You want to move to Spain and find a job but you don’t speak Spanish? Don’t worry! There are many things you can do to earn some money. In this post, we’ll show you some of the best jobs for non-Spanish speakers in Spain.
Many students and young professionals dream of living in the Iberian Peninsula. Great weather year-round, friendly locals, vibrant culture, and beautiful cities are some of the reasons why everyone loves Spain.
Even though many people want to move to Spain, the main hurdle is that they don’t speak Spanish, so they think they won’t be able to find a job. Of course, the first thing to do is learn Spanish with us. But even if you’re not well-versed in the local language, there are plenty of jobs available. In this guide, we’ll show you some of the best job options for non-Spanish speakers in Spain but first, let’s have a look at the requirements.
Requirements to work in Spain
If you’re from the EU, you simply need to get a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero or Foreigner’s Identification Number) to legally work in Spain.
On the other hand, if you are from a non-EU country, you need a work visa. For this, you’ll need a job contract with a Spanish employer and other documents. Your employer must request a work permit and once the Government grants the authorization, which will also include your residence permit, you can apply for a Work visa. This is very important as non-EU citizens can’t legally work in Spain without a visa.
There are different types of Work Visas. Some of the most common ones are:
- Long-term
- Seasonal
- Au Pair
- EU Blue Card
It’s important to note that if you’re from a country outside the EU and you are in Spain with a student visa, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. For more information, check out our guide on how to work in Spain with a student visa.
Now, let’s have a look at some of the best jobs in Spain for non-Spanish speakers.
Best jobs for non-Spanish speakers in Spain
Language teacher
One of the most popular options if you don’t speak Spanish is to work as a language teacher. English is the most common one but there’s also a high demand for French and German teachers.
Competition for these types of jobs is very high, especially if you want to become an English teacher. So, if you want to improve your chances of finding a job, we recommend getting a teaching certificate.
Find out How to become an English teacher in Spain
Freelancer
Freelancing is becoming more and more common nowadays. People want to be able to work from anywhere and manage their working hours. And the best part is that you can become a freelancer regardless of what your skills are. From translation jobs to product manager positions to web development to design, the possibilities are endless.
Even though it can be hard to get clients at the beginning, you can combine freelancing with a more stable job until you get a more recurrent income from your clients. So, if you like the idea of having a flexible job, becoming a freelancer can be an excellent option for you.
Customer service
Working in customer service is one of the best jobs you can find in Spain for non-Spanish speakers. In big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, many international companies are constantly looking for customer service roles in many different languages.
If you like talking with customers and speak a bunch of languages, this is an interesting choice for you.
Copywriter/Editor
If you’re into writing, a good alternative is to work as a copywriter or editor. There are millions of blogs and online magazines that need content for their users and hire copywriters that can work remotely.
Apart from having writing skills, it helps if you know about SEO and have a portfolio that you can use to showcase your work and get your first clients. If you’re new to the copywriting world, one of the best ways to create a portfolio is to write about your travels or experiences that you’ve had that people can relate to.
Tour guide
If you have a good knowledge of the city and you like to show people around, working as a tour guide is an excellent choice.
In cities like Barcelona or Madrid, many companies offer all kinds of tours for tourists. So, if you’re outgoing and enjoy meeting new people while sharing your passion for your city, working as a tour guide is a great option.
Recruiter for international companies
Another interesting alternative if you don’t speak Spanish and you’re into HR, is to work as a recruiter for international companies. Many companies need specific profiles that are hard to find in Spain, so they hire international people and need recruiters that can speak several languages.
Remote work
One of the best things you can do in Spain if you don’t speak Spanish is to work remotely. Nowadays, it’s becoming more and more common for people to work from home. This trend has accelerated with the pandemic, so now many companies are allowing their employees to work remotely 100% of the time.
If that’s your case, you could move to Spain and enjoy the best weather in Europe without even quitting your job!
Au-pair
If you like children and you don’t speak Spanish, becoming an au-pair can be a very good job for you in Spain.
An Au-pair is a person from a foreign country that lives with a host family and helps them with childcare and housework duties. In return, they receive accommodation, food, and sometimes a small allowance.
Apart from liking children, au-pairs need to be responsible, organized, and be willing to do different chores. Many families prefer to hire au-pairs through agencies because they tend to provide background checks and references. Even though you probably won’t make as much money as doing other jobs, keep in mind that you’ll also have fewer expenses.
Club promoter
Being a club promoter is one of the best jobs for non-Spanish speakers who love nightlife and meeting people. If you’re outgoing and you like working at night, this can be an excellent job for you.
Club promoters are very popular in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, and other Spanish cities. Most times, promoters get paid per hour and get commissions depending on the number of people they convince to get into the club or pub. Additionally, sometimes you may also have to promote other activities such as dinners, tours, and so on.
Keep in mind that many nightclubs and pubs pay informally for this kind of job, so make sure you ask before starting.
In most places in Spain, you can probably go about without speaking the language. However, speaking Spanish will help you experience places like a local and help you make the most of your time here. Make Spanish friends, get to know your neighbor, or discuss football or politics with the local shop owner.
That’s why we recommend you check out our courses and start learning Spanish with us! If you want to give your Spanish a boost before start working, you should either go for the intensive group courses, individual courses, or a combination of the two. If you want to learn Spanish while working part-time or full-time, you will find the semi-intensive group courses the most suitable. What are you waiting for?
Other relevant articles
- Do I need any visa to study Spanish in Spain?
- How to get a Spanish study visa for non-EU citizens? (applying from your home country)
- How to apply for a student visa while in Spain?
- How to renew a Spanish student visa?
- Can I work in Spain with a student visa?
- Medical insurance for Spanish student visa – all you need to know
- What is the NIE and how do I get it?
- What is the TIE and how to get it?
- How to apply to a university in Spain for international students
- PCE University Spain access exam for students from EU, China, Norway, etc.
- Find the best English speaking lawyers in Spain
The Linguaschools complete and comprehensive guide to Spanish paperwork.
Anything to add? Share your own experience in the comments below!
DISCLAIMER: We have gathered information to our best knowledge, from our experience, using many different (official) sources. Regulations change and interpretations may vary per country or region, but also between public office or staff. No rights can be derived from any of our articles. The content is merely a guide and we recommend you to check information with official sources before and during the process.
