“Do’s and Don’ts” for International Students Seeking Employment

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College is, without a doubt, expensive. With payments to cover necessities like tuition, food, and rent, money can disappear quickly. When faced with a dwindling bank account or the opportunity for paid internships and career-related jobs, you may be wondering: Can I work as an international, non-EU student in Spain?

The short answer is yes. As an international student with a NIE card (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), which presumably any foreign student has if they have not yet been deported, you can work anywhere in Spain up to 30 hours per week.

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It is important to note that any NIE card issued after August 16, 2022 has “Authorizes to work” printed on it, authorizing its holder to work only with that document. If your NIE rcs data switzerland was issued before that date, you will need to apply for “ Compatibility of Work and Studies .” However, since NIE cards are renewed annually in the fall, this is not likely to be an issue for any international student.

The only additional step, for both cards issued before and after the 16th, is that in some cases of documented employment your official employer must apply for a permit on your behalf and a small fee must be paid. However, this will be done by your employer if it is necessary for you to work as an international student.

The two main limitations when working
There are still two main limitations to international student employment. The Spanish Government makes it expressly clear that your student visa was issued with the purpose of you being an international student first and foremost. Therefore, it is expressly noted that your ability to work in Spain is a “complement” to your student visa, not a primary priority. This focus on academics brings restrictions to your ability to work.

The first of these restrictions is that all employment must be explicitly part-time and that it is strictly forbidden for any work schedule to overlap with class time. Therefore, it is essentially illegal – a violation of the terms of an international student visa – to skip class to go to work, be listed as a full-time employee, or work more than 30 hours in a single week.