Employment
Unemployment benefit (paro) in Spain: who can get it and how to apply
Who can claim paro in Spain, how much you get and for how long, the unemployment subsidy, and how foreign residents apply to SEPE.
Updated: October 2026
Lost your job in Spain? You may be entitled to unemployment benefit, known in everyday Spanish as el paro. Foreign residents qualify on the same terms as Spanish nationals, as long as they live legally in Spain and have paid enough Social Security contributions. This guide explains who can claim, how much and for how long, and how to apply to the public employment service, SEPE.
Two levels: contributory benefit and subsidy
Spain has two main types of unemployment support:
- Prestación contributiva: the “real” paro. It is based on what you have paid in, and the amount depends on your previous salary.
- Subsidio por desempleo: a lower, fixed assistance payment for people who have used up their contributory benefit or did not contribute long enough, and whose income is low. It was reformed in 2024 (Royal Decree-law 2/2024).
Who can get the contributory paro
According to SEPE, you generally need to meet all of these conditions:
- Legal unemployment situation: you lost your job through no choice of your own – dismissal, end of a temporary contract, a collective redundancy, or a reduction of working hours under an ERTE.
- Enough contributions: at least 360 days of unemployment contributions in the six years before you became unemployed.
- Registered as a jobseeker: you must sign up with your regional employment service and commit to actively looking for work (compromiso de actividad).
- Legal residence: foreign nationals – from the EU or elsewhere – must reside legally in Spain.
- Not retired: you must not have reached the age for an ordinary retirement pension, and not be in a situation incompatible with the benefit.
If you resigned
Voluntary resignation does not give a right to paro. SEPE also warns about a common trap: if you quit a job, start a new one and are let go during the probation period within three months, you are still not entitled. There are exceptions where resigning counts as involuntary – for example, after certain serious breaches by the employer recognised by a court – so get advice if that applies to you.
How much you get and for how long
The amount is calculated from your base reguladora: the average of your contribution bases in the last 180 days worked. SEPE pays:
- 70% of the base reguladora for the first 180 days.
- 60% from day 181 onwards.
There is a legal minimum and maximum. Both are linked to the IPREM (the public income reference index) and are higher if you have dependent children. SEPE’s online simulator gives you an estimate based on your own figures. Social Security contributions continue to be paid while you receive the benefit, and income tax may be withheld.
The duration depends on how long you contributed in the last six years:
| Days contributed | Days of benefit |
|---|---|
| 360 – 539 | 120 |
| 540 – 719 | 180 |
| 720 – 899 | 240 |
| …and so on in steps of 180 days | +60 days per step |
| 2,160 or more | 720 (maximum, two years) |
The unemployment subsidy (subsidio)
If you do not qualify for the contributory paro, or it has run out, you may be able to claim the subsidy. Since the 2024 reform, it is generally available to people whose own income is below 75% of the minimum wage (SMI), and it is paid as a percentage of the IPREM that decreases over time: 95% in the first six months, 90% for the next six, and 80% after that. Situations covered include having used up the contributory benefit, having contributed for less than 360 days, returning emigrants and people over 52 (with its own rules). The new Complemento de Apoyo al Empleo (CAE) lets many subsidy holders keep receiving part of the subsidy when they start working.
How to apply step by step
- Get your employer’s documents. Your employer sends the company certificate (certificado de empresa) to SEPE electronically. Keep your contract, dismissal letter and finiquito (final settlement).
- Register as a jobseeker with your regional employment service (for example, the SAE in Andalucía).
- Apply to SEPE – online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, through the pre-application form, or at an office with an appointment (cita previa). Apply within 15 working days of losing your job; applying late shortens the benefit.
- Bring your ID: NIE/TIE and passport or EU ID, plus your bank account details.
- Wait for the decision. If documents are missing, SEPE gives you 15 days to provide them. Once the file is complete, it should decide within 15 days.
Rules while you receive paro
- Travel abroad: trips of up to 90 days a year are allowed if you inform SEPE and get authorisation beforehand – the benefit is paused and resumes afterwards. Leaving without telling SEPE, or staying abroad longer, can end your benefit.
- Job offers and training: you must accept suitable job offers and attend courses or appointments you are called to.
- Report changes: tell SEPE straight away if you start working, change address or your family situation changes.
- Starting a business: SEPE can, in some cases, pay the remaining contributory benefit as a lump sum (pago único) to help you become self-employed. Ask before you register – see how to become autónomo in Spain.
Self-employed? Autónomos do not get paro but have their own scheme, the cessation of activity benefit (cese de actividad), paid through their mutua. If you worked in another EU country before moving to Spain, your contributions there may count – ask SEPE about the EU form for transferring periods of insurance.
Looking for your next job? Read about the Spanish job market in 2026 and salaries in Spain.
Useful links
- SEPE: unemployment benefits overview
- SEPE: contributory benefit requirements
- SEPE: frequently asked questions on unemployment benefits
- The Spanish job market in 2026
- Becoming autónomo in Spain in 2026
FAQ: paro in Spain
Can foreigners claim paro in Spain?
Yes. Foreign workers who live legally in Spain get unemployment benefits on the same terms as Spanish nationals, provided they meet the contribution and jobseeker requirements.
Do I get paro if my temporary contract ends?
Yes, the end of a fixed-term contract counts as a legal unemployment situation, as long as you have enough contributions.
Can I go on holiday while on paro?
Within Spain you can travel freely as long as you stay reachable. Trips abroad of up to 90 days a year need prior notice and authorisation from SEPE.
What if I apply late?
You can still apply, but the days between the deadline and your application are usually deducted from the benefit. Apply as soon as you can.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Benefit rules and amounts can change – always check with SEPE, a labour lawyer (abogado laboralista) or a gestor before you act.
