What Spanish classes cost and who can help pay

Terms used

• CEPA — A CEPA is a public adult education centre that offers classes, including Spanish for foreigners.
• EOI — An EOI is an official language school run by the region that teaches languages for a modest annual fee.
• Fundae — Fundae is the state body that manages training credit companies use to recover training costs through Social Security reductions.
• SEPE — SEPE is Spain's state public employment service.
• Convenio colectivo — A convenio colectivo is the collective agreement for your sector or company that sets pay and working conditions.
• Demandante de empleo — A demandante de empleo is a registered jobseeker at the regional employment office.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are the local social services offices that help vulnerable residents and refer them to programmes.

Key rules

• Cheapest route: Public adult education centres and NGO classes are the lowest-cost options, so check them before paying a private school.
• Employer payment: Your employer does not have to pay for classes unless your contract or collective agreement says so.
• Fundae: Fundae credit belongs to the company, and Spanish only qualifies when it is tied to your job.
• Jobseekers: You need legal permission to work to register for employment-service courses.
• Asylum applicants: Free Spanish classes come through the State reception system once you have applied for asylum.

What you can expect to pay

Costs run from nothing to a lot. Public and NGO classes are the cheapest. Private intensives cost the most. Work out which group you fit before you pay anyone.

• Adult education centres (CEPAs): Adult education centre (CEPA) Spanish classes for foreigners are generally free, though you must register and places are limited. Sign up early.
• Official language schools (EOIs): These usually charge a modest annual public fee set by the region. Reductions or exemptions often apply if you are unemployed, in a large family or on a low income.
• University courses: Each university sets its own fees every year, and they are higher than public school fees.
• Private group courses: The academy sets the price, mainly by hours per week, city and course length. Expect a modest monthly fee for a few hours a week. Madrid and Barcelona cost more than smaller towns. Enrolment and materials are often charged separately.
• Intensive courses: Schools price these per week or per month, often for around 20 lessons a week. Longer bookings lower the weekly price. Accommodation packages cost extra.
• Private tutors: Online tutors typically charge 12-30 euros an hour, and community tutors on lesson platforms often start around 8-15 euros. In person in Spain, expect 15-35 euros an hour. Madrid, Barcelona and exam-preparation teachers cost more.
• Online options: Apps are generally cheapest, and annual plans cost less per month. Live online group courses are mid-priced. One-to-one live lessons cost the most.

Prices change often. Check current lists with the school or the regional education department before you budget.

If you are working

You can ask your employer to pay, but there is no legal right to it unless your collective agreement (convenio colectivo) or your contract provides for it. Read both first. Employers sometimes pay voluntarily. This is more common at multinationals, for relocated executives, and in hospitality and healthcare, often inside a relocation package. It is uncommon for ordinary hires.

Employers may be able to recover part of the cost through Fundae. Spanish for foreign employees is generally not accepted as general language training. A course can qualify when it is linked to your job and delivered by an accredited or registered provider. You are on the payroll, and the company must be up to date with Social Security and must tell Fundae before the course starts. The company manages the credit, not you. Self-employed and unemployed people cannot use it. Ask your training manager to confirm that the specific course qualifies.

If you are unemployed

The state employment service (SEPE) and regional employment services run training for unemployed people. Some courses include Spanish for foreigners, often as part of a professional certificate or an integration programme. What is offered differs strongly by region. To get access, register as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo) at your regional employment office, then ask a job counsellor which courses are open to you. You need legal permission to work to register.

If you are an asylum applicant or vulnerable newcomer

Asylum applicants and beneficiaries get free Spanish classes inside the State reception system. NGOs such as the Spanish Red Cross, CEAR and ACCEM deliver them. You get access by entering the reception system after you apply for asylum. Your assigned centre or operator will arrange it.

Other vulnerable newcomers can use programmes funded by the Ministry, regional governments, EU funds and town halls. These usually run through NGOs and social services (servicios sociales). Ask your local social services office, or an NGO near you.

Where to look

The resource list below shows where to find funded and free courses. The documents list shows what to bring, and the FAQ answers the common funding questions.

Documents you need

• Legal permission to work in Spain, needed to register as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo) at the regional employment office and reach training for the unemployed

• Your collective agreement (convenio colectivo) or employment contract, to check whether it provides for employer-paid language training

Where to look for funded and free Spanish courses

• Regional education department and adult education centres (CEPAs): Look up your nearest adult education centre (CEPA) on your region's education website and register for its Spanish classes for foreigners. Places are limited.

• Ministry of Education centre search (Buscador de centros): Search for adult education centres and official language schools (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas) near you.

• Instituto Cervantes: Check its website for Spanish courses and exams.

• Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration: Read its pages on reception and integration. If you applied for asylum, free Spanish classes come with the reception system through your assigned centre or operator.

• Regional or municipal immigration office or portal: Look for lists of local classes, or ask your town hall's social services (servicios sociales) about free classes for vulnerable newcomers.

• Local branch of an NGO such as Cruz Roja, CEAR, ACCEM, Cáritas, Fundación Cepaim or Movimiento por la Paz: Ask about free Spanish classes for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Local branches set who qualifies and may have waiting lists.

• Your employer's training manager: Ask whether the company can fund a course through Fundae, the state training body. The company, not you, manages this. It usually covers language courses only when they are linked to your job and run by an accredited provider.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer pay for my Spanish classes?

Yes, your employer can pay, but no law makes them do it unless your collective agreement (convenio colectivo) or contract says so. It is more common in multinationals, relocation packages, hospitality and healthcare. The company may recover part of the cost through Fundae credit if the course is tied to your job.

Does Fundae training credit cover Spanish for foreign employees?

Only sometimes: Spanish for foreign employees is generally not accepted as general language training, but a course can qualify if it is linked to your job and given by an accredited provider. The company, not you, manages the credit and must tell Fundae before the course starts. It does not apply to self-employed or unemployed people.

Can I get free Spanish classes through the employment service if I am unemployed?

Yes, in some regions, if you have legal permission to work and register as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo). Some training for unemployed people includes Spanish for foreigners, often linked to professional certificates.

Are there free Spanish classes for asylum applicants?

Yes, the State reception system for international protection includes free Spanish classes for asylum applicants and beneficiaries.