Seasonal Work Permits for Spain
Who can take a farm job, who needs an employer-arranged permit, and how recruitment from abroad works.
Reviewed 14 September 2026 · GECCO information covers the 2026 order
The seasonal route
Spain has a residence and work authorisation for seasonal activities. For an initial application, the employer applies for a worker who is outside Spain. The permission can run for four years, with work limited to nine months in each calendar year and a return commitment between campaigns. Finding an agricultural vacancy is the first step; it does not by itself give you permission to work.
Start with your right to work
EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
You generally do not need a Spanish work permit. Residence registration and employment formalities can still apply. Apply through the employer's normal vacancy or CV channel.
Already entitled to work in Spain
Check the scope and expiry of your existing status before accepting a job. An NIE is an identification number; it does not by itself establish a right to work.
Outside Spain and need a work permit
Look for an employer or an official recruitment programme that will arrange the authorisation. A tourist stay does not authorise work. The initial seasonal route is designed for recruitment from abroad.
How the application works
Confirm the employer and the job
Ask for the employing legal entity, worksite, campaign dates and written conditions. Confirm explicitly whether the employer will submit a seasonal-work application for you.
The employer requests authorisation
The employer must meet the legal conditions, including the applicable labour-market requirement. The route uses a written fijo-discontinuo contract: employment for recurring periods, with inactive intervals. Applications normally go in at least two months before work starts.
Apply for the visa after approval
Follow the responsible Spanish consulate's instructions for your nationality and place of residence. Approval of the employer's application and the worker's visa application are separate steps. Allow time for documents and appointments.
Work within the authorised conditions
Complete the required arrival, Social Security and identity-card formalities. Respect campaign and return conditions. Employer changes and consecutive campaigns have regulated procedures; the authorisation is not unrestricted permission to move between jobs.
GECCO recruitment from abroad
GECCO is the collective management of recruitment from abroad. For 2026, offers generally cover at least ten positions, which can be pooled across employers. Employers or their representative organisations coordinate recruitment with the authorities and participating countries' selection bodies.
The annual order prioritises countries with migration agreements or cooperation arrangements. Your nationality alone does not establish an open application route: check a current official recruitment call and its requirements. A completed campaign announcement is not an invitation to apply now.
GECCO selection is free for workers. Check any claimed visa or administrative charge against official instructions and obtain receipts. Temporary-work agencies cannot submit these seasonal or GECCO applications as the employing company. They can still advertise other farm jobs for people who already have work rights.
Check the terms before accepting
- Dates and pay: ask for the actual start and end dates, expected hours, gross pay, applicable agreement and any deductions.
- Housing: the seasonal route requires suitable accommodation. It is preferably free, but regulated charges are possible; get the address and costs in writing.
- Travel: the employer has duties to organise arrival and return travel. The rules distinguish arrival, return and local transport costs; confirm the written arrangements instead of assuming all flights are free.
- The workplace: ask about transport to the farm, shifts, language, training, protective equipment and any licence or experience requirement.
BOE: immigration regulation, Title V
For an individual case, check the current official requirements with the employer and responsible consulate. This guide was reviewed on the date shown above.
FAQ
Can I apply for a seasonal permit without an employer?
The initial seasonal-work authorisation is employer-led. A worker's visa application follows the employer's approval; it is not a general visa to enter Spain and look for farm work.
Does a farm labour shortage guarantee sponsorship?
No. A shortage, an English translation or an employer's international workforce does not prove that a particular vacancy includes a work permit. Confirm the arrangement for that job.
Where should I look for work?
Browse current farm and harvest adverts, use reviewed employer CV channels, and consult official recruitment calls in your country for GECCO. A general CV form and an open vacancy are different application routes.
Find your next farm job
Compare current vacancies and read the employer's requirements before applying.