Spain is a country located in the south of Europe, with a warm climate, favorable environmental conditions, many world famous sights and famous Mediterranean resorts. Recently, however, more and more foreigners are considering Spain not from the point of view of tourism, but as a place of profitable employment. For labor migrants from Russia, working in Spain can be a good chance to earn money, learn Spanish and gain valuable experience of living abroad.
Benefits of working in Spain for foreigners
The decision to work for some time abroad is mainly based on the desire to improve their financial situation or rise up the career ladder.
Spain is of particular interest to emigrants due to a number of factors:
- the country's economy is one of the most developed in Europe and the world;
- high level of labor migration;
- a decent salary for both highly qualified specialists and temporary or seasonal workers;
- social guarantees if employment is legal;
- free visa-free entry to the Schengen countries.
Of no small importance for those coming to work in Spain is also a favorable climate, a high level of safety and a friendly attitude of the local population towards foreigners. And if you get a job in a resort area, for example, in the Canary Islands, you can combine work and leisure.
Popular activities in Spain for foreigners
Foreign workers in Spain are most often offered those vacancies that are not in demand or are not popular among the local population. As a rule, these are seasonal work, employment in the service sector or related to manual labor, for example:
- picking citrus fruits (for the summer);
- waiters;
- bartenders;
- administrators;
- maids;
- dancers;
- musicians;
- nannies and nurses;
- builders;
- movers,
- drivers;
- personnel on sea vessels of different directions (mechanics, machinists, cooks, sailors).
For Ukrainians or Russians, vacancies are often offered in Barcelona. It is a large international city where you can find work without even speaking Spanish - for example, in tourism or in the service industry. International students often combine study and part-time work as sales managers, couriers, and pizza delivery men.
In resort areas, for example, in the Costa Brava or Gran Canaria, managers and service personnel are in demand to work in hotels.
The busiest island in Spain - Ibiza - attracts active girls and guys for work - there are often vacancies for fitness instructors and children's animators.
In the agricultural industry, Spanish companies constantly lack personnel to harvest and transport crops around the country, so it will not be difficult for citizens of the CIS countries - Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians, and even Moldovans or Kazakhstanis - to get a job as a fruit picker, loader or truck driver in Spain.
Highly qualified specialists also have the opportunity to get a job in Spain. In 2021, the following are especially in demand:
- doctors - therapists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists;
- programmers (IT specialists);
- office workers;
- power engineers;
- sales agents.
To work in such positions, you must be proficient in Spanish (preferably also English) and go through the procedure for legalizing a higher education diploma obtained in your home country. Find out more about how a doctor works in Spain.
Features of job search in Spain
Finding a suitable job for yourself in Spain is not difficult - just visit specialized Spanish sites to find a job:
- Spanish National Employment System,
- infoempleo,
- trabajando,
- infojobs,
- jobbydoo,
- jobatus,
- Insertia.net,
- OpcionEmpleo,
- Oficinaempleo,
- Monster,
- Empleate,
- Trabajos.com,
- Jobandtalent,
- Trovit,
- jobeeper.
On many portals, the search is made as convenient as possible for the visitor: vacancies are ranked by category, company, city, popularity, there is work specifically for women or men, for married couples. Many sites can be installed on the phone as a mobile application.
Usually, the employer indicates in the ad the necessary and sufficient level of language proficiency for the applicant. Of course, you cannot count on high-paying positions related to working with people without knowing the language.
For applicants who speak exclusively Russian, only harvesting and home service jobs are available. There is also the possibility of working as a guide in a travel agency for Russian-speaking travelers.
What documents do foreign applicants need
To travel to Spain to work, citizens of non-EU countries need to apply for a work visa. This will require the following documents:
- letter of invitation from direct employers;
- a contract signed with the employer;
- international passport;
- Photo;
- certificate of no criminal record;
- medical certificate of health status;
- medical insurance for 1 year.
An important source of information on documents, requirements, laws and procedures for the employment of foreigners in Spain is the Immigration Portal.
Types of work permits in Spain
Non-EU citizens will need a permit to work in Spain in any case - both contract workers and private entrepreneurs. In the first case, a Spanish employer must issue a work permit by concluding an employment contract with a foreign worker. In the second, a project of the future enterprise and evidence of a sufficient amount of funds to start a business are attached to the documents.
Only Blue card holders are not required to have a work permit.
Types of permits for applicants to work in Spain:
- For employees:
- B - initial, for up to 1 year, under the contract, territorially limited;
- В - re-registered - issued after the expiration of the previous type;
- С - no territorial restrictions, up to 2 years.
- For entrepreneurs:
- D - initial;
- D - re-registered;
- E - no territorial restrictions, for 2 years.
Salary level in Spain, taking into account taxation
In 2021, the Labor Code fixed the official minimum wage in Spain at 825.65 euros per month. At the same time, the average salary in the country was about 1,800 euros per month before taxes.
Qualified foreign specialists who managed to get a job in Spain receive from one and a half to three thousand euros per month (tax deducted).
Seasonal workers, workers without Spanish proficiency and workers in the service sector receive less: 1000 euros per month - their maximum.
As for the payment of taxes, their amount differs depending on a number of factors (the employee's marital status, the presence of children, annual income). Unlike Spanish citizens, non-residents of the country pay taxes only on income received in Spain.
What are the risks of illegal immigrants in Spain
If a foreigner decides to get a job in Spain illegally, without a permit and an employment contract, he must be prepared for the following consequences:
- deportation and a ban on entry to the entire territory of the Schengen zone for several years (upon establishment of the fact of illegal employment by the migration authorities);
- lack of guarantees for free medical care;
- vulnerability to government agencies in Spain;
- lack of work experience;
- possible problems in the future with the Spanish tax authorities, since the illegal does not pay taxes on the income received.
An employer who has hired illegal immigrants for the first time is given the opportunity to eliminate the violation and pay a minimum fine (in case an unregistered employee is identified). If the violation is committed again, in addition to a fine and contributions to the Social Insurance Fund, the company may face a temporary loss of benefits, rights to subsidies and assistance.
Organization of a private business by a foreigner in Spain
According to the Spanish Commercial Code, foreigners without a residence permit in the country can establish an LLC (in Spain S.L., sociedad limitada) or JSC (S.A., sociedad anonima). At the same time, the procedure for registering a company for non-residents of Spain is similar to that for citizens of the country, except for a few points.
In particular, a foreigner needs to obtain an identification number (NIE, Numero de Identidad Extranjero). The NIE is requested if the entrepreneur has a relationship with the Spanish government (tax, social insurance or others), notaries, registries (commercial, property), as well as when buying commercial premises for business.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that the administrators in companies set up by entrepreneurs in Spain must be citizens (or residents) of the country.
Prices for living in Spain
Spain is considered one of the relatively inexpensive countries in comparison with other European countries. Below are the average prices for goods and services in the kingdom:
| Product, service | Average cost, euro | |
|---|---|---|
| Catering in establishments | Lunch at an inexpensive cafe | 8.4 |
| Lunch at a restaurant | 20.7 | |
| Standard menu at McDonald's | 6.4 | |
| Cappuccino | 1.8 | |
| Food in the store | Water, 0.5 l | 0.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l | 0.78 | |
| Imported beer, 0.5 l | 0.92 | |
| Coca-Cola, 0.5 L | 0.84 | |
| Milk, 1 l | 0.9 | |
| Rice, 1 kg | 1.03 | |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | 1.25 | |
| Bread, 500 g | 1.08 | |
| Bananas, 1 kg | 1.3 | |
| Apples, 1 kg | 1.59 | |
| Pork, 1 kg | 6.8 | |
| Chicken, 1 kg | 5.7 | |
| Cheese, 1 kg | 8 | |
| Eggs, a dozen | 1.43 | |
| Housing rent | Apartment rent, per month | 550 |
| Utilities, per month | 113 | |
| Internet, per month | 24.4 | |
| Transport | Public transport ticket | 1.36 |
| Pass for a month | 41.33 | |
| Taxi (cost of a trip around the city) | 12.4 | |
| Gasoline, 1 l | 1.28 | |
| Bicycle rental, day | 10 | |
| Clothes, shoes | Jeans | 95 |
| The dress | 60 | |
| Down jacket | 80 | |
| Mens leather shoes | 140 | |
| Sneakers | 100 | |
| Household goods | Shampoo | 2.5 |
| Toothpaste | 1.8 | |
| Washing powder, 2.5 kg | 4.5 | |
| Soap | 1 |
Prices fluctuate depending on the size of the settlement - in small towns they are lower, in megacities - above the average.
Let's sum up
Spain is a wonderful country in which it is a pleasure to live and work. With a strong desire, citizens of Russia and any other country can also find a job in Spain. Moreover, both a qualified specialist with a diploma and an applicant for a working specialty can find a job.
Having found an employer, you need to collect a complete package of documents and correctly draw up all the paperwork. For those who will not be lazy in a new job, Spain will provide decent wages and provide ample opportunities for self-realization.
