Public-sector jobs and competitive exams (oposiciones) for newcomers

Terms used

• Oposiciones — Oposiciones are the competitive exams used to fill permanent public-sector posts in Spain.
• Funcionario — A funcionario is a permanent civil servant with a statutory, not an ordinary employment, relationship with the administration.
• Convocatoria — A convocatoria is the official call for a specific exam or list, setting its requirements, dates and how to apply.
• Bolsas de interinos — Bolsas de interinos are ranked regional lists of candidates called on for temporary public posts and substitutions.

Key rules

• Competitive exam: Public posts are filled by competitive exam, and nationality conditions decide which ones you can apply for.
• Reserved posts: Police, army and judiciary posts are reserved for Spanish nationals.
• Interim lists: Regions run their own interim lists, mainly for teaching and health, each with its own calendar and scoring.
• Each call: Every call sets its own requirements, so read it before you apply.

Can you apply? It depends on your nationality

Public posts are filled by competitive exam (oposiciones), and nationality conditions apply. Spanish nationals can apply for every post. For everyone else, the answer depends on the post.

• Spanish nationals: open to all permanent civil servant (funcionario) posts.
• EU nationals: open to posts that do not involve exercising public power, directly or indirectly, or safeguarding the general interests of the State.
• Spouses and children of Spanish or EU nationals: the same access as EU nationals, whatever their own nationality. This covers a spouse who is not legally separated, and descendants under 21 or dependants.
• Nationals of countries with a free-movement treaty: equivalent access to EU nationals.
• Other foreigners with legal residence: usually only contract-based (laboral) posts.

Posts that involve public authority, such as the police, the army and the judiciary, are reserved for Spanish nationals. This applies whatever your nationality or residence status.

If you are not Spanish, expect a Spanish language test.

Check each call before you prepare

Every call (convocatoria) sets its own requirements, and regional laws can add conditions. Read the call's requirements for nationality, qualification and language before you start studying. Your regional government or the body running the call can answer questions.

Interim lists: a faster way in

Regional governments keep ranked lists of candidates called bolsas de interinos. They use them to fill temporary vacancies and substitutions, mostly in teaching and health.

• How you join: the region opens a call, sometimes on a regular schedule, and you register online.
• How you are ranked: by points for exam results (often from past oposiciones), experience, training and sometimes languages.
• How offers work: when a vacancy appears, candidates are offered posts in list order.
• Refusing a post: you can be removed from the list if you refuse without justification.
• Requirements: the same nationality conditions as above, the required qualification and often knowledge of the region's own language.

Examples are the teaching lists in Madrid, Andalusia and Catalonia, and the health employment pools of SAS (Andalusia), SERMAS (Madrid) and Sacyl (Castilla y León).

Each region sets its own calendar, scoring system and registration platform. Check the region where you want to work, as it is not the same everywhere. A recent reform also limits the abuse of temporary contracts in the public sector.

A sensible order

1. Find out which group your nationality puts you in.
2. Pick the region and the field (teaching, health or administration).
3. Check the region's interim list calls and the next oposiciones call.
4. Confirm that your qualification is recognised in Spain for that post.

The questions below cover common cases.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-EU foreigner with legal residence work in the Spanish public sector?

Yes, but usually only in contract-based (laboral) posts, not permanent civil servant (funcionario) posts. Posts involving public authority, such as the police, army and judiciary, are reserved for Spanish nationals. Check the nationality requirement in the call itself before you apply.

Can the spouse or children of an EU national apply for civil servant posts?

Yes, the spouse of a Spanish or EU national can apply if not legally separated, and so can their descendants under 21 or dependants, whatever their own nationality. They still cannot take posts that involve public power. Non-Spaniards are typically tested on Spanish language.

How are candidates ranked on a regional interim list (bolsa de interinos)?

Candidates are ranked by points for exam results, experience, training and sometimes languages. Exam results often come from past oposiciones. When a vacancy arises, you are offered posts in list order.

Can I be removed from an interim list if I refuse a post?

Yes, you can be removed from the list if you refuse an offered post without justification. Regions also often ask for the required qualification and regional language knowledge. Check your region's rules on refusals before you register.