Working in Spain after Brexit

Before the UK left the European Union (EU), British nationals would often move to Spain with a view to it being temporary if it didn't work out, and look for a job once there. Low-skilled, low-paid, or cash-in-hand work that you could 'build up' over time until you were able to afford to live on your earnings or, in the case of the latter, 'go legal' eventually, was the typical route into a life in Spain for UK emigrants. But, as with many other factors involving moving to an EU country, all this changed in February 2021.

You may still be able to meet your goal of living and working in Spain, despite Brexit – but you should steel yourself for a tougher journey ahead. That said, if you make it, the sense of achievement will be even more satisfying.

So, how do you do it? Here's a general guide to what you will need to bear in mind.

Can I move to Spain first and then look for a job?

In theory, you could, because third-country nationals – including Britons – are allowed to spend up to 90 days in the Schengen zone in any 180-day period without a visa. Spain is one of the European countries that make up the Schengen zone (comprising all EEA countries except Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland, with Romania and Bulgaria due to join the Schengen on March 31, 2024).

This means you can stay in Spain for up to three months on holiday, and make tentative enquiries about jobs during that time. You would then have to leave the Schengen zone and not return to any of its countries within the same 180-day period, unless you were able to find a job and your employer was happy to take on your visa application.

Can I get a work visa first, then go job-hunting in Spain?

No, you can't, as you will need to have been accepted for a job with a Spanish company which is willing to sponsor your visa before you can apply for this. The company itself is required to transact your visa application on your behalf, and file it with the national Ministry of Work, so you cannot get a work visa yourself unless you already have confirmation of a job offer.

Companies willing to sponsor visas for incoming third-country nationals – including British citizens – are only likely to do so where their future employee has a special skill or talent that is difficult to find among existing residents with Spanish or other EU country citizenship, or non-residents who are citizens of an EU member State. Otherwise, you would need to have a skill or trade that figures on the Spanish government's official list of 'shortages' – vacancies which companies struggle to fill due to insufficient numbers of qualified people.

This means it is very unlikely you will be able to travel to Spain to take up a 'typical expatriate' job in a bar, shop, estate agency, nightclub, holiday home maintenance agency, or hotel, especially if this is seasonal, as it is extremely unlikely employers would be willing to sponsor your visa.

Are there any 'hacks' to getting a work visa in Spain?

'Getting around the system' for work visas is very difficult, but there are some routes that you might be able to consider:

Seasonal work in high-demand industries

If you do get a seasonal job, such as summer bar work, your employer would still need to process your visa, and it would only be valid for as long as the job contract lasts. The employer would need to supply proof that you have suitable accommodation for your time working, and that your travel costs are covered. This may be an option in popular tourism zones where the hospitality industry is struggling to get the staff to meet summer demand.

Young adults

If you are aged between 18 and 30, you can apply for an au pair visa, as long as you have a written contract confirming your placement within a family, and can prove you have sufficient funds to cover your living costs during your stay. This type of work visa only covers the length of the agreed period you will be based with the family in question, although it can be renewed if they want you to stay longer.

Teaching English to non-native speakers

One of the easier ways for British nationals to find a company willing to sponsor them for a visa is to take a five-week full-time TESoL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) course, and apply to a private language academy in Spain. Native speakers have the advantage when it comes to English-teaching jobs that are not in State schools, so your only 'competition' from EU citizens – who take priority for jobs in Spain – would be from former Britons with a European country nationality or who were born in an EU member State, or from Irish or Maltese citizens. These tend to be fewer in number and less readily available locally for such teaching jobs, meaning as a Briton, you may already have a head start.

This said, the wages paid even for a full-time academy teacher are unlikely to be high enough to meet the threshold for a visa. To find out how much you will need to earn, or have in the bank to live on, you can read more in our article Moving to Spain after Brexit: Income requirements.

British-run or other English-speaking international companies

Another possible route is to seek out companies in Spain whose main customer base is Britons or other English-speakers, where a native level of the language and possibly cultural understanding is essential or, at least, offers a real advantage. This might mean working for a British company with a base in Spain, or a firm run by British nationals in Spain. Whilst this is possible, it does narrow your job-hunting field and limit your choice of location to areas with a high international population or in the heart of a tourism belt. And it may not fit in with your goals if your intention is total immersion with an entirely Spanish-speaking working life.

What about if I want to be self-employed when I move to Spain?

You can still do this, but it is much more difficult and paper-intensive. How you go about it depends upon whether you want to work as a sole trader or freelancer, or to open your own business.

For the latter, you will need to produce a business plan, proof of capital or finance agreements to allow you to set up a limited company (sociedad limitada, or S.L.), and of sufficient funds to support yourself as an individual until the business starts to pay.

For the former, you may need a separate freelance visa, which will require proving you have the qualifications, experience and abilities to do the job you hope to earn from.

Applying to move to Spain and be a self-employed worker (autónomo) is easier if the majority of your income is from corporate clients – you can show written confirmation from them that you will be acting for them long-term as a freelancer, trader or supplier.

That said, the income requirements are much higher for UK and other third-country citizens wanting to live in Spain and carry out self-employed work: You need to show a net income of at least €2,000 a month landing in your bank account. Corporate clients will deduct your income tax at source, and value-added tax (IVA) you are obliged to charge as a self-employed person does not count as 'income'. This can be very hard to achieve in a country where the modal average full-time income for those of working age is between €1,200 and €1,400 a month.

If you do believe this is the right option for you, though, you can find out more about what to do in our article How to register as self-employed in Spain.