Navarre's Basque status for work and public administration

Key rules

• Zones: Navarre has three language zones, and Basque is co-official only in the northern Basque-speaking zone.
• Basque Country rules: Basque Country language rules do not apply directly in Navarre.
• Public jobs: Basque is required only for certain posts and is otherwise a merit that earns points.
• Call bases: The bases of each job call set the exact language requirement and points.

Basque is official only in part of Navarre

Basque is official only in part of Navarre, and that part is defined by linguistic zones. The rules of the Basque Country (the neighbouring autonomous community) do not apply directly in Navarre. Navarre has its own language law and its own rules.

The three zones

Navarre is divided into three zones. The zone depends on the municipality, so check the town, not the region.

• Basque-speaking zone (zona vascófona): the north, including Baztan, Leitza and Alsasua. Basque is co-official with Spanish here.
• Mixed zone (zona mixta): Pamplona/Iruña and its surroundings. Basque is recognised as Navarre's own language but is not co-official.

The full list of municipalities in each zone is in the language law. Zone lists have been amended since 1986, so ask your town hall if your municipality is not obvious.

What it means for public jobs

Basque is a requirement only for certain public posts. Everywhere else it is usually a merit, meaning it earns extra points but is not compulsory.

• Basque-speaking zone: posts are classed either as Basque-required or as having Basque as a merit.
• Mixed zone: Basque is normally a merit, and the points it earns have been limited in recent years.
• Non-Basque-speaking zone: Basque is a merit only for certain posts, with lower points.
• Teaching: posts in Basque-language teaching models, such as model D, require the language qualification.

The exact rules come from the Navarre Government's staff regulations and from the bases of each call (the published rules of each job competition). The list of Basque-required posts and the points change by decree and between calls. Read the bases of the specific call before you apply. Posts not tied to a municipality in a zone may follow other rules.

Practical steps

1. Find which zone your municipality is in.
2. For a public job, open the bases of the call and look for the language requirement and the points.
3. For private-sector work, check the job offer: the zone rules above are about public administration and public posts.

The questions below answer common cases, such as Pamplona and southern Navarre.

Frequently asked questions

Is Basque official in Pamplona?

No, Basque is not co-official in Pamplona, because the city is in the mixed zone. In the mixed and non-Basque zones, Basque is recognised as Navarre's own language but has no co-official status. Co-official status applies only in the Basque-speaking zone in the north.

Which Navarre towns are in the Basque-speaking zone?

Towns such as Baztan, Leitza and Alsasua are in the Basque-speaking zone in the north. Zoning attaches to the municipality, and the full list of towns in each zone is set out in the Basque language law for Navarre. Tudela, by comparison, is in the non-Basque-speaking zone in the south.

Do I need Basque for a public job in the mixed zone?

Usually no, because in the mixed zone Basque is normally a merit that adds points, not a requirement. The scoring in recent years has been limited.

Does Basque count for a public job in southern Navarre?

Yes, but only as a merit for certain posts, and it carries lower points there. Basque is required mainly for some posts in the Basque-speaking zone. The call for each post sets the exact rules, so read its bases before you apply.