Working for a business is a fast-growing route to remote employment in Spain, which has been accelerating since the pandemic.

Prior to the Covid lockdowns, remote employment in Spain was lagging behind much of Europe. Large employers were not keen on the practice, and most remote and flexible people tended to choose self-employment instead. The office culture was ingrained, and telecommuting a rarity.

All that changed of course when everyone had to work from home. Employers had proof it could be done, and lots of people enjoyed it too. But there were problems due to structural inequalities, and old habits die hard.

That meant the law had to catch up, and new regulations on the rights of remote workers arrived in the autumn of 2020 – regulations that many firms considered restrictive and unhelpful. Spain’s telework law (Ley de Trabajo a Distancia) requires formal agreements between employers and remote employees, covering expenses, equipment, and the right to disconnect.

Working for overseas employers from Spain

One of the biggest shifts in recent years is the growing ease of working for a company based outside Spain while living here. This is increasingly common, and the mechanism that makes it work is the Employer of Record (EOR).

An EOR acts as your legal employer in Spain, handling payroll, tax withholdings, and social security contributions, while you work day-to-day for the overseas company that actually hired you. It’s a solution that benefits both sides – the company doesn’t need to set up a Spanish entity, and you get a proper employment contract with all the protections that brings.

We’ve covered this route in depth: How to Get Hired by a Company in a Different European Country.

Digital nomad visa: the 20% rule

If you’re in Spain on the digital nomad visa, there’s a critical restriction to be aware of: no more than 20% of your total income can come from Spanish companies or clients. At least 80% must come from sources outside Spain. This means that while you can do some work for Spanish employers, you cannot rely on a Spanish company as your primary source of income while holding the visa. If you’re considering taking on a Spanish employer or client, make sure you stay well within this threshold.

Finding remote-friendly roles

The remote job market for Spain-based workers has matured considerably. International companies now actively recruit in Spain, attracted by the talent pool and the relatively competitive salary expectations compared to northern Europe. Roles in tech, customer success, marketing, and operations are frequently listed as remote-friendly.

For more on finding these opportunities, see our Spain country guide, which includes a live feed of remote jobs available to workers in Spain.

If you’re employed remotely in Spain – whether by a Spanish or foreign company – it’s important to understand your rights and obligations. Spain’s remote work law applies when you work from home more than 30% of the time over a three-month period. Your employer must provide or compensate for equipment and expenses, and the arrangement must be documented in a formal telework agreement.

Tax obligations depend on your residency status and the structure of your employment. If you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, you’re generally considered a tax resident, which means your worldwide income is subject to Spanish taxation. This is true whether your employer is Spanish or foreign.

What’s next for remote employment in Spain

The landscape continues to evolve. More companies are embracing distributed teams, and Spain’s combination of lifestyle, cost of living, and connectivity makes it an increasingly attractive base for remote employees across Europe and beyond.

If you’re considering remote employment in Spain, our Spain country guide brings together the latest resources, community links, and insights to help you navigate the process. And for the self-employment route instead, see our overview of self-employment in Spain.

Related reading: EOR in Europe, Digital Nomads in Spain, OECD Remote Guidance on PE, Coworking in Spain, Spain Remote Work Guide.