Many NALCAP participants work additional hours either through private lessons or an academy to have extra spending money. To work officially in Spain (outside of the NALCAP program), you will need work authorization and a social security number.
In the past, many auxes randomly received work authorization when applying for a TIE (individual bureaucrats interpreted the law differently). Now with the introduction of the new immigration law as of May, 2025, it is no longer possible to get work authorization as an aux.
If you want to see what auxes typically do for extra income, you can find information on my Budgeting post as well as my Extra Income – Teaching Online post.
The rest of the article is for those who aren’t auxes. It includes a section on work authorization and applying for a social security number.
To legally work outside of the NALCAP program, you need work authorization and a social security number. Both are explained in this page.
Work Authorization
If you are a university student, you will most likely be granted the authorization to work automatically when applying for your TIE. In 2022, the work authorization was expanded to 30 hours a week from 20 hours a week.
How to Get Work Authorization in Spain
(if you didn’t automatically receive permission)
If you are not automatically given this permission, there is a means to apply for work authorization (again, not as auxes). To request work authorization, click on the link above, scroll down to “AUTORIZACIÓN DE TRABAJO POR CUENTA AJENA”, and complete the steps listed. You will need to prepare the necessary paperwork and get your prospective employer to attend an appointment with the Oficina de Extranjería.
Unfortunately, you can not apply for work permission (por cuenta ajena) on your own.
“Autorizaciones de trabajo y residencia por cuenta ajena inicial: La solicitud debe ser realizada por el empleador o su representante autorizado.”
Social Security Number
If you plan to work in Spain, you will need a social security number. Applying for a social security number is a simple and quick process. It can be done online or in person, but I will only explain the process online since in person appointments can take months to find.
How do I apply?
The application should be done by the company for those of you employed by a company without a social security number. Emphasis on the “should”!
In reality, having a social security number is typically a requirement for getting a job. It is something an employer would need in order to create an official job contract.
I had a difficult time dealing with the Catch-22 of needing a company to apply for my social security number and needing a social security number to get a job.
Eventually, I found an academy that would hire me without yet having a social security number. We looked into the process together, and they had me apply online myself. It can be done through the links below.
I completed the process with a digital certificate. I didn’t need to include any information from the academy I was working for, so this can be done on your own without yet having a company offer. If you can get a social security number before applying for jobs, it’ll make your life much easier.
Please get in touch if you get through the process without needing an employer.
Official Requirements:
- A valid passport or national id card (EU Citizens)
- Your TIE or residency card with NIE number
- Empadronamiento
- Visa with work permission (Non-EU nationals)
- Employment/internship contract (again, I received my contract after getting a social security number)
Shortly after finishing the application online, you will receive an email with your social security number.
Just getting a social security number does not entitle you to receive public healthcare or the Spanish pension. As someone on a student visa, you also need to be working to receive the “alta”. Through your application, your phone number will be linked to your number, and the Tesoreria will inform you of your status with an SMS.
You will need to maintain employment to stay on social security.
If you meet any of these requirements below or become a beneficiario/a of your partner, you will be able to access public healthcare.
If you found the website useful, please Support the Page. Every little bit helps.
Back to Navigation
The information on http://www.residency2spain.com is provided in good faith and is intended for general informational purposes only. Residency2spain makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the content. Any decisions you make based on the information found on this site are made at your own discretion and risk. Residency2spain is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this website.
Copyright © 2022 Residency2Spain All rights reserved.
-
A Podcast?
I’d like to share the podcast I have just started with my audience. it’s called Immigrant, not Expat. My goal is to share stories about immigration to hopefully remove the negative connotation surrounding the word “immigrant”. I am deliberately avoiding the word “expat” because I don’t want to reinforce a caste system for immigration. I
-
Culture Shock!
People who talk about moving to another country may emphasize how different the culture will be and how to deal with culture shock. Spain is a modernized, western country that isn’t too different from the U.S, so in my experience, “shock” isn’t a great way to describe it. There are some differences, though. Most of
-
250k Views – Day in the Life
The last time we celebrated a view benchmark, I made a post about myself and what led me to create a life in Spain. Now that we’ve hit 250,000 views, I’m posting feet on main! (Open the full image if you are a sicko). Well, the idea of this post is to share a typical
-
Santiago de Compostela
On an extended weekend, thanks to a public holiday, my partner and I went to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a beautiful city in the northwestern region of Galicia, which is known for its rainy climate and delicious food. Santiago is an interesting city with a unique history. It is the destination of multiple pilgrimage routes
-
Extra Income – Teaching Online
There are countless ways of saving money while in Spain, but if you want to be able to travel more and enjoy more experiences, increasing your income is a great way to do that. As native speakers of English with experience teaching English as a foreign language in Spain, your teaching services will be in
-
Saving Money and Being Environmentally Friendly
You don’t need your own terrace garden like me, but you can easily save money and be better for the environment when living in Spain. One of the joys of moving to Europe is that it becomes possible to be environmentally friendly without sacrificing your lifestyle or money. When I lived in Indiana, I remember
-
Celebrating 75,000 Views – My Journey to Spain
When I first started writing this blog, I never expected getting this type of interest. I just wanted to create something to help others find their lives in Spain and avoid the uncertainties and anxieties that plague bureaucratic processes here. It’s still only a hobby instead of being my actual job, but a lot of
-
Spanish and U.S. Library Cards
Getting a U.S. library card before leaving for Spain and a Spanish library card while there can provide wonderful (free) services. Libraries have modernized. They provide a wide range of services that can be accessed from anywhere in the world: eBooks, audiobooks, as well as online magazines and newspapers. Individuals travelling to or living in
-
How I Accidentally Became an Actor in Spain
“Quiet on set, roll cameras, and action!” I desperately choke for breath while grasping at my wounds. With a WW2-era revolver aimed at the entryway of an abandoned farm shed, I am slowly bleeding out while waiting for my enemies to finish me off. Suddenly, I hear noises just outside. It sounds like footsteps, and
-
NALCAP Webinar 2022 – Highlights
July 28, 2022 Will new regulations affect auxiliares who receive supplemental income in Spain? What should I do before leaving for Spain? How do I find an apartment? What steps should I take first when I arrive in Spain? The 2022 NALCAP webinar covers topics that can help new auxiliaries and returning auxiliaries. Find out
-
Fun Trips around Madrid
Cercedilla Cercedilla is a mountainside municipality Northwest of Madrid. It is about an hour train ride away with the cercanía trains from Atocha (the main train station). The mountainside is filled with nature, flowers, and there is a small ranch with a herd of cows living their best lives grazing on the mountainside. The cows
-
Budgeting in Spain
The cost of living is much cheaper in Spain, but the salaries are also much lower. How do I budget? What should I expect to spend and save? Just like the U.S, some places in Spain are more expensive than others. Madrid is one of the most expensive cities in Spain, so if you live
-
The debate of the century: with or without onion.
Spanish tortilla is a traditional dish in Spain similar to an omelette. It has eggs, potatoes, and sometimes diced onions. In Spain people are passionate about food, especially traditional food, and there is a fierce debate in Spain about which type of tortilla is better: with or without onions. Traditionalists will claim that putting onions
-
So, you want to move to Spain?
There are many reasons to want to live in Spain. The climate is warm and pleasant. The natural landscapes are breathtaking, and with a guaranteed 22 vacation days a year, you have the time to enjoy them. Culturally, Spanish people are kind, welcoming, and outgoing. This generosity also includes the public services offered. Spain has
Spanish Bureaucracy Guides 