Thinking about teaching English in Spain in 2026? If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a country full of culture, great food, and stunning views, Spain could be the perfect place for you. I spent five amazing years teaching there, and in this blog post I’ll share five ways you can teach in Spain, each with its own unique perks. Whether you want structure or flexibility, there’s something for everyone!
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Teach in Language Assistant Programs in Spain
One of the most popular ways to teach abroad in Spain is through a language assistant or teach abroad program. These programs place you in K-12 public, private, or charter schools where you’ll help students improve their English. You could be teaching primary, middle, and/or high school students. Language assistants help in English classes as well as other subjects like Art, Science, Social Studies, and even Physical Education – just in English.
What I loved about this was the variety. Some of my co-teachers gave me full control over lessons, while others wanted me to focus on helping with pronunciation or assisting with small groups. The experience can really vary depending on the school and even the individual teachers that you work with. In my first school, I taught over 200 students for 2 years since there were multiple classes of 30 students per grade. In my next school, I taught fewer students because each grade only had 1 or 2 classes.
Requirements to Teach in Spain as a Language Assistant
Language assistant and teach abroad programs typically look for teachers who are native English speakers or fluent in English, have a bachelor’s degree (although some programs accept an associate’s degree), and can pass a health check. Many language assistant programs allow teachers up to 60 years old, but each program is different, so check the individual requirements.
You’ll get a student visa with working rights, which makes this one of the easiest ways for non-EU citizens to live and work in Spain. You’ll usually get paid a stipend or grant to cover your monthly living expenses.
If you’re looking for a program without an application fee and without support, then you can apply to the Auxiliares de Conversacion Program. This program is available for Americans and Canadians (also called the NALCAP Program), as well as teachers from the Philippines, India, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Each country’s program has its own requirements and application timeline.
NALCAP (Americans and Canadians)
If you’ve never taught abroad before and are looking for support before and during your time in Spain, including visa support, then I recommend RVF International. You’ll get placed in the same schools as the Auxiliares de Conversación Program but will pay a fee for support. If you’d like to renew for a second year with RVF International, the fee is reduced.
Click here to apply to RVF International
Other teach abroad and language assistant programs in Spain are BEDA, UCETAM, Meddeas, ConversaSpain, Fulbright, and Up International.
Teach in Private Language Academies in Spain
If you want to teach both children and adults, then you might prefer to work in private language academies in Spain. These schools teach English to a range of ages and levels, and sometimes you’ll even get the chance to teach specialized courses like business English or Test Prep English. You’ll be paid hourly, which means you’ll only get paid for the classes you teach.
Requirements to Teach in English Language Academies in Spain
One important thing to know is that most academies won’t sponsor visas for non-EU citizens, so you’ll need to have your visa sorted out before you apply. This also means that academies are a good option for Irish teachers. If you already have a student visa with working rights or have a freelancer visa, you qualify to teach in language academies.
If you haven’t taken a TEFL course yet, I recommend doing your CertTESOL through EBC in Madrid and their Road2Spain program. You’ll get a prestigious TEFL cert, a visa to live, work, and study in Spain, and lifetime job search assistance.
Academies look for native English speakers or teachers who have a C1 or C2 level of English. A bachelor’s degree in any subject is preferred, and a TEFL certificate is a must.
If you don’t have a TEFL certificate yet, check out this blog post on how to choose a TEFL/TESOL certificate for teaching abroad.
Teach in International Schools in Spain
If you have an actual teaching license like a US teaching license, QTS in the UK, etc., then international schools could be a good fit. These K-12 schools hire teachers to teach a variety of subjects like Math, Science, Music, and more – all in English. Many schools use British, American, or IB curriculum.
I taught at an international school in Spain for 2 years. I taught English-immersion pre-school and first grade. This was a very different experience from teaching as a language assistant because instead of working with over 200 students, I only had 18 students for the entire year. However, I was expected to teach all subjects except Spanish, Music, and Physical Education.
Requirements to Teach in International Schools in Spain
To teach in an international school in Spain, you’ll need a degree in Education and/or your subject area plus a teaching license. International school jobs in Spain are competitive, and you’ll likely need some previous teaching experience, especially if you’re eyeing a position in an IB school.
Your school will sponsor your work visa if you don’t already have EU working rights. If you can’t get hired at an international school right away, I recommend trying a language assistant program first and networking as much as possible while you are already in Spain. I did this and was able to convert my student visa to a work visa.
Teaching in Summer Camps in Spain
If you’re looking for a more seasonal teaching opportunity, summer camps can be a fun way to spend a few months in Spain. These camps focus on English immersion, where you either teach English classes or lead activities in English, like arts and crafts or sports.
To teach at summer camps, though, you’ll need to have EU working rights, as they don’t sponsor visas for non-EU citizens. If you’re already in Spain with a student visa or freelancer visa, this could be a great option to make extra cash during the summer while enjoying the beautiful weather.
Freelance Teaching in Spain
Freelancing is perfect if you want full control over your schedule. With an autonomo visa (self-employed visa) you can teach English privately or online. Some teachers use this visa to teach in language academies, teach Business English for companies, or teach online from home – it’s up to you. If you’ve been teaching in Spain for a few years as a language assistant, freelance teaching is a good way to continue living and working in Spain.
Requirements to Freelance Teach in Spain
Unfortunately, freelancing requires some work upfront, and you’ll pay higher taxes. You’ll also need to market yourself, build a client base, and handle the business side of things. You can apply for your Self-employment visa from your nearest Spanish consulate. You’ll need to present a Business Plan along with qualifications related to the proposed business activities (for teachers, this means a degree, TEFL certificate, etc.). You will also need to prove that you have the minimum required financial means through bank statements.
Which Path Will You Choose to Teach in Spain?
If you’re looking for a way to live and teach in Europe, Spain is one of the easiest locations to do this due to the variety of programs and ways to teach. Want to learn more about teaching in Spain? Try my on-demand Teach in Spain Workshop or download my free Teach in Spain Guide.
You can also fill out this survey, and I’ll email you back with links and tips to start your teaching journey – abroad, online, or both!
Happy teaching!
Jamie
