Working in Spain
Relocation isn’t just about finding the right house, it’s about starting a new life and for many, that involves either the need to work or the want to work. By doing your research before you pack your bags, you will have a realistic idea of the work opportunities available in Spain. Here’s a few pointers to help you.
Visa Requirements?
Citizens of the EU may freely travel, settle and work in any member country, enjoying the same rights as the nationals of their country of choice. This free circulation also extends to their families, whatever their nationality.

As a British Citizen this means that you have access in Spain to any labour activity, both as a self-employed worker as well as employee working for third parties, without the need to request a work permit. Furthermore, you can enjoy the same rights as the Spanish workers with regards to salaries, working conditions, housing access, professional training, social security or union membership.

As a community citizen, to enter Spain all you need is a valid identification document such as a passport.
NIE Number
Whether you want to work for someone else or start up on your own, the first thing that you will need is your NIE number. See our section on NIE numbers for further information and the application form.
Working for Someone Else - Where to Start
Employment agencies are few and far between in and around Torrevieja, although there are some in Alicante and Murcia, including some familiar names such as Manpower and Adecco. The local English newspapers are a very useful source for job hunters and most of them are free publications with the exception of the Costa Blanca News. Check out their websites before traveling to get an idea of what’s out there:
www.costablanca-news.com
www.roundtownnews.co.uk
www.coastrider.net
www.yourlocalnewspaper.info
Spanish employers are generally very accepting of foreign workers, especially those you are bilingual or have some Spanish language skills. Without the language, you may find yourself limited in what roles you can take on so it is always advisable to go a language course before you leave the UK. Just by having some basic Spanish you are in a better position then those that have none and you will find that this will be considered even for positions where essentially Spanish isn’t a prerequisite.
Contracts & Laws
Contract laws are very strict to ensure that workers are protected from exploitation. When you start a new job, you will more than likely initially be offered a temporary contract for three months, after which time you may then be offered a further temporary contract for six months and then, your employer must either offer you a permanent contract or cease employing you altogether. It is against the law to be continuously employed on a temporary contract.

Your contract will be in Spanish, if you don’t understand Spanish well enough yourself to understand all the in’s and out’s, make sure you get it translated before you sign it.

It is illegal to work in Spain without being registered for Social Security. Your employer will make the arrangements for your registration and payment in to the Spanish Social Security System.
Working Hours and Holiday Entitlement
Working hours vary considerably to the UK with many companies still respecting the traditional siesta. A typical working day would be from 09.00 - 14.00 and then 16.00 - 19.00. The long break allows Spaniards to enjoy a long lunch with their family, something that plays a big part in the Spanish way of life.

By law, if you are in full time employment on a permanent contract, you are entitled to 30 natural days holiday per year. Natural days also includes weekends so really, you are looking at 22 working days holiday. You will have to check with your employer as to whether there are any specific company policies regarding when you are allowed to take it etc.
Wages
As far as the wages are concerned, don’t be surprised if you are earning lower than you did in the UK. However, put it in to perspective and evaluate it against the cost of living and you will soon see that it is all relative. You will be taxed at source, meaning that your employer will take care of paying your contributions and the amount will be deducted from your wages. Social security payments will contribute to both the local health service as well as your pension. However, you must pay in to the system for at least 15 years before you can claim a state pension.
Starting up a business
Many people decide that they don’t want to work for someone else and set up on their own. There are many golden opportunities waiting for you as with more and more foreigners moving to Spain the demand for quality products and service in all manner of industries is growing. However, be prepared, it can be a frustrating process in an alien environment so preparation is the key. Most people fail through lack of forethought, planning and preparation and there are several fundamental factors that you should carefully consider before rushing in to anything.
Language
Some people ignore the language issue, and whilst the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida have a large British expat community, remember, there’s still more Spaniards that live there. From a business point of view, the more people you can communicate with, the better and being able to converse, even poorly will make life in Spain much more acceptable and enjoyable. Communication leads to integration with your Spanish neighbours, a much more enjoyable lifestyle and also leads to referrals and work opportunities.
Marketing
Even being a highly skilled technician, computer wiz or in one of the professions is not enough, unless you are very lucky. You have to be able to market yourself. No one is looking for you; you have to find the clients/customers. This is a skill that the majority of people lack, regardless of how well qualified they may be in their particular trade or profession. Marketing ability or lack of it is often the win or fail factor. Get this right and you are half way to success.
Staying Power
Don’t expect a Self Employed venture to take off like a rocket, it can take many months. You have to put the effort in to get that all important reputation and you need enough money to sustain yourself in the early days whilst you are establishing yourself.

If you failed in business in the UK, don’t come to Spain thinking it will be so much easier. Analyse why you failed in the UK. Change your tactics. If you bring your family it must be a united decision, unwilling partners are an inbuilt time bomb to failure.
Opportunities
They are there waiting for you and as with anything, the more you put in, the more you get out. Do your research, visit the area and assess the opportunities for your particular skill or product to determine if the demand is there. And don’t do what a lot of people tend to do when they relocate to Spain and leave your common sense behind. Use your head and you won’t go much wrong.
Employ an expert
If you have decided to go for it, and start up your own business then employ the services of a professional to help you. You can’t afford to make mistakes in this area and by employing the services of a “Gestor” (official agent - a bit like a lawyer for menial bureaucracy) and a good accountant, you can be safe in the knowledge that the company has been started on the right track from day one and that all ongoing obligations are being taken care of. If you don’t speak the language, you really should find a bilingual gestor and accountant or employ the services of a translator to attend meetings and assist you.
Company Structure
The next step would be to decide on the format of your business, similar to in the UK with PLC and Ltd companies. You will need expert advice as to which type best suits your business.

Empresa Individual
Is the equivalent of a UK sole trader with the business being run in one persons name only.

Sociedad Civil
Is a partnership where several individuals will come together to form a business.

Sociedad Limitada (S.L)
Is a limited company with registered shareholders and a set minimum trading capital in the bank. Fees are higher than for a sole trader but if sued then only the assets of the limited company are at stake.

Sociedad Anonima (S.A)
Is a larger company with a large minimum trading capital. This S.A. company also has shareholders.
Registration, Registration, Registration.
Once you have established the set up of your company, the next step is to register it with all the necessary authorities. In Spain there are two levels at which a business must be registered:

At local level you need to register your business with the town hall and obtain an opening licence (Licencia de Apertura) which will clearly define your business and the way in which it will trade.

At national level you will need to register your business in with the IVA office (Agencia Tributaria) which is the equivalent of the Revenue and Customs in the UK. Your business in Spain will receive an identification number known as a CIF. The Agencia Tributaria collect your tax on any profit you make in your business in Spain. You also need to register with the Social Security office.
Tax contributions
Whether you are a resident in Spain or not, if you have an income here, you may be liable for tax payments, as in any other country. As a foreigner it can be a complicated and costly situation so you will without doubt need specialist advice. Your accountant will be able to help you.
Social Security payments
All businesses are registered with the Social Security Office and as such will be liable for social security payments which vary according to the status of the business. If you are a sole trader (Empresa Individual) expect to pay approximately €235 a month. This gives you entitlement to the local health service such as doctors and hospitals (not dentist, these are all private) and if you pay in for 15 years you qualify to receive a pension.

If your business in Spain is structured as a company then you have to pay social security on behalf of any employees and they have to have a proper written contract providing guidelines for both parties.
Buying An Existing Company
If you are buying an existing business in Spain it is vital that you examine every aspect of the business before signing anything or parting with your money. It is crucial that you ensure the company has no debts or tax liabilities that would be transferred with the business.
BEWARE
When you buy a business in Spain, you buy the business debts too ! See a good guide here If you do take the plunge and start a business in Spain, you will find that you are accepted by the Spanish as a foreigner and you will have the respect that you earn.
Spanish Pensions and Benefits
The Spanish social security system is much like the British one, in that you pay your contributions every month, and that entitles you to a pension, unemployment benefit, sick pay, maternity pay and the right to receive free healthcare. The amount of pension or benefit you receive depends on the level of contributions you have been paying. You should be a little careful too: some small businesses pay all their staff cash in hand and those staff will not be eligible for Social Security benefits, including health care. Other employers may register you, but claim you are working less than you are, thus saving themselves some money in contributions. In this situation you will still be eligible for health care, but if you become unemployed or have to take sick leave, your benefits will be lower. Obviously you may not have much of a choice as to who you work for, but we would strongly recommend that you do not work cash-in-hand and all contracts are carefully checked for content.

If you have been employed in Spain for 6 months and you lose your job, you will generally be entitled to Spanish unemployment benefit. If you are employed or self-employed, you will also be entitled to sick pay, maternity pay and, when you retire, a pension. All benefits are paid at variable rates depending on the level of your contributions. If you have been paying minimum social security contributions the amount you will receive in benefits is currently around 750 EUR per month. If you are planning to live in Spain long term you should contact the DSS overseas department (above) in order to get your UK National Insurance contributions transferred to the Spanish system.