Student Work Permits and Hour Limits in Spain

Spain's new rule: 30 hours a week, no separate authorization

Spain overhauled its immigration regulation with Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025. Under the new rule, students enrolled in higher education, degrees, master's programs or vocational training (FP), work up to 30 hours a week without applying for a separate work permit, according to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration .

Before this reform, students had to apply for a specific work authorization on top of their study permit, usually capped at 20 hours a week, and processing delays meant many students waited weeks before starting a job legally. The new rule builds work rights directly into the student residence permit itself.

What changed from the pre-2025 system

Under the older rules, students filed a separate application for permission to work and often waited weeks for approval before they could legally start a job, with the cap set at 20 hours a week. RD 1155/2024 folds that authorization into the study permit itself and raises the ceiling to 30 hours, cutting out a step that used to delay part-time job offers.

Study stays your main activity

The 30-hour cap holds only if the work stays compatible with your studies. Immigration authorities expect your course to remain your main activity in Spain, with work supporting you financially rather than becoming the reason you're in the country. Keep your attendance and academic progress in good standing. A poor academic record affects your permit renewal even when your work hours stayed within the limit.

Language school students: check your specific permit

The automatic 30-hour right applies to higher education students, university degrees, master's programs and vocational training. Students in Spain on a language school (academia de idiomas) visa don't get this automatic work authorization, and different rules apply to that permit. Ask your school's student services or an immigration lawyer before assuming you take a job under the same terms.

EU, EEA and Swiss students face no cap

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens work in Spain under the same rules as Spanish nationals. No student work authorization, no hour cap tied to study status, agree terms directly with your employer.

What you're paid

Spain's minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional, SMI) rose to 1,221 euros a month over 14 payments from 1 January 2026, according to La Moncloa . Part-time student contracts get a proportional share based on your hours, ask your employer for a written contract (contrato) stating your hourly rate and weekly hours clearly before you start.

A quick example

A master's student in Madrid on a study permit issued after May 2025 accepts a 25-hour-a-week tutoring and admin job at a language academy. Because the work stays under 30 hours and doesn't interfere with class attendance, no separate authorization application is needed, the student registers with Social Security once hired and starts the same week the contract is signed.

Where students find part-time work

• Hospitality, bars, restaurants and cafes in university cities hire regularly, especially around exam periods and tourist season.

• Language exchange and tutoring, informal English tutoring and conversation exchange are common income sources for foreign students.

• Retail chains in city centers and shopping areas often take on part-time student staff.

• University career services and Erasmus or international student groups share job leads specific to your city.

What to check before you start a job

Confirm your permit type covers the 30-hour right before signing a contract. Language school and short-course students fall outside it. Keep your enrollment active and attendance in order, and ask your university's international office if unsure whether a specific job or number of hours fits within your permit's terms.

How to start working once you find a job

1. Confirm your residence card falls under the higher education category covered by RD 1155/2024.

2. Sign a written employment contract (contrato) with your employer.

3. Your employer registers you with Social Security (Seguridad Social) before your first day, the same process used for any employee in Spain.

4. Keep your enrollment certificate and attendance record up to date, authorities check both at permit renewal.