Working in Spain

Spain is a picturesque country located in the southwestern part of Europe. Bordered by France, Portugal, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Spain has a moderate, temperate climate and is world-renowned for its beaches and the accompanying resort lifestyle.

The relaxed pace of day-to-day life combined with a vibrant nightlife and a myriad of interesting heritage and cultural tourist destinations ensures that Spain is an ideal place for travellers. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed, quiet place to unwind or more interested in letting loose Ibiza-style, you’re sure to find a place that is ideally suited to your taste.

With areas such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Brava and the Costa de la Luz, there is enough ocean side variety to suit anyone’s taste. Other “must see” locations in Spain include Seville, Madrid, the Pyrenees, Barcelona, Mallorca, Valencia and Salamanca – to name only a few.

While ideal for travellers seeking a rich and diverse cultural experience, Spain can be a more challenging location for working holidaymakers. At present, Spain has formal working holiday agreements with a small number of countries but there are other ways to secure work in Spain if you are not from one of these locations.

Your best bet is to investigate options through the tourism, travel and service industries as well as to explore opportunities to live and work with families as an au pair or nanny.

There are some specific programs that aim to provide travellers with opportunities to live and work with family in exchange for lodging and food. This is a pretty good way to get started if you are not able to immediately secure a work visa.

Visa Summary

Visa: At present, Spain does not have a formal Working Holiday program. There are specific working holiday agreements with Canada and New Zealand enabling citizens of each country to work for up to one year in Spain. Citizens of the European Union member states may be able to work in Spain without a permit. Anyone not covered by existing arrangements may be able to arrange work opportunities and visas on an individual basis.

Age: 16+ for most working arrangements, 18+ if self-employed

Length of Stay: Up to one year

Application Fee: 60 EURO

Restrictions:

• Entrants must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document if from an EU country or from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Entrants from all other countries must have a valid visa
• You must have prior authorisation to reside and work in Spain – this authorisation is requested by a potential employer
• You may be required to submit medical certificates
• You cannot have previously stayed for three months or longer during any six-month period

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is responsible for processing all Spanish visa applications. Consult the website for forms and additional information specific to your circumstances:

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/Paginas/inicio.aspx

Emergency

Emergency numbers:
Police, Fire, Ambulance          112
In addition to the European standard emergency number 112, the following can also be used:
Civil Guard                              062
Police                                       091
Health Emergencies               061
Fire Brigade                            080
Local Police                             092

Australian Embassy in the Kingdom of Spain
Torre Espacio
Paseo de la Castellana, 259D – Level 24
28046 MADRID
Telephone: +34 91 353 6600
Facsimile:   +34 91 353 6692

Tax System

In most instances, an individual taking up paid work in Spain will pay income tax. The taxation system in Spain is a complex one and accurate advice can be hard to come by.

The tax year follows the calendar year with taxes actually payable at all three levels of government – central, regional and local. Personal income tax starts at 15% but can be as high as 45% depending on the total income that you have earned as well as your place of residence. Anyone who earns less than 22,000 EURO does not have to file a tax return.

You can find more information about the Spanish tax system at http://www.expatica.com/es/finance_business/tax/Tax-in-Spain_15681.html or at http://spain.angloinfo.com/money/income-tax/how-income-is-taxed/.

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It is recommended that working holidaymakers find a local tax adviser who can assist with navigating the complexities of the Spanish system. 

Bank Account

It is possible to open a bank account in Spain and if you are able to secure work, then having a local account could be very useful. If you are planning to apply for a local bank account you will need to be over the age of 18 and provide photo ID. A passport is always the best option for ID. You will also need proof of occupation or employment status, a Foreigner’s Identification Number and something that confirms your local address. As in most places, a utility bill, driver’s license or rental agreement tends to be sufficient.

Spanish banks include but are not limited to: Banco Santander, La Ciaxi, BBVA and Caja de Madrid.

Employment

Spain is not the easiest place in which to secure employment and in the years following the GFC, Spain’s economy has not been particularly robust. Unemployment is running at about 25% and although there have been some positive indications and recent gains in employment, the recovery process has been slow.

In addition, the job market in Spain is tightly regulated. In each community the Work Ministry regulates local employment conditions such as wages and salaries, working hours and holiday allowances. Contracts form an important part of the employment system in Spain and there are some basics that should be outlined in any contract. These include: job title, salary or wage, any benefits, normal working hours, any overtime provisions and any holiday arrangements.

Spain does have a minimum wage and workers cannot be hired for wages that do not meet the minimum wage conditions.

For those looking for work in Spain, the following resources will be of assistance:

http://jobs.expatica.com/spain/home.html

http://www.thinkspain.com/services/joboffers/

http://www.thelocal.es/jobs/

http://www.recruitmentspain.com/

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If you are seeking employment in Spain then it is imperative that you ensure you have the appropriate visa arrangements especially if your country of citizenship does not have any formal arrangements with Spain in regards to work visas and working holidays.

Communication

In general, having a mobile phone with a local, Spanish number will be useful for a range of reasons. If you are in Spain for only a short period of time then you can easily acquire a local SIM card for your existing phone. This is an excellent option if you are going with a pre-paid or pay-as-you-go system. If you intend to be in Spain for longer than a few months, you might consider a local plan.

Mobile phone providers in Spain include:

Orange – www.orange.es

Vodaphone – www.vodaphone.com

Movistar – www.movistar.es

Tuenti – www.tuenti.com

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Tuenti is relatively new to the phone market in Spain and is offering some excellent deals.

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Most mobile phone plans in Spain are based on at least an 18-month contract. Ensure that you are going to be in Spain for at least 18-24 months before locking into any sort of contract.

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