Work Hours 2026
How Many Hours Can You
How Many Hours Can You
Work on a Spain Student Visa?
The 30-hour weekly limit explained — how it's counted across multiple jobs, whether it applies during holidays, and what happens if you exceed it.
The 30-Hour Rule
How the 30-Hour Weekly Limit Works on a Spain Student Visa
The 30-hour weekly work limit for Spain student visa holders is set by Spanish immigration law (Real Decreto 557/2011). It applies to the total hours worked across all employment and self-employment activities in a given week. Here is exactly how it works in practice.
How the 30 Hours Are Counted
- 30 hours per week is the total across all jobs and employers combined
- A week runs Monday to Sunday for counting purposes
- Overtime and additional hours count toward the total
- Freelance (autónomo) hours count equally with employed hours
- If you hold two jobs (e.g. 15 hrs each), the total is 30 — permitted
- If you hold two jobs totalling 35 hrs, you exceed the limit — not permitted
When the Limit Applies
- During term time — always applies (maximum 30 hrs/week)
- During summer holidays — still applies (30 hrs/week maximum)
- During Christmas and Easter breaks — still applies
- During renewal processing — still applies (30 hrs/week)
- At any point your student visa and TIE card are valid
Consequences
What Happens If You Work More Than 30 Hours?
Exceeding the 30-hour weekly limit is an immigration violation with serious potential consequences. Employers are not typically proactive in monitoring your visa status beyond checking that you have working rights, so the burden is on you to track your own hours.
For You as the Student
- Your student visa renewal may be refused on the grounds that work — not study — has become your primary purpose of stay
- In serious cases, you could be issued a sanction notice by immigration authorities
- Your student visa could be revoked before its expiry date
- Future Spanish visa applications could be affected by an infringement on your record
For Your Employer
- An employer who knowingly allows an employee to exceed their work authorisation can face administrative fines under Spain's immigration sanctions regime
- Employers are expected to verify your work authorisation before hiring — your student visa and TIE card serve as evidence
- The risk to employers is generally lower than to the employee, but both can face consequences
FAQ
30-Hour Limit — Questions Answered
A maximum of 30 hours per week, combined across all employment and self-employment. The limit applies throughout your visa — including academic holidays.
Yes — the 30-hour weekly limit applies year-round, including summer, Christmas, and Easter breaks. There is no holiday period during which the limit is suspended for Spain student visa holders.
Exceeding the limit is an immigration violation. Potential consequences include refusal of your renewal, revocation of your student visa, or an administrative sanction. The risk is primarily to you, not just your employer.
Add the hours from both jobs together. If Job A is 18 hrs/week and Job B is 12 hrs/week, your total is 30 hrs — exactly at the limit. If Job B were 15 hrs, your total would be 33 hrs — exceeding the limit.
Yes — freelance and self-employed (autónomo) hours count equally with employed hours toward the 30-hour weekly total.
Bank holidays do not increase your weekly limit. The 30-hour maximum applies regardless of bank holidays or public holidays during the week.