Types of Work Allowed
on a Spain Student Visa
Employed, freelance, teaching English, online work — all permitted on a Spain student visa within the 30-hour weekly limit. Here is how each type of work works in practice.
Types of Work Permitted on a Spain Student Visa
The Spain student visa places no restriction on the type of industry, sector, or employment arrangement you work in — as long as you stay within the 30-hour weekly limit. Here is how different types of work are treated.
Standard Employment (Contrato de Trabajo)
Working for a Spanish employer on an employment contract (contrato de trabajo indefinido, temporal, or de prácticas). The employer must register you with Social Security (Seguridad Social). You need your NIE and TIE card to be formally employed.
Freelance / Self-Employed (Autónomo)
Registering as autónomo (self-employed) with the Seguridad Social and Agencia Tributaria. Permitted for student visa holders. You handle your own Social Security contributions and quarterly tax declarations. Maximum 30 hrs/week applies equally.
Internships & Work Placements
Paid internships (prácticas remuneradas) and work placements related to or alongside your studies are permitted. Unpaid internships arranged through your institution (prácticas no remuneradas) are common and do not typically count toward your work hour limit.
Remote / Online Work
Remote work for a Spanish employer, or freelance work delivered remotely for clients anywhere in the world, is permitted under the student visa — subject to the 30-hour weekly limit and Spanish tax obligations.
Hospitality & Service Sector
Working in restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, and tourism is the most common type of student work in Spain. Seasonal and part-time roles are common. Standard employment contracts apply.
Language Teaching (English, French, etc.)
Teaching English (or other languages) as a teacher, conversation partner, or through language academies is extremely common for Anglophone student visa holders. Can be done as an employee of a language school or as autónomo for private tutoring clients.
Tax and Social Security When Working on a Spain Student Visa
Working in Spain means you have Spanish tax and Social Security obligations. The rules differ depending on whether you are employed or self-employed.
As an Employee (Employed)
Your employer handles your Social Security registration and deducts IRPF (income tax) from your salary. You receive a monthly payslip (nómina). At the end of the year you may need to file a Spanish income tax return (declaración de la renta) depending on your earnings. Students earning below the minimum taxable threshold may not owe any tax — check with a Spanish tax adviser (asesor fiscal).
As an Autónomo (Self-Employed)
You must register with the Agencia Tributaria (tax authority) and pay quarterly Social Security contributions (cuota de autónomos — currently around €230–600/month depending on income). You file quarterly VAT (IVA) declarations (Modelo 303) and income tax declarations (Modelo 130). The autónomo route has higher administrative overhead but offers flexibility. A gestor (accountant) typically costs €50–100/month to handle declarations.