🇪🇸 Job offer letter in Spain: what to include
Updated July 2026 · General information, not legal advice
In Spain, many employment terms are set not by the individual contract but by the applicable collective bargaining agreement (convenio colectivo) for the sector and province. A Spanish offer letter should therefore be checked against the convenio — it can set higher minimums for salary, leave and probation than the general law.
Quick facts
- Probation
- Typically up to 2 months; up to 6 months for university-qualified specialists (convenio may vary)
- Annual leave
- 30 calendar days (≈22 working days)
- Pay installments
- 14 payments per year are common (2 'pagas extraordinarias')
- Registration
- Employees must be registered with Social Security before starting
- Governing terms
- Sector collective agreement (convenio) often overrides defaults
What to include in a Spanish offer letter
Key elements of an offer for a Spain-based hire:
- Position and professional category (categoría) as defined by the convenio
- Gross annual salary and whether it is paid in 12 or 14 installments
- Contract type (indefinite is now the default; fixed-term needs a legal ground)
- Probation period consistent with law and the convenio
- Vacation (minimum 30 calendar days) and working hours
- Applicable collective agreement
Probation rules
The Workers' Statute caps probation at six months for university-qualified technicians and generally two months for other employees (three in small companies), but the applicable convenio can set different limits. During probation either party may terminate without notice or severance — after it, Spanish dismissal rules with severance apply.
Salary in 14 payments
Many Spanish employees receive their annual salary in 14 installments — 12 monthly payments plus two extra payments (summer and Christmas). Offers should state the gross annual figure and the number of installments; quoting only a monthly figure invites confusion.
Vacation and working time
The statutory minimum is 30 calendar days of paid vacation per year, which corresponds to roughly 22 working days. Spain also requires daily working-time recording, and many convenios set annual hour caps — worth reflecting in the working-hours clause.
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Create a free offer →Frequently asked questions
How long is probation in Spain?
Generally up to 2 months (3 in companies with fewer than 25 employees) and up to 6 months for university-qualified specialists — unless the applicable collective agreement says otherwise.
What does '14 pagas' mean in a Spanish offer?
The annual salary is split into 14 installments: 12 monthly payments plus extra payments in summer and at Christmas. The annual gross is the same — only the payment schedule differs.
Is a fixed-term contract still possible in Spain?
Only with a specific legal justification (e.g. production circumstances or substitution). Since the 2022 labour reform, indefinite contracts are the default.
Related guides
This guide is general information for employers, not legal advice. Employment rules change and collective agreements may set different terms — confirm the specifics with local counsel before sending an offer.