relocation can already help you get a digital nomad visa or a Spanish start-up visa. At a free consultation you can get answers to your questions and understand the specifics of the permits. Our specialists will help gather documents, prepare a business project and see the application through to approval without unwanted refusals.

Frequently asked questions

How can a foreigner get a job in Spain?

First you need the right to work: a residence permit that allows you to work, or a permit arranged by a Spanish employer while you are abroad. Then a CV in Spanish, a search on InfoJobs, LinkedIn and the SEPE employment service website, and after being hired, registration with social security and the TIE foreigner’s card.

How many hours is the working week in Spain?

No more than 40 hours on average over the year under the Workers’ Statute; the specific schedule is set by the collective agreement or contract. Congress rejected a cut to 37.5 hours in September 2025. Holiday is at least 30 calendar days a year.

What jobs can a foreigner do in Spain?

It is easiest to find work in occupations for which it is hard to hire locals: for these, the employer does not need to prove that no suitable Spanish candidates are available. There is steady demand for doctors and nurses, engineers, IT specialists, builders, drivers and tourism workers.

Can I work in Spain on a tourist visa?

No. You can look for work after arriving as a tourist, but you cannot work: you need a work permit and a work visa, obtained at the consulate of your country of residence.

What is the minimum wage in Spain in 2026?

The minimum interprofessional wage (SMI) in 2026 is €1,221 a month over 14 payments a year.