Can a student work in Spain: 30 hours, conditions NEXO

Q: Can a student open autónomo?

In higher education self-employment is automatically permitted if it is compatible with study. In other categories, an application is required to confirm the terms of article 84 of the regulations. Registration to tax and Segurid Social Law itself does not create [1][2].

Q: What happens if you exceed 30 hours?

The excess of the limit is described as the reason for the termination of the estancia permit and the work permit is terminated with it.

Q: Can the student's spouse work in Spain?

In the case of family estancia, there is no article 56, which allows a spouse to work only on his own account on a job that is organized separately.

Short

Auto-law only exists in estancia for higher education. Employment and self-employment are permitted immediately, without further application, if compatible with study (art. 57 Real Decreto 1155/2024) [1][2].
30 hours per week limit The reason for the termination of estancia is clearly stated; the exception for intensive vocational training is determined by the sectoral law. [1].
In the remaining categories, the work is agreed upon by a separate application. It is served by the employer (in self-employment by the student himself), the time limit of three months, silence is considered as a refusal. [1][2].
The work permit is limited to the region: is operating in the autonomous community where estancia is issued, with access to neighbouring municipalities [1].
Programme plan training No separate authorization required. [1][2].
A student's family cannot work at all, she has no right to work under article 56. [1][3].

Can you work for a student in Spain?

The right to work depends on the category of article 52 in which you have received estancia. [1][2].

Category estancia	Employment and self-employment	What you need
Higher education	Automatically permitted	Competency with study, up to 30 hours per week
Post-compulsory secondary, vocational training	Automatically, only the practice in the enterprise as planned	For other work, a separate application
Exchange of pupils, volunteering, formal activities (languages, etc.)	Only on a separate application	The compatibility, up to 30 hours, of the employer's application or yours

For language courses, work is only possible on request and depends heavily on the schedule: in more detail in the article Language courses and training permits.

30 hours limit and other restrictions

Article 57.2 of the regulations limits work to 30 hours per week, as a general rule, and for intensive vocational training, the limits are defined by sectoral legislation. [1]Therefore, not the "half-time" contract, but the real schedule with all employers together: the text deals with the total workload, and the division of hours between the two employers does not double the limit (the agency's specific explanation on this issue is not found).

Competency with learning. The work should not interfere with the main objective of estancia. [1].
Geography. The work permit is limited to the autonomous community where the estancia permit is issued. Work at border crossings of the neighbouring community is possible. The authority may make an exception if the place of work does not require permanent travel that is incompatible with study. [1].
Time limit. The work permit is valid as the estancia. The loss or refusal of extension of estancia also terminates the right to work. If estancia is extended, the work permit is renewed automatically (de selicio) until conditions remain. [1][2].

How to get a job done if there is no automatic right

If you do not wish to be employed in higher education or in a category where there are no rights, you need to apply separately. [1][2]:

Find the employer. The terms of the contract must be in accordance with the law and the collective agreement of the industry.
The employer applies In the province where the job is located, the official contract, the employer's documents and funds, your passport and your qualifications if necessary for the profession must be confirmed. [2].
Payment of the duty. If the work permit is valid for six months and longer, the duty under the modulo 790 code 062, is paid by the employer: when the electronic application is made at the time of the application (Orden PJC/617/025, article 2.3), when the service is performed on time within 10 working days. [2][5].
Judgement period of three months If no response is received, the application is rejected [2].

The mitigation in article 57: the situation in the labour market (situación nacional de empleo) is not taken into account in such an application and part-time employment does not require that the wage be not less than the minimum wage for the full-time period [1]If you plan self-employment outside higher education, you apply for it yourself (code 062, paragraph 3.3 Hoja 4 bis) and confirm the terms of article 84, except for two paragraphs on the period of non-return and the threat to public order [1][2]I. Details of self-employment: Cuenta propia: residence permit for self-employment.

Practice and internship: What is considered work

The practice envisaged in the programme plan, which is subject to agreement between the university or centre and the organization without a work-related nature, does not require a separate authorization. [1][2]If you're offered "out of plan" for money, it's a job, and the rules are applied above, but if you're not learning by estancia and you live by no lucrativa, you can't work at all: No lucrativa.

There is a separate authorization for practice (autorización de residencia para prácticas) on Ley 14/2013: it is granted by the host organization and decided by Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno within 30 days, silence is considered as consent. It is intended for those who have received a diploma in higher education in the last two years or are studying in such a programme and requires an agreement on practice. [4]Whether this form fits you depends on your degree and program.

After starting work: Seguridad Social, taxes and TIE

In article 57, the medical insurance requirement under article 35 is deemed to have been met if you are in the Seguridad Social Account under the appropriate regime [1]For this purpose, the employer will make an alta before starting work, and you will receive a social security number: How to get a social security number. TIE is issued in the usual manner within a month if the estancia lasts more than six months [1]The tax implications (IRPF) depend on your tax residence and income: this is a separate issue, and we do not discuss it in the article.

The job does not extend estancia. Extension depends on continuing studies: two months before the end and three months after, and if the extension is refused, the work permit is terminated. [1].

Work of spouse and student children

The student's family who received estancia under article 56 cannot work [1][3]If the spouse has a basis for work, he/she is evaluated separately and not replaced by a student ’s family status. The student ’s family in Spain.

Typical Errors

They think that the right to work is "all students." It's automatic only in higher education.
They leave in 30 hours, except for the second employer.
They call normal work "practice", although the programme does not provide for it and there is no agreement.
Open autónomo without checking whether the estancia category is appropriate.
They go to work before they register with Segurid Social.
They choose to work in another autonomous community without geographical clearance.
They expect the job to extend its status after graduation.

When Individual Review Is Needed

If you are not in higher education, if the job is removed from a foreign company, if the schedule of work and shifts overlaps, if you have two employers or self-employment with the employment, if you plan to move from estancia to work after graduation. The result depends on the category of estancia, programs and documents. Check with a lawyer or a gendarme before signing the contract. After studying in Spain.

What can we help you with?

We're looking at the basis on which you can work, prepare the job application package, work with your employer, consult on the transition to residence after study. The first 30 minutes of the consultation are free, then the cost is charged separately, fees and transfers are paid. The company's response time is not answered. form of consultationService: Work and residence permitrouting list studies.

Frequent issues

How many hours a week can you work with a study estancia?

As a general rule, up to 30 hours a week, and work must be compatible with study. Excess of the limit is clearly stated as the reason for the termination of estancia. For intensive vocational training, the limit is determined by sectoral legislation. [1].

Do you need a separate work permit for a university student?

No: estancia for higher education automatically permits employment and self-employment if they are compatible with study. [1][2].

Can a student open autónomo?

In higher education, self-employment is automatically permitted if it is compatible with study. In other categories, an application is required to confirm the conditions of article 84 of the regulations. Registration to tax and Segurid Social Law itself does not create a right to be registered in the same tax and in the Seguriidad Social sector. [1][2].

Is learning practice counted as work?

The practice of the programme plan, by agreement between the centre and the organization and without a work-related nature, does not require a separate authorization. [1][2].

Can you work a student remotely for a Russian company?

Article 57 refers to employment and self-employment without a job reservation. As the authorities look at a foreign company in remote employment during estancia, we have not found in the sources. [1].

What happens if you exceed 30 hours?

The reason for the excess is given by the reason for the termination of the estancia permit and the work permit is terminated with it. [1].

Can the student's spouse work in Spain?

There is no article 56 for the family estancia, and the spouse can only work on his own account on a job that is organized separately. [1][3].

Based on source

Sources are viewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and departmental reference pages are informative: legal application takes into account official publications, changes and specific circumstances. Material has not been personally checked by counsel.

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.