For many Spaniards, landing a stable, paper-pushing civil servant position is the dream.

They know it’s not going to be exciting or to make them rich but they see funcionario work as ‘a job for life’ in a country where the unemployment level is notoriously high and much of the job market is based on temporary summer positions in tourism.

They also like the fact that civil servant jobs pay a decent salary compared with the national average and often work fewer hours too.

Funcionario positions in Public Administration, Social Security and Defense were paid an average of €29,580 gross per year in 2020.

This is higher than the national average gross salary of €24,395 per year, according to stats released by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), although that’s not to say some civil servants get paid considerably less than the above mentioned salary.  

In May 2022, the Spanish government announced its biggest ever annual offering of civil servant positions – 44,787 – 22,000 of which are meant for new recruits. 

The latest estimates point to the fact that 47 percent of funcionarios in Spain will retire within the next decade, which partly explains why the Spanish State wants to reinforce its workforce.

So if jobs in the civil service are so popular, and apparently increasingly available, then how can you get one as a foreigner?

Can foreigners in Spain get civil service jobs?

The main answer is yes, you can get a job in the civil service in Spain as a foreigner, however, there are a few requirements.

Those eligible for civil servant jobs in Spain include EU nationals and those who are married to Spanish or EU nationals. You must currently be married and not divorced.

Children of EU nationals who are eligible to work in Spain (over 16 years old) and who are under 21 can also apply, as can those who are over 21 but who are financially dependent on their parents.

Third-country nationals with work and residence permits in Spain may also apply for civil service jobs.

READ ALSO: How can non-EU nationals bring family members to live in Spain?

Does this apply to all jobs in the civil service?  

No, the only jobs that foreigners can’t apply for and that you must have Spanish nationality for are those which “directly or indirectly imply participation in the exercise of public power or in the safeguarding of the general interests of the State and Public Administrations” according to the Spanish government.

What qualifications do I need?  

While some civil service jobs in Spain require a university degree, there are several that don’t.

Whatever types of qualifications you have, however, will have to go through the homologación (recognition) process so that it’s validated and accepted in Spain. Keep in mind that this can take months, and for non-EU qualification holders even longer.

You may also be required to show other proof and certificates.

According to the Spanish government: “This requirement will not apply to applicants who have obtained recognition of their professional qualification in the field of regulated professions, under the provisions of Community law”.

It also goes without saying that you will need a high level of Spanish to get a job as a civil servant and you may need certificates to prove this too. If you’re trying to get a job in Catalonia for example, you may also be required to know Catalan, as well as Spanish. 

What are oposiciones?

Oposiciones are the entrance exams you’ll need to sit to become a civil servant in Spain. Each type of position will have its own requirements, some easier and some harder, which involve a series of exams to test your abilities and suitability.

Some positions may require practical exams, while others such as for the police force will require a physical test. 

READ ALSO – Not just English teaching: The jobs you can do in Spain without speaking Spanish

Photo: FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

Is there anything that will prevent me from getting a civil servant job in Spain?

Yes, foreigners should not have received disciplinary action or been fired from similar roles in public service in their own countries.

Also, those who are applying for jobs where they will be in contact with children may have to show a police check from their home country to prove that their record is clean.

But in a broader sense, passing the oposiciones exam and landing a funcionario job is notoriously difficult in Spain. 

There is huge competition, with often thousands of applicants vying for literally a handful of positions offered.

Not only do you need to be fluent in Spanish, you usually need to study a huge number of topics even though in the exam you will only have to answer question on a select few of them.

It’s not uncommon for Spaniards to spend years preparing their oposiciones exam, only to not get their funcionario job in the end.

READ ALSO: What are the types of work contracts in Spain and which one is the best?

What are the advantages of being a civil servant in Spain?

• A decent salary
• You have the right to take holiday days in addition to personal days off
• You can retire at 60, five years earlier than most workers in Spain
• Your social security is automatically deducted, giving you healthcare and pension rights
• It’s a stable job that you are very unlikely to be made redundant from, at worst you get given another position
• You have the possibility of transferring to different departments

READ ALSO: The downsides of moving to Spain for work

What are the disadvantages of being a civil servant in Spain?

• It’s a big investment in time and effort to get a job as a civil servant, with no guarantees
• The need for qualifications, extra tests and exams
• The extensive number of requirements and paperwork that needs to be filled out
• Complicated systems as well as old-fashioned and bureaucratic work models
• Monotonous work, where you’re unlikely to face new challenges
• Little to no opportunities for remote employment