Working in Spain: What You Need to Know

One of the perks of studying in Spain as an international student is the chance to take part-time jobs. Although the cost of living in Spain is one of the lowest in western Europe, some students are still opting to take on part-time jobs to supplement some of their expenses, such as rent, food, transportation, and leisure. 

To help international students learn more about working in Spain, here are some useful things they need to know. 

Requirements to Work While Studying Will Depend on Your Citizenship 

All international students in Spain who are holders of a student visa are eligible to work in Spain for only 20 hours per week. This is to ensure that working won’t impede an international student’s studies. 

Moreover, although the situation regarding the work hours is the same when it comes to the requirements, there’s a lot of differences for EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students. In fact, regulations for EU/EEA students are more relaxed and are the same with Spanish students. Also, they may even be eligible for a job that is more than 20 hours per week, depending on their institution’s rules, and they may have to seek advice from Spain’s Oficina de Extranjeros (Office of Foreign Nationals). 

Moreover, when it comes to the needed requirements EU/EEA students do not need a lot of documentation. They may only need a signed contract with their employer. 

Meanwhile, non-EU/EEA students need the following requirements before they can start working: 

• Work permit which they can get from their employer once they’ve passed the interview or tests
• Documentation that they have other means to financially support their education in Spain  

Speaking in Spanish Increases Your Chances of Getting Hired

As an international student, speaking in Spanish is not a requirement to get a job. However, knowing the language may help increase the chances of getting employed as most employers would usually prioritize hiring Spanish-speaking individuals for jobs that require the student to communicate with customers and clients. 

Moreover, choices are not limited. 

You Can Work in Spain After Graduation 

If you have plans to work in Spain after you graduate, good news, as Spain offers students the chance to apply in Spain if they apply for a post-study work visa. A post-study work visa will allow international students in Spain to stay in Spain for up to one year to look for a job. 

Students should apply for a post-study work visa 60 days before their student visa expires. To apply for one, here are the requirements needed: 

• Document showing they have sufficient means to support their time in Spain 
• Health insurance during their whole post-study stay 
• University diploma/certificate 

Different Perception with Time

If you’re used to meetings starting and finishing on time, you might be surprised at how they do it in Spain. Deadlines too, with work, are often stretched and most workers may start at around 10 am, and end at around 8 pm. For a foreign national, that may seem strange to you, but you will get used to it.

Despite this, Spanish people are far from lazy. One can say that this is just an effect of Spain being forced into a different time zone. In fact, it was found out that Spain has a different time zone from other countries in Europe such as Britain and Portugal. 

If you have plans of working in Spain after graduation, it would help to know some of the current emerging industries in the country, to know which degrees might be the most useful for you. To start, check out MSM Unify’s article on Spain: Industries that Emerged During the Pandemic.