Internships and training contracts (prácticas and contrato formativo)

Key rules

• Legal framework: Formative contracts are the legal route for paid training jobs, and academic internships need an agreement with your school.
• Minimum pay: Pay in a formative contract can never be below the minimum wage in proportion to your working time.
• No probation: A formative contract cannot include a probation period.
• Unpaid work: Unpaid work with no training framework is treated as employment, and you can claim wages and registration.
• Non-EU graduates: You need a residence status that allows training before you start.

Use a formative contract or an academic internship, nothing else

Since the 2021 reform, formative contracts are the legal framework for entry-level training jobs. Academic internships run through a university or training centre are the other legal route. Unpaid work for a company outside either of these is risky for you.

The two training contracts

Training-alternance contract (contrato formativo en alternancia). It combines paid work with formal vocational, university or specialisation studies. It is generally for people up to 30 years old, though some cases have no age limit. It lasts from 3 months to 2 years. Work time is capped at 65% of a full schedule in the first year and 85% in the second.

Professional practice contract (contrato para la obtención de la práctica profesional). It is for people who already hold a university, vocational or equivalent qualification. You must sign it within 3 years of finishing your studies, or 5 years in some cases if you are under 30. It lasts from 6 months to 1 year. Your role must match your qualification.

For both contracts:

• A probation period is not allowed.
• The same person cannot have more than one such contract for the same qualification.

The timeline below shows the order of steps.

How pay works

Your pay is set by the convenio for your group and role. If the convenio says nothing, the pay of the equivalent group applies. It can never be less than the minimum wage (SMI) in proportion to your working time. The government sets the SMI each year, so check the current rate.

• In the training-alternance contract, you are paid only for time worked. You do no work while you attend training.
• In the professional practice contract, pay is not less than the convenio rate for the role.

Academic internships (prácticas con convenio)

These are placements run under an agreement between your university or training centre and the company. Each student also gets a training agreement that sets out tutors, schedule, hours and content.

• Curricular internships are part of your degree.
• Extracurricular internships are voluntary. They are usually capped at about 50% of the academic year, with typically 20-25 hours a week.
• An internship is not an employment contract. The company is not required by law to pay you, though many pay a stipend.
• Graduates can usually join only through their university's own programmes, often within 1-2 years of graduating. Each university sets its own window, so ask its careers office.
• If you are paid, you must be enrolled in Social Security under the general scheme, with contributions paid by the company or institution. Unpaid interns are also covered, with a small flat monthly contribution that changes each year.

Unpaid work outside a training framework

Unpaid placements are legal only inside an academic or training framework, such as a university or vocational (FP) placement under an agreement with the school. Outside that, unpaid work is treated as employment, possibly disguised employment. Labour inspectors can fine the company. You can claim wages and Social Security registration.

Walk away from any offer of unpaid "experience" with no agreement from an educational centre and no contract.

If you are not an EU citizen

You need a residence status that allows training, such as a student visa or an internship authorisation. Check this before you accept any placement.

Timeline and deadlines

• Limit your work time in the training-alternance contract to 65% of a full schedule: During the first year

• Limit your work time in the training-alternance contract to 85% of a full schedule: During the second year

What to watch out for

• Unpaid work outside a training framework: Unpaid work for a company outside a university or vocational agreement counts as an employment relationship and may be disguised employment. The labour inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo) can fine the company, and you can claim wages and Social Security registration. Before you start, ask for a training agreement signed by your school or university. If there is none, ask for an employment contract with pay.

• Not being registered in Social Security: Interns on formal programmes must be covered by Social Security, whether paid or unpaid. The company or the training centre pays the contributions. Ask the company or your training centre to confirm in writing that they will register you before your first day.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I do an internship after I graduate?

Graduates can only do academic internships through their university's own programmes, usually within 1 to 2 years of graduating, and each university sets its own window. You must also stay eligible under that university's rules. Ask your university's careers office for the exact deadline.

Does the company have to pay me for an academic internship?

No, the company does not have to pay you by law for an academic internship, although many pay a stipend. It is not an employment contract. Even so, you must be enrolled in Social Security, with the company or institution paying the contributions.

Can a non-EU graduate do an internship in Spain?

Yes, a non-EU graduate can do an internship, but you need a residence status that allows training, such as a student visa or an authorization for internships. Check your permit allows it before you start.

What is the difference between the two training contracts?

One combines paid work with formal studies, and the other is for recent graduates working in their own field. The alternance contract lasts 3 months to 2 years, and the professional practice contract lasts 6 months to 1 year. Neither allows a probation period.