How to Relocate to Spain as a Software Engineer: Visa, Jobs, and Cost of Living Guide

Spain has quietly become one of Europe's most exciting destinations for software engineers looking to relocate. Barcelona now rivals Berlin and Amsterdam as a tech hub, Madrid is growing fast, and the country offers something most Northern European cities cannot — 300 days of sunshine, a world-famous food culture, and a cost of living that lets you actually enjoy your salary.

Whether you are a backend developer eyeing a role at TravelPerk in Barcelona, a data engineer considering Elastic's remote-Spain setup, or a full-stack engineer who simply wants to trade grey skies for Mediterranean beaches, this guide covers everything: visa options, companies that sponsor, realistic salary expectations, cost of living, and what daily life is actually like when you move to Barcelona as a developer.

1. Why Spain? Barcelona's Rise as a Tech Hub

Ten years ago, Spain was barely on the radar for international tech workers. That has changed dramatically. Barcelona now hosts over 2,100 tech startups, and the city attracted more than €2.3 billion in venture capital in 2025. The 22@ district — a former industrial neighbourhood transformed into a tech and innovation hub — is home to hundreds of tech companies, coworking spaces, and incubators.

But Barcelona's appeal goes far beyond the job market. Here is why software engineers are choosing Spain over traditional tech destinations:

• Climate: Barcelona averages 2,500 hours of sunshine per year. Madrid gets even more. Winters are mild (10–15°C), and summers mean beach after work
• Quality of life: Spain consistently ranks in the top 10 for quality of life in global expat surveys. Walkable cities, excellent public healthcare, world-class food, and a culture that genuinely prioritises life outside of work
• Cost of living: Significantly cheaper than London, Amsterdam, Zurich, or Munich. A single developer on a mid-level salary can live very comfortably in Barcelona or Madrid
• Growing tech ecosystem: Major companies like Revolut, N26, Glovo, Typeform, Factorial, Wallapop, and TravelPerk have engineering offices in Barcelona. Madrid is home to Cabify, Jobandtalent, and large offices of Amazon and Google
• International community: Barcelona is one of the most international cities in Europe. You will find large communities of developers from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and South Asia, making it easy to build a social network
• Travel connectivity: Barcelona El Prat and Madrid Barajas are major European hubs. Weekend trips to the rest of Europe are cheap and easy

Spain is also part of the EU and the Schengen Area, so once you have your residency, you can travel freely across 27 European countries without border checks.

2. Visa Options for Software Engineers in Spain

If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you need a work visa to move to Spain. The good news: Spain has modernised its immigration system significantly in recent years. Here are the main pathways for tech workers in 2026.

Highly Skilled Professional Visa (Autorización de residencia para profesionales altamente cualificados)

This is the most common route for software engineers relocating to Spain with a job offer from a Spanish company.

• Requirements: A job offer from a Spanish company paying at least 150% of the average gross annual salary in Spain (approximately €42,000–€45,000 in 2026), or a university degree plus a job in a qualifying occupation
• Processing time: 20–30 business days through the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) fast-track process
• Duration: Initially 1 year, renewable for 2-year periods
• Family: Spouse and dependants can be included in the same application
• Best for: Software engineers with a job offer from an established company

EU Blue Card in Spain

Spain implemented the EU Blue Card directive in 2023, aligning with the rest of Europe. This is an attractive option because it provides EU-wide mobility.

• Requirements: University degree (or 5+ years of professional experience in some cases) + job contract with a salary ≥ 150% of the average national gross salary. For shortage occupations (including IT), the threshold drops to 120%
• Processing time: 30–60 days
• Duration: Up to 4 years, renewable
• Permanent residency: After 5 years of EU Blue Card residency (time can be accumulated across EU countries)
• Best for: Engineers who might want to move within the EU later

Digital Nomad Visa (Visado para teletrabajo de carácter internacional)

Spain introduced its Digital Nomad Visa in 2023 under the Startups Law. It is designed for remote workers employed by companies outside Spain.

• Requirements: Employed by a non-Spanish company (or freelancer with non-Spanish clients), minimum income of approximately €2,520/month (200% of Spain's minimum wage), and at least 1 year of work experience
• Duration: Up to 1 year initially, extendable to 3 years
• Tax benefit: Flat 24% income tax rate on the first €600,000 of earnings (instead of Spain's progressive rates up to 47%)
• Limitation: You cannot use this visa if you are employed by a Spanish company. It is strictly for remote workers with foreign employers

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

• Requirements: Transfer from a foreign office to a Spanish office of the same company. Minimum 3–12 months of prior employment with the company
• Duration: Up to 3 years (managers/specialists) or 1 year (trainees)
• Best for: Engineers at multinational companies (Google, Amazon, Stripe) who can request a transfer to a Spanish office

Visa comparison

For more detail on how visa sponsorship works across Europe, read our Visa Sponsorship Explained guide.

3. Companies Hiring Software Engineers in Spain with Visa Sponsorship

A growing number of international tech companies have engineering offices in Spain — primarily in Barcelona, but increasingly in Madrid. Here are some of the most active sponsors for software engineer roles.

Other notable companies with engineering presence in Spain include Amazon (Madrid), King (Barcelona — makers of Candy Crush), HP (Barcelona), Adevinta (Barcelona), Wallapop (Barcelona), and Cabify (Madrid).

4. Salary Expectations for Software Engineers in Spain

Spanish tech salaries are lower than Germany, the Netherlands, or the UK in absolute terms — but the cost of living is also significantly lower. When you factor in rent, food, and lifestyle, your purchasing power in Barcelona is often comparable to Berlin or Amsterdam.

International companies like Revolut, Stripe, and Elastic tend to pay at the top end of these ranges or above. Local Spanish startups typically pay at the lower end. Equity and bonus structures vary widely.

How Spain compares to other European hubs

The takeaway: you earn less on paper in Spain, but you keep more of your salary thanks to lower rents, cheaper groceries, and an affordable social life. A senior engineer earning €65,000 in Barcelona can enjoy a lifestyle that would require €90,000+ in Amsterdam.

5. Cost of Living: Barcelona vs Madrid

Spain is one of the most affordable Western European countries for tech workers. Here is a realistic monthly budget breakdown for Barcelona and Madrid.

A comfortable monthly budget for a single software engineer in Barcelona comes to roughly €1,800–€2,500 (including rent in the city centre). In Madrid, it is slightly less. Both are dramatically cheaper than London, Zurich, or Dublin.

Healthcare in Spain is excellent and largely public. As an employed worker, you are automatically enrolled in the Seguridad Social system, which gives you access to public hospitals, GP visits, and prescriptions at minimal or no cost. Many tech companies also offer private health insurance (Sanitas, Adeslas, or DKV) as a benefit.

6. Barcelona vs Madrid: Which Is Better for Tech?

Both cities have thriving tech scenes, but they attract different types of companies and professionals.

Barcelona

• Tech scene: Larger startup ecosystem, more international companies, stronger presence of fintech, SaaS, and product companies (Revolut, TravelPerk, Typeform, Glovo, Factorial)
• Language at work: English is the working language at most international tech companies. Many teams operate entirely in English
• Lifestyle: Beach, Mediterranean climate, vibrant nightlife and cultural scene. More touristy. Catalonia has its own language (Catalan) alongside Spanish
• International community: Very large — Barcelona has one of the highest percentages of foreign residents in Spain
• Downside: Higher rent than Madrid (especially near the beach or in trendy neighbourhoods like Eixample or Gràcia). More touristy areas. Bureaucracy can be slower in Catalonia

Madrid

• Tech scene: Growing rapidly, especially in fintech (Cabify, Jobandtalent) and big tech (Amazon, Google, Microsoft). More corporate and consulting presence
• Language at work: Spanish is more commonly used at work than in Barcelona, though international companies still operate in English
• Lifestyle: Larger city with a more "real Spanish" feel. Incredible food and nightlife scene. No beach, but the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains are an hour away for hiking and skiing
• International community: Large but less concentrated than Barcelona. Strong Latin American community
• Downside: Hotter summers (40°C+). Less walkable than Barcelona in some areas. The tech scene is more fragmented

7. The Relocation Process: From Offer to Settled

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of what happens after you sign your job contract.

Before you arrive

1. Sign your contract: Your employer will typically handle the visa application through the UGE (Large Companies Unit) or the local immigration office. They or their immigration lawyer will guide you through the required documents
2. Apply for your visa: If you are outside the EU, apply at the Spanish embassy or consulate in your country. Required documents typically include your passport, job contract, university degree (apostilled and translated), criminal background check, and proof of health insurance
3. Arrange temporary housing: Book an Airbnb or serviced apartment for your first 1–2 months. Finding a permanent apartment remotely is very difficult in Spain — landlords want to meet you in person

Your first weeks in Spain

1. Get your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): This is your foreign identity number. It is essential for almost everything — opening a bank account, signing a lease, paying taxes, getting a phone contract. Your employer or their immigration lawyer usually helps you get this as part of the visa process
2. Empadronamiento (Padrón): Register at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) to confirm your address. You need a rental contract or a letter from your host. This is required for many administrative procedures and public services
3. Get your Social Security number: Your employer will register you with the Seguridad Social. This gives you access to public healthcare and starts your pension contributions
4. Open a bank account: Spanish banks require your NIE and proof of address. Openbank (by Santander) has a fully online process in English. Traditional options: CaixaBank, BBVA, Santander. Neobanks like N26 or Wise work while you wait for a Spanish account
5. Get a Spanish phone number: Major carriers are Movistar, Vodafone, and Orange. Low-cost options like Pepephone, Lowi, or Simyo offer great value with no contracts. You will need your NIE
6. Find a permanent apartment: Use Idealista (Spain's largest property portal), Fotocasa, or Habitaclia (strong in Catalonia). Expect to pay 1–2 months' deposit plus 1 month's rent upfront

8. Daily Life as a Software Engineer in Spain

Working in Spain is a genuinely different experience from Northern Europe or the US. The pace of life is different — and most engineers who make the move say it is better.

Work culture

• Working hours: The standard work week is 40 hours. Many tech companies offer flexible hours, with core hours typically 10:00–16:00. Some Spanish companies still follow a split-day schedule (work until 14:00, break for lunch, resume at 16:00, finish at 19:00–20:00) — but international tech companies generally follow a 9:00–18:00 schedule
• Vacation: The legal minimum is 22 working days per year. Most tech companies offer 23–25 days, plus 14 national and regional public holidays. Combined, you get about 36–39 days off per year
• Remote work: Spain passed a remote work law (Ley de Teletrabajo) in 2021. If you work remotely more than 30% of your time, your employer must cover your remote work expenses (internet, electricity, equipment). Many tech companies offer hybrid or fully remote setups
• Management style: More relaxed than Germany or the UK. Personal relationships matter — expect longer lunches, more casual conversation, and a less rigid hierarchy. Deadlines are important, but the atmosphere is generally less stressful

Social life and integration

• Spanish is essential for daily life: Unlike Berlin or Amsterdam, you cannot easily get by without some Spanish in Spain. While international tech offices run in English, everything outside work — the landlord, the doctor, the electrician, the Ayuntamiento — operates in Spanish (or Catalan in Barcelona). Invest in learning Spanish early. Instituto Cervantes and local language schools are good options
• Food: Spain has some of the best and most affordable food in Europe. Supermarkets like Mercadona, Lidl, and BonPreu are excellent. Eating out is affordable — a menú del día (set lunch with starter, main, dessert, and a drink) costs €10–€15 at most restaurants
• Expat communities: Barcelona has very active tech and expat communities. Meetup groups, the InterNations network, and Slack communities like Barcelona Tech City are great ways to meet people
• Late schedule: Spaniards eat dinner at 21:00–22:00. Lunch is at 14:00–15:00. This takes some getting used to, but most expats end up loving the rhythm — long summer evenings on a terrace with a beer are hard to beat

9. How to Find Software Engineer Jobs in Spain with Visa Sponsorship

Here is a practical strategy for finding a tech job in Spain as an international candidate.

Visa-sponsored job boards

• VisaJobs.xyz — Visa-Sponsored Jobs — Our own job board. Every listing offers visa sponsorship or relocation support. Filter by Spain
• LinkedIn — The most-used platform for tech recruitment in Spain. Set your location to Barcelona or Madrid and turn on "Open to Work". Search for "visa sponsorship" or "relocation" in the job description
• Relocate.me — Spain — Jobs that explicitly offer relocation packages

Spain-focused job boards

• InfoJobs — Spain's largest job board. Mostly in Spanish, but has the highest volume of listings
• Tecnoempleo — Spain's leading tech-specific job board
• Indeed Spain — General job board with good tech coverage
• Manfred — Spanish tech recruiting platform with a community focus

Direct applications

Go directly to the career pages of companies you are interested in. Many roles in Spain are posted on company career pages before they appear on job boards. Check the careers pages of companies listed in Section 3 above.

10. Final Tips for Relocating to Spain

After speaking with dozens of engineers who have relocated to Spain, here are the most common pieces of advice:

• Start learning Spanish before you arrive. Even basic conversational Spanish will make your first months dramatically easier. Apps like Duolingo are fine for getting started, but invest in a proper course (online or in-person) once you arrive
• Negotiate your relocation package. Many companies offer flight costs, temporary housing (1–3 months), shipping allowance, and help with visa paperwork. If it is not in the offer, ask — most companies that sponsor visas expect the question
• Budget for the first three months. Between deposits, furniture, and bureaucracy fees, moving to Spain costs money upfront. Have at least 3 months of expenses saved before you arrive
• Get a gestoría. A gestoría is a Spanish administrative consultant who handles paperwork, tax filings, and bureaucratic procedures for you. They cost €50–€150/month and are worth every cent — especially in your first year when everything is new
• Join the tech community early. Attend meetups, join Slack channels, and network. The Barcelona tech community is welcoming to newcomers, and personal connections often lead to job opportunities
• Do not underestimate bureaucracy. Spanish administrative processes are slow and paper-heavy. Everything requires an appointment (cita previa), and getting one can take weeks. Start every process as early as possible
• Embrace the lifestyle. The late dinners, the long lunches, the afternoon coffee — these are not inefficiencies, they are the reason people love living in Spain. Lean into it

Spain offers something rare: a strong and growing tech market combined with one of the best lifestyles in Europe. The salaries may not match London or Zurich, but the overall package — sunshine, food, culture, healthcare, work-life balance, and a genuinely affordable cost of living — makes it one of the most compelling destinations for software engineers considering a move to Europe.

Related Guides

• Browse Visa-Sponsored Jobs — Hundreds of tech roles with visa sponsorship across Europe, including Spain
• How to Find a Job in Germany with Visa Sponsorship — Our comprehensive guide to Germany's tech job market
• Top 10 European Tech Hubs — Compare Spain to other European destinations
• How to Write a Resume for International Jobs — Country-specific CV formats, ATS tips, and tools
• Visa Sponsorship Explained — What visa sponsorship means and how to find companies that sponsor
• FAQ — Answers to common questions about visa sponsorship and relocation

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Sources

1. [1] Salary data compiled from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor Spain, and Manfred, 2025–2026.
2. [2] Cost of living data from Numbeo — Barcelona and Numbeo — Madrid, updated February 2026.
3. [3] Visa information from Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration and Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025–2026.
4. [4] Barcelona tech ecosystem data from Barcelona Tech City and Dealroom, 2025.