Referencia
Glosario de términos de prácticas en España y Erasmus+
Cada sigla, acuerdo e instrumento legal que te encontrarás camino de unas prácticas en España, explicado en lenguaje claro y con enlace a la guía completa cuando existe.
5 términos
Programs & funding
- Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is the European Union's flagship 2021–2027 programme for education, training, youth and sport. For internships, it funds traineeships between 2 and 12 months with a monthly grant of €300–€600 depending on the host country. Spain Internship is a registered Erasmus+ intermediary and handles all associated documentation.
- KA1 (Key Action 1)
Key Action 1 covers mobility for learners and staff — the sub-action most students meet is KA131 (higher education) or KA1-VET (vocational). Grants are managed by the sending institution's International Office.
- KA2 (Key Action 2)
KA2 funds cooperation partnerships and capacity-building projects between organisations. Universities and VET schools use it to co-design group mobility programmes with hosts like Spain Internship.
- J-1 Visa
The J-1 is the standard exchange-visitor visa used by our Work in the USA and Summer Work Travel programmes. Interns must be current students or recent graduates; trainees need a degree plus one year of professional experience.
- TEFL
TEFL certificates (typically 120+ hours) qualify native English speakers to teach abroad. Spain Internship runs accredited TEFL programmes in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao, Cádiz and Zaragoza.
11 términos
Paperwork & legal
- Learning Agreement
The Learning Agreement for Traineeships defines learning outcomes, tasks, ECTS credits and evaluation criteria. Spain Internship prepares it in the correct EU format and coordinates all three signatures.
- Convenio de Prácticas
The convenio de prácticas is the Spanish legal instrument that allows a student to intern with a company. Non-Erasmus students on placements in Spain need one; universities without a direct convenio can use Spain Internship as an intermediary.
- Training Agreement
Any signed document that formalises the internship relationship between student, sender and host. In Spain this is either the Erasmus+ Learning Agreement or a bilateral convenio de prácticas.
- NIE
Any foreigner living, working or studying in Spain longer than three months needs an NIE. It is issued by the Policía Nacional and required to open a bank account, sign a rental contract or get paid.
- TIE
Non-EU students staying over 6 months must exchange their student visa for a TIE within 30 days of arrival. The card is your legal ID inside Spain.
- Empadronamiento
Registering at your local ayuntamiento is free and needed for the TIE, healthcare access and many bureaucratic steps. Bring your passport, rental contract and NIE.
- Student Visa
Applied for at your local Spanish consulate before departure. Requires acceptance letter, financial means, insurance and criminal record check. Processing takes 4–8 weeks.
- Schengen Area
Non-EU citizens can visit the Schengen Area (including Spain) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa or on a short-stay Schengen visa. Longer stays require a national visa.
- Health Insurance
Non-EU visa applicants must present a policy accepted by Spanish consulates covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation. Typical cost €150–€300 for 3–6 months.
- EHIC
EU/EEA/Swiss students should bring their EHIC. It covers necessary medical treatment on the same basis as Spanish residents. It does not replace travel insurance.
12 términos
Placement & sectors
- Host Company
Spain Internship's network includes 400+ vetted host companies across marketing, IT, tourism, education, engineering and social sciences.
- Sending Institution
The sending institution signs the Learning Agreement, disburses Erasmus+ grants and awards ECTS credit for the traineeship.
- Intermediary Organisation
Spain Internship is a registered Erasmus+ intermediary. Universities without direct host contacts delegate sourcing, contracting and monitoring to us.
- Traineeship
'Traineeship' and 'internship' are used interchangeably. Erasmus+ traineeships last 2–12 months and can be combined with a study period as a 'blended mobility'.
- ECTS Credits
1 ECTS ≈ 25–30 hours of student work. A full-time internship typically converts to 20–30 ECTS per semester; the exact ratio is set in the Learning Agreement.
- Stipend
Typical Spanish stipends range from €300 (part-time or tourism) to €1,200 (senior IT). Erasmus+ interns already receive a grant from their home university.
- Convenio en Prácticas Extracurriculares
Extracurricular internships do not count toward the degree but appear on the diploma supplement. They still require a convenio de prácticas.
- Prácticas Curriculares
Curricular internships are part of the degree, graded by the university tutor, and always require a convenio. Erasmus+ Learning Agreements are the international equivalent.
- Contrato en Prácticas
A paid, formal Spanish employment contract of 6 months to 2 years, with reduced social-security contributions. Often used to convert an intern into a graduate hire.
- Remote Internship
Erasmus+ allows blended and virtual mobilities. Remote placements are common in IT, marketing and content roles; a physical mobility component of at least 5 days is now recommended.
- Au Pair
Au pairs receive room, board and pocket money in exchange for 25–30 hours a week of childcare. Not classed as employment; requires a specific cultural-exchange agreement.
- Job Shadowing
Job shadowing lets teachers, coordinators or VET learners observe a Spanish workplace or school. Funded under Erasmus+ KA1 for staff and KA1-VET for learners.
9 términos
Living in Spain
- Padrón
Colloquial name for the certificate of empadronamiento, sometimes required by employers, banks and universities.
- Piso Compartido
Rooms in shared flats run €350–€700/month depending on city and neighbourhood. Idealista, Badi and Uniplaces are the main listing platforms.
- Residencia de Estudiantes
Higher price point (€700–€1,200/month) but zero setup effort. Popular for first-time-abroad students and shorter stays.
- Comunidad Autónoma
Regions like Cataluña, Andalucía or the Comunidad Valenciana set their own rules on education, healthcare and some labour aspects — worth knowing for regional stipends and internship rules.
- Cost of Living
€800–€1,100 in Madrid or Barcelona, €650–€900 in Valencia or Seville, €550–€800 in secondary cities. Includes rent in a shared flat, food, transport and modest leisure.
- Abono Transporte
In Madrid, under-26s pay just €8/month for the abono joven — one of Europe's cheapest transport passes. Barcelona's T-jove is around €40 for 90 days.
- IBAN / Spanish Bank Account
Openable with passport + NIE + empadronamiento. Digital-first banks like N26, Revolut or BBVA Blue simplify the process for interns.
- Siesta
Many SMEs outside the big metros close between 14:00 and 16:30. Office schedules in Madrid, Barcelona and international companies increasingly follow a continuous 9–18 workday.
Preguntas frecuentes
Respuestas rápidas sobre el papeleo de las prácticas en España
¿Necesito conocer todas las siglas del papeleo español antes de solicitar?
No. Básicamente necesitas entender tres: el Learning Agreement (con tu universidad), el convenio de prácticas (con la empresa de acogida) y el NIE (tu número de identificación fiscal en España). Todo lo demás de este glosario es contexto útil, pero no bloquea nada.
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre NIE, TIE y empadronamiento?
El NIE es un número de identificación de extranjero, el TIE es la tarjeta física de residencia que se expide para estancias de no comunitarios superiores a 6 meses, y el empadronamiento es el registro en el ayuntamiento que acredita tu domicilio en España. Consulta la guía de NIE, TIE y empadronamiento para ver el proceso completo.
¿Un convenio de prácticas es lo mismo que un contrato de trabajo?
No. Un convenio es un acuerdo formativo tripartito entre tú, tu universidad y la empresa de acogida: no es una relación laboral, no obliga a pagar un salario y no genera derechos de seguridad social en España salvo que la empresa decida abonar una ayuda económica.
¿Qué significa Erasmus+ KA131 frente a KA171?
KA131 cubre la movilidad dentro de la UE y los países asociados al programa; KA171 financia la movilidad con países socios fuera de la UE. Ambos usan la misma plantilla de Learning Agreement, pero las cuantías de las becas y los requisitos son distintos.
¿Sigues con dudas?
Pregúntanos lo que quieras sobre tu plaza en España.
Nuestros coordinadores responden en inglés, español y francés en un día laborable.
Since 2024, all interns in Spain (paid or unpaid) must be registered with the Seguridad Social. Registration is handled by the host company; Spain Internship guides both parties.
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