Riferimento
Glossario dei termini per tirocini in Spagna ed Erasmus+
Ogni acronimo, accordo e strumento legale che incontrerai nel tuo percorso verso un tirocinio in Spagna — spiegato in modo semplice, con link alla guida completa quando disponibile.
5 termini
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 termini
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 termini
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 termini
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
Risposte rapide sulle pratiche per i tirocini in Spagna
Devo conoscere ogni acronimo della burocrazia spagnola prima di fare domanda?
No. Devi conoscerne principalmente tre: il Learning Agreement (con la tua università), il convenio de prácticas (con l'azienda ospitante) e il NIE (il tuo codice identificativo fiscale spagnolo). Tutto il resto in questo glossario è un contesto utile ma non vincolante.
Qual è la differenza tra NIE, TIE ed empadronamiento?
Il NIE è il numero identificativo per stranieri, il TIE è la carta di soggiorno fisica rilasciata per soggiorni extra-UE superiori a 6 mesi, mentre l'empadronamiento è la registrazione all'anagrafe comunale che attesta il tuo indirizzo in Spagna. Consulta la guida su NIE, TIE ed empadronamiento per la procedura completa.
Un convenio de prácticas equivale a un contratto di lavoro?
No. Un convenio de prácticas è un accordo tripartito di formazione tra te, la tua università e l'azienda ospitante: non è un rapporto di lavoro dipendente, non crea un obbligo di retribuzione e non genera diritti alla Seguridad Social a meno che l'azienda non decida di erogare un rimborso spese.
Cosa significano Erasmus+ KA131 e KA171?
L'azione KA131 copre la mobilità all'interno dell'UE e dei paesi associati al programma; l'azione KA171 finanzia la mobilità con i paesi partner al di fuori dell'UE. Entrambe utilizzano lo stesso modello di Learning Agreement, ma gli importi dei contributi e i requisiti variano.
Hai ancora dubbi?
Chiedici qualsiasi cosa sul tuo tirocinio in Spagna.
I nostri coordinatori rispondono in inglese, spagnolo e francese entro un giorno lavorativo.
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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