Finding and vetting a nanny or babysitter you can trust

Terms used

• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner's identity card, which shows a non-EU resident's permission to live and work in Spain.
• SMI — The SMI is Spain's national minimum wage, set each year by the government.
• Interna — An interna is a live-in domestic worker or nanny who lives in the family's home.
• Externa — An externa is a nanny who lives elsewhere and comes to the home to work.
• Canguro — A canguro is a babysitter, usually for occasional or part-time care.

Key rules

• Clean record certificate: Only the nanny can request the sex offenders register certificate, so ask them to get it and show you.
• Live-in pay: Board and lodging can be part of pay, but no more than 30% of total pay.
• Working time: Ordinary working time is at most 40 hours a week on average.
• Right to work: Non-EU candidates must show a work authorisation, and you should keep a copy.
• References: Platforms do little vetting, so call at least two previous families.

The minimum wage changes every year and agency fees vary, so confirm the current figures with the Ministry of Labour and the agency.

Where to find a nanny

Start with people you trust. Other parents, your child's school and neighbours are the most trusted source, so ask them first.

If you have no network yet, use these:

• Online platforms and job boards. Childcare sites, classified ads and local parent groups give you the widest choice. They do little vetting, so you must check references yourself.
• Agencies. Specialist nanny and domestic-staff agencies are mostly used for live-in or qualified nannies. They are more common in Madrid and Barcelona.
• University and vocational-school boards. These are a good place to find a part-time babysitter (canguro).

What agencies charge

Agencies usually charge the family a one-off placement fee. It is often a set amount or a percentage of the nanny's first-year or first-months gross salary. Some add a replacement guarantee for a few months. Others charge a subscription for access to profiles, or offer payroll and Social Security management as a paid monthly extra. Prices vary widely by agency and city, so ask for the current figure in writing before you sign.

How to vet a candidate

Use the checklist below for the interview. In short:

1. Check identity and the right to work. Spanish and EU/EEA citizens need only an ID or passport. Non-EU candidates need a residence and work authorisation, shown on the TIE or on a visa or authorisation resolution that states the right to work. Check the type and expiry date and keep a copy. Employing someone without authorisation is penalised.
2. Ask for the Social Security number. You need it to register the worker, and registration also confirms their status.
3. Call at least two previous families. Ask about reliability and how the nanny handled problems.
4. Ask for a clean record certificate. You cannot request the sex offenders register certificate yourself. Only the nanny can, online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, in person or by post. The law requires it for jobs with regular contact with minors. Families commonly ask for it from nannies too, so ask the candidate to request it and show it to you.
5. Ask about training. Look for childcare qualifications and a first-aid certificate that covers infants and children.

Live-in nannies

A live-in nanny is called an interna. A nanny who lives elsewhere is an externa. Live-in work has its own rules:

• Board and lodging can be part of the pay, but no more than 30% of total pay. Cash pay can never fall below the minimum wage.
• Ordinary working time is at most 40 hours a week on average.
• "Presence time" means being available without working. You can agree up to 20 hours a month, and you must pay it or give rest in exchange.
• Daily rest is at least 10 hours for live-in staff, and the other 2 hours can be used for meals. The nanny gets a meal break of at least 2 hours, which does not count as work time.
• Weekly rest is 36 consecutive hours, made up of Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning plus the full following period.

What to pay

The legal floor is the national minimum wage (SMI), which the government sets each year. For part-time work it applies pro rata by hours. For hourly workers the hourly rate includes the share of holidays and extra payments. Check the current figure with the Ministry of Labour.

Externa nannies are paid by the hour or by a monthly salary for set hours. Rates are highest in Madrid and Barcelona, and lower in Valencia, Seville and smaller cities. Many families pay above the minimum for experienced or qualified nannies. Your Social Security contributions as employer come on top of the gross pay. A full-time interna must earn at least the full-time minimum in cash terms, and many agreements pay somewhat more.

The documents list, checklist and questions below cover the rest.

Documents you need

• ID or passport for a Spanish or EU/EEA nanny. EU citizens also have a registration certificate with a NIE (foreigner's number).

• TIE card (the foreigner's identity card), or a visa or authorisation resolution stating the right to work, for a non-EU nanny. Keep a copy and check the type and expiry date.

• Sex offenders register certificate, issued by the Ministry of Justice only to the nanny, who must request it. Families commonly ask for it, and it is legally required for jobs with regular contact with minors.

Nanny interview and reference checklist

Before you hire a nanny

• Ask to see an ID or passport.

• Check the right to work for a non-EU candidate: ask for the TIE card (the foreigner's identity card) or a visa or authorisation that states the right to work, and note the type and expiry date.

• Keep a copy of the work-right document, and ask for the Social Security number you need to register the worker.

• Ask about previous childcare experience and how long each job lasted.

• Contact at least two previous families and ask about reliability, how the nanny handled problems and why the job ended.

• Ask about qualifications, such as Técnico en Educación Infantil, Técnico Superior en Educación Infantil or a teaching degree. None is legally required for a private nanny, so decide what matters to you.

• Ask for a clean criminal record, and check whether a driving licence or language skills matter for the job.

• Agree a trial period in writing before the nanny starts. It cannot exceed two months.

• Plan a short paid first stretch where you stay at home, so you can see how the nanny cares for your child.

Frequently asked questions

Can I request the sex offenders register certificate for a nanny myself?

No, a private family cannot request this certificate, because it is issued only to the person it concerns. The nanny applies online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, in person or by post. Families commonly ask candidates to supply it.

Does the minimum wage apply to a nanny paid by the hour?

Yes, the minimum wage applies to every nanny, pro rata by hours worked, and the hourly figure already includes holidays and extra payments. The government sets it each year.

Where do families find a nanny when they have no local network?

Families mostly use word of mouth, online platforms, agencies or university boards for part-time canguros. Agencies are more common in Madrid and Barcelona and mostly handle live-in or qualified nannies. Platforms and parent groups give little vetting, so check references yourself.