Competitive examinations in Spain for foreigners: Requirements and options

This post is dedicated to foreign opponents. Foreigners can also apply for public examinations in Spain, although they must meet certain essential requirements. Below we explain in detail who can access it and what conditions they must meet according to their nationality.

Who can take the civil service exams in Spain?

The possibility of foreigners taking a competitive exam in Spain depends on their nationality and immigration status in the country. There are different rules applicable depending on whether they are citizens of the European Union or nationals of non-EU countries. Let's look at each case:

Opponents of EU member states

If the opponent is a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, you can apply for practically all the public administration competitions in Spain. However, there is one important exception:

Positions that involve the exercise of public powers or the safeguarding of general interests of the State, such as: Armed forces, State Security Forces and Bodies, constitutional bodies, State Council, Bank of Spain and Defense Information Center They are reserved exclusively for people with Spanish nationality.

In addition, according to Spanish regulations, the following may also apply for public competitions:

• The spouses of Spanish citizens or nationals of other EU Member States, provided that they are not legally separated.
• The descendants under 21 years of age or dependent adults of Spanish or EU citizens.
• The people included in international treaties ratified by the EU and Spain on the free movement of workers.

Opponents from non-EU countries

In the case of citizens from countries outside the European Union, they will not be able to take the majority of competitive examinations to become civil servants in the State or in other public administrations, but Yes, they can apply for competitive examinations to become part of the workforce., which are public jobs that do not involve functions of authority or the exercise of public power.

To do so, foreign candidates must be in one of the following situations in Spain:

• Temporary residence: Citizens who have a temporary residence permit in Spain can apply for job openings.
• Permanent residence: If the candidate has a permanent residence permit, he/she can also access these calls.
• Authorization to reside and work: Foreign citizens who have a work permit in Spain can apply for these competitions.
• Refugee status: People with refugee status can participate in competitions for labour personnel.

A common example of a job for which non-EU foreigners can apply would be a job opening for the Post Office.

Foreign qualifications for competitive examinations in Spain

One of the most important requirements for taking a competitive exam in Spain is to have the appropriate qualification for the position. This applies to both Spanish and foreign citizens. If you have obtained your qualification abroad, it must be approved or its equivalence recognized before you can use it as a requirement in an opposition.

The entity responsible for homologating the titles in Spain is the Ministry of Education and Vocational TrainingIf your qualification requires homologation, you must start the process before the call for the competitive examination you wish to take, since without this process you will not be able to validate your qualification in Spain.

What exams should you study if you are a foreigner?

Depending on your nationality, you can access different types of competitive examinations. Below we detail the most common cases:

Armed Forces competitions for non-EU foreigners

Nationals of certain Latin American countries and Equatorial Guinea can apply for the Troop and Navy competitions for the Spanish Army. Citizens of the following countries are eligible for these positions:

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Costa Rica
• Colombia
• Chile
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Equatorial Guinea
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Dominican Republic
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

This is one of the few cases in which non-EU citizens can access positions that are usually reserved for Spanish citizens.

General competitive examinations for EU foreigners

If you are an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, you can apply for a wide variety of competitive examinations in Spain, including:

• Administrative and Administrative Assistants: both at the state, regional and local levels.
• Health services: positions in hospitals and health centres, such as nurses, physiotherapists or administrative staff.
• Education: positions for teachers, professors and other educational staff.
• Other public services: firefighters, air traffic controllers, positions in libraries, museums, etc.

It is important to check the terms and conditions of each call to ensure that there are no additional requirements that may affect foreign citizens.

Remember that the key to successfully passing an exam is to follow a good study plan and remain consistent throughout the process. As a foreigner, you must also ensure that you meet all the specific requirements, such as the homologation of qualifications, work and residence permits, or authorization to work in Spain, as the case may be.

We wish foreign candidates the best of luck in their exams. Please note that if you have any doubts, it is always advisable to go to the convening public body to resolve them officially.