The honest picture

Most English-language resources on this topic give a simplified answer: "yes, you can work up to 30 hours a week". That is true for some students and not for others, and the distinction matters.

Royal Decree 1155/2024, the new Reglamento de Extranjeria in force since 20 May 2025, splits student authorisations into two categories with genuinely different work rights.

Automatic work rights Article 52.1.a students
If you are enrolled in higher education (university bachelor's or master's, doctorate, higher vocational training, or an approved language programme taught inside a higher-education institution), your authorisation gives you automatic work rights of up to 30 hours per week under Article 57 of the Reglamento. No separate permit is needed. The only requirement is that the work is compatible with your studies.
No automatic work rights Article 52.1.e students
If you are enrolled at a private Instituto Cervantes-accredited language academy (which is how most Spanish language students arrive in Spain), your authorisation falls under Article 52.1.e of the Reglamento as a "formative activity". This does not grant automatic work rights. Your TIE card will typically read "no autoriza trabajo", and any paid activity requires either a convenio de practicas or a separate work authorisation.

This guide covers the second group, because that is who most readers of this site are. If you are going to study at a university or an approved higher-education institution, the work question is largely resolved for you at the authorisation stage. If you are going to study at a private language school, the rest of this guide applies.

The key numbers
Maximum hours per week (once authorised) 30 hours
Typical intensive course hours per week 20+ hours
Does a language school visa require separate work authorisation Yes, for ordinary employment
Is a convenio de practicas a work contract No

Route 1: The convenio de practicas

The most accessible route to structured work experience for language school students is a convenio de practicas. This is a tripartite internship agreement signed by three parties: the student, the host company, and the language school, formally vouching that the placement forms part of the student's programme.

Under Article 57.1 of the Reglamento de Extranjeria, curricular internships are covered automatically by the student authorisation. No separate permit is needed. The legal basis is Article 57 combined with Royal Decree 1543/2011, which governs non-employment internships.

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A convenio de practicas is not employment. The regulation is explicit that curricular internships "no tendrán carácter laboral" (are not of a labour nature). The student may receive a stipend (ayuda al estudio), but this is a study grant, not a salary. A convenio cannot be used to regularise someone into a standard paid job.

What makes a convenio valid?

For the arrangement to be legally defensible, several conditions must be met:

The placement must be explicitly referenced in the school's documented course curriculum as a practicas en empresa component
The work tasks must relate to the student's Spanish language formation. Customer-facing roles, hospitality, and administration are the most natural fit
Named tutors must be assigned: one at the school, one at the company
Hours must be compatible with the student's academic timetable

The convenio is not registered with or approved by any government body in advance. It is a private agreement. Its strength lies entirely in its substance: if a work inspector looks at it, the documentation must demonstrate a genuine educational relationship, not a disguised employment arrangement.

The 30-hour weekly limit

Whichever route applies to you, the 30-hour weekly limit set by Article 57.2 of the Reglamento is firm. It applies to university students with automatic work rights, to language school students working under a separate authorisation, and to students combining multiple part-time roles. During official holiday periods when classes are not running, you can work full-time, but during term time 30 hours per week is the ceiling.

The consequence of breaching the limit is severe: exceeding 30 hours per week is explicit grounds for extinction of your student authorisation under Article 57.2. This is not a soft rule that gets overlooked. Keep a clear record of your contracted hours.

Can the student receive a stipend?

Yes. A stipend or ayuda al estudio may be paid under Royal Decree 1543/2011, Article 3.4. It is optional, not mandatory. In practice, many companies pay amounts comparable to part-time salaries, particularly in English teaching roles, but the legal characterisation remains that of a study grant rather than wages.

Social Security is a grey area

The obligation to register a student for Social Security under a convenio is not explicitly established for students at private language academies. The relevant provision (Disposicion Adicional 52 of the Ley General de la Seguridad Social, introduced by Royal Decree-Law 2/2023 and in force from January 2024) clearly applies to university and FP students. Its application to language school students is ambiguous. Seek specific advice from a gestoria before making any payment to a student under a convenio.

Route 2: Separate work authorisation

For students who want to move beyond the convenio framework into a standard employment contract, the route is a work authorisation under Article 57.1 paragraph 1 of the Reglamento. This is applied for by the employer, not the student. It sits outside the core visa application process because it only becomes relevant once you are already in Spain with a valid student TIE.

Because the student is already legally in Spain, several of the usual requirements for bringing workers in from abroad are waived, including the situacion nacional de empleo check. This makes the process considerably more straightforward than a full work visa from outside Spain.

1
Convenio bridge (4 to 8 weeks) The student can begin on a convenio de practicas while the paperwork for a work authorisation is prepared. The school must actively vouch for the educational link during this period.
2
Work authorisation application The host company files the application for authorisation to employ the student. The fee is paid on the Modelo 790, codigo 062. Resolution time is up to three months, but in practice most applications are resolved faster.
3
Standard employment contract Once authorisation is granted, the student moves onto a standard employment contract with a maximum of 30 hours per week, compatible with studies. The geographic scope of the authorisation is normally limited to the comunidad autonoma where the student is based.

What this looks like in practice

Most language school students in Spain who work end up in English teaching, hospitality, remote work, or freelance roles. The convenio route is the most accessible, but it requires your school to actively participate in the arrangement, not just sign a piece of paper.

Worth knowing Spanish employers may not know the rules
Some HR departments will ask for a work permit that does not exist in the form they expect for a convenio arrangement. Having documentation from your school explaining the legal basis of the placement helps considerably. The reform in May 2025 also created confusion, because many HR teams know that "students can work 30 hours" without realising this only applies to higher education students.
Grey area Remote work for foreign employers
Working remotely for a company based outside Spain while on a student visa sits outside the scope of both the convenio framework and the student work authorisation. In practice, many students do this without issue, but it is not formally authorised under the student visa framework.
Extra steps needed Freelance and self-employed work
If you want to freelance in Spain, you need both the work authorisation (for self-employment, under Article 57.1 paragraph 2) and registration as autonomo with the Spanish tax authority. This is possible on a student visa but adds administrative complexity. Most language school students find the convenio or employed route simpler.
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Do not attempt to work without the right arrangement in place. Working without the appropriate authorisation is a breach of your visa conditions and, under Article 57.2 of the Reglamento, exceeding the 30-hour limit is explicit grounds for extinction of your authorisation. Individual cases vary. Consult a qualified extranjeria lawyer or gestoria if you are uncertain.

Working and visa renewal

Having worked during your first year does not count against you when renewing your visa. Renewal decisions are based on academic progress, your DELE or SIELE exam result, continued enrolment, and finances. Work history is not a negative factor.

If you have been working and need to demonstrate financial means for renewal, employment income counts as valid proof of funds alongside bank statements.

Summary

Working on a Spain student visa depends entirely on what you are studying. Higher education students get automatic work rights of up to 30 hours per week under Article 57 of the Reglamento, with no separate permit required. Language school students at private Cervantes-accredited academies do not get automatic work rights, and need either a convenio de practicas (which is not employment but permits a stipend) or a separate work authorisation applied for by the employer.

The "30 hours a week" figure that circulates online is real, but for language school students it is the maximum permitted once the appropriate route is in place. It is not an automatic entitlement that comes with the visa itself.

If working in Spain is important to your plans, raise it with your school before you enrol. Their willingness and ability to support a convenio arrangement is a meaningful factor when choosing between Cervantes-accredited schools.

Planning to work while you study? If working matters to your plans, raise it with any school during enrolment. Book through us and we save you €500 on your course fees.
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Legal basis
Article 52.1, Reglamento de Extranjeria (Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force 20 May 2025): defines the categories of student authorisation
Article 57, Reglamento de Extranjeria: access to employment for student authorisation holders, including the 30-hour limit
Royal Decree 1543/2011: practicas no laborales en empresas (non-employment internships)
Article 33, Ley Organica 4/2000: student stay as a legal concept
Disposicion Adicional 52, Texto Refundido de la Ley General de la Seguridad Social (introduced by Real Decreto-ley 2/2023)

This guide summarises the general legal framework. It does not constitute legal advice. The legal position for students at private language academies contains genuine grey areas. Individual cases should be reviewed by a qualified extranjeria lawyer before any placement begins.