Reference
Glossary of Spanish internship & Erasmus+ terms
Every acronym, agreement and legal instrument you'll meet on the road to a Spanish internship — defined in plain English, with links to the full guide when there is one.
5 terms
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 terms
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 terms
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 terms
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.
FAQ
Quick answers on Spanish internship paperwork
Do I need to know every Spanish paperwork acronym before applying?
No. You mostly need to understand three: the Learning Agreement (with your university), the convenio de prácticas (with the host company) and the NIE (your Spanish tax ID). Everything else in this glossary is useful context but not blocking.
What is the difference between NIE, TIE and empadronamiento?
The NIE is a foreigner ID number, the TIE is the physical residency card issued to non-EU stays over 6 months, and empadronamiento is the town-hall registration that proves your Spanish address. See the NIE, TIE & empadronamiento guide for the full process.
Is a convenio de prácticas the same as an employment contract?
No. A convenio is a tripartite training agreement between you, your university and the host company — it is not employment, does not create a salary obligation and does not accrue Spanish social security rights unless the host chooses to pay a stipend.
What does Erasmus+ KA131 vs KA171 mean?
KA131 covers mobility inside the EU and associated Programme Countries; KA171 funds mobility with Partner Countries outside the EU. Both use the same Learning Agreement template but the grant amounts and eligibility differ.
Still unclear?
Ask us anything about your placement in Spain.
Our coordinators reply in English, Spanish and French within one business day.
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.
Read the full guide →