Most of the readers of our website are either living in Spain or are European Union citizens, mostly from the United Kingdom, who wish to move to Spain and find work.
However we are receiving an increasing amount of enquiries from American citizens who wish to travel to Europe and find work in Spain.
Many Americans dream of travelling throughout Europe but consider it too expensive because costs are much more than they are in the United States.
The one alternative is to work your way around Europe.
The other reason we are often contacted by Americans looking to work in Spain is because they have the opportunity of being posted to one of the major Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona through the multinational company that they currently work for.
Any information that we have that is relevant to Americans working in Spain is contained on this page. The advice on this page not only applies to Americans but is also completely relevant to Canadians and Australians searching for work in Spain.
Spanish Visa for American Citizens
Working legally in Spain as an American is very difficult compared to European Union citizens who do not even require a visa to work in Spain.
You will need to get a visa to travel to Spain for three months.
We suggest that you aim your search for work towards American companies with offices in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona or target a company with a history of hiring Americans.
It would help if you have qualifications and skills that are quite unique and not readily available from other European Union citizens.
This information from Notes from Spain is useful:
“My experience is from many years ago but I am quite sure the regulations have not changed much. You need to have an offer letter from your employer before you can even apply.
Once you get the offer letter, you need to have get a medical exam, a local police clearance, fill out some forms and go to the Spanish consulate to apply for an entrance visa. That will take a few months at least. Once it is approved, they will notify you at an American address since you are not supposed to be working in Spain yet.
Once you get the visa, which is a sticker in your passport, you can then go to Spain, to apply for the working permit. You have 30 days to do it. The working permit will take another few months.
Whether you can work in the meantime is in the grey area. I was told even I didn’t have a working permit yet, I could start working. But then you have to sort out how your employer pays you until you get the proper documentation.
Conclusion, it takes a long time to get the working permit, and the application starts with the Spanish Consulate before you come. If you want to do everything legally, find an employer early.”
Summer Work for Americans in Spain 2026
The alternative to going through all the legal process of applying for a job is just to get a casual summer job. Once you have your visa you will be allowed to reside in Spain for three months.
During this time you might want to try find a summer job like many other EU citizens. Most of these jobs are not official jobs that come with the contract. Therefore you will not need an NIE number and you will not be disadvantaged being an American.
Of course just like anyone else you are technically working illegally and as an American citizen you may face deportation so this is entirely at your own risk.
Most of the summer jobs will be in the popular tourist destinations such as the Canary and Balearic Islands as well as mainland Spain such as the Costa Del Sol.
The popular tourist resorts will require workers in bars, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. Most likely you will be serving behind the bar or working in a restaurant as a waiter or waitress.
The seasonal jobs tend to pay