Working in Spain as an Expat: Employment Rights and Obligations (2026)

Working in Spain as an expat — whether employed by a Spanish company, transferred by your employer, or working remotely for a foreign company — involves navigating employment law, social security, and tax obligations that are genuinely different from what you’re used to.

Spanish employment law is employee-friendly (great if you’re the employee; challenging if you’re the employer). The social safety net is comprehensive but expensive. And the 14-payment salary system will confuse you at first — then you’ll love it.

Can You Work in Spain?

EU/EEA Citizens

Full right to work. No permit needed. Register with social security (Seguridad Social) and obtain your NIE.

UK Citizens (Post-Brexit)

You need a work authorisation. Options:

• Employer-sponsored work visa: The employer applies on your behalf. Requires proof that no EU candidate was available.
• Highly qualified professional visa (Ley de Emprendedores): For senior roles with a minimum salary (currently ~EUR 33,000/year). Faster processing.
• Digital nomad visa: For remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies. See our remote worker residency guide.
• Autónomo: Self-employment visa, applied for alongside a cuenta propia (self-employed) work permit.

US/Canadian/Other Non-EU Citizens

Same as UK post-Brexit: work visa required, with various routes depending on employment type.

The Spanish Employment Contract

All employment in Spain must be formalised in a written contract. The main types:

Contrato Indefinido (Permanent Contract)

• No end date. The default and most common type.
• Strongest employee protections: severance pay, notice periods, dismissal restrictions.
• Spain’s 2022 labour reform made this the default — temporary contracts are now harder to justify.

Contrato Temporal (Temporary Contract)

• Fixed end date. Only permitted for specific circumstances (covering absences, genuine temporary workload increases).
• Maximum duration: 6-12 months (varies by justification).
• The 2022 reform significantly restricted the use of temporary contracts — abuse of temporary employment was endemic in Spain before the reform.

Contrato de Formación (Training Contract)

• For workers under 30 (or under 35 in certain circumstances).
• Combines employment with certified training. Lower salary (minimum 60-75% of equivalent role).

Contrato a Tiempo Parcial (Part-Time Contract)

• Must specify the exact hours per week/month/year.
• Same rights (proportionally) as full-time employees.

Salary: How Spanish Pay Works

The 14-Payment System

Spanish salaries are quoted as annual gross, but paid in 14 instalments: 12 monthly payments plus two bonus payments (pagas extra) — one in June/July and one at Christmas.

Example: A EUR 28,000/year salary = EUR 2,000 per month × 14 payments. You receive EUR 2,000 in 12 regular months, plus EUR 2,000 in June and EUR 2,000 in December.

Some companies “prorrate” the extras, paying 1/12 of the annual bonus with each monthly salary (so you get EUR 2,333 × 12 months instead). The total is the same — just different distribution.

Minimum Wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional — SMI)

• 2026: EUR 1,134/month (14 payments) = EUR 15,876/year
• This applies to all full-time employees regardless of sector
• It has risen significantly in recent years (from EUR 900/month in 2019)

Typical Salaries on the Costa del Sol

Salaries in Andalucía are generally 10-20% below Madrid/Barcelona levels:

• Hospitality/service: EUR 16,000–22,000/year
• Administration/office: EUR 18,000–28,000/year
• Teaching (international school): EUR 22,000–38,000/year
• IT/tech (Málaga TechPark): EUR 28,000–50,000/year
• Management: EUR 35,000–60,000+/year

Social Security (Seguridad Social)

Spain’s social security system covers healthcare, pensions, unemployment, maternity/paternity, and disability. It’s funded by contributions from both employer and employee:

Contribution Rates

• Employee: ~6.35% of gross salary (deducted automatically)
• Employer: ~30% on top of gross salary (invisible to the employee but a significant cost for businesses)

What you get:

• Full public healthcare access
• Pension contributions (15 years of contributions required for minimum pension)
• Unemployment benefit (4 months of benefit per year worked, up to 2 years maximum)
• 16 weeks paid maternity leave / 16 weeks paid paternity leave (among the most generous in Europe)
• Sick pay from day 4 (employer pays days 4-15, then social security takes over)

Working Hours and Holidays

Standard Working Week

• Maximum: 40 hours per week (average over annual basis)
• Daily maximum: 9 hours (for adults)
• Rest between shifts: Minimum 12 hours
• Weekly rest: Minimum 1.5 consecutive days (usually Saturday afternoon + Sunday)

Annual Leave

• Minimum: 22 working days paid holiday (30 calendar days)
• Public holidays: 14 per year (national + regional + local)
• Combined: Spanish workers get a minimum of 36 days off per year — among the highest in Europe

The Proposed 37.5-Hour Week (2026)

The Spanish government has proposed reducing the maximum working week from 40 to 37.5 hours with no salary reduction. Negotiations are ongoing. If passed, this would be one of the shortest working weeks in Europe.

Dismissal and Severance

This is where Spanish law is most protective of employees:

Types of Dismissal

• Despido procedente (fair dismissal): For serious misconduct. No severance. The employer must prove the cause.
• Despido improcedente (unfair dismissal): 33 days’ salary per year worked (capped at 24 months’ salary). This is the most common outcome when dismissals are challenged.
• Despido colectivo (collective dismissal/ERE): Redundancy affecting multiple employees. Requires negotiation with worker representatives and government approval.

Notice Period

15 days is the legal minimum for most dismissals. Many convenios colectivos (sector agreements) extend this. During the notice period, employees are entitled to 6 hours per week of paid time for job searching.

Finding Work on the Costa del Sol

• InfoJobs.net: Spain’s largest job portal
• LinkedIn: Increasingly important, especially for international/tech roles
• Indeed.es: Good for international companies
• Málaga TechPark companies: Google, Vodafone, Accenture, and others regularly hire. Check their career pages.
• International schools: Always need teachers. Check TES.com and school websites.
• Hospitality sector: Walk in with a CV during spring (pre-season hiring). English-speaking staff are valued.
• Networking: The Costa del Sol’s expat business community is active. Attend Chamber of Commerce events, co-working meetups, and industry gatherings.

Remote workers: If you work remotely for a non-Spanish employer, the Digital Nomad Visa is your primary residency route — with significant tax advantages through the Beckham Law.

Frequently Asked Questions

📖 Related Guides

• Social Security in Spain
• Autónomo Guide (Self-Employment)
• Tax Residency Guide
• Remote Worker Residency
• NIE Guide

Last reviewed: February 2026. Employment law changes regularly — verify current figures with a Spanish labour lawyer or gestor.