Notice period in Spain (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Resignation notice is set by collective agreements or local custom. For dismissal on objective grounds the employer gives 15 days' notice and pays 20 days' salary per year of service (maximum 12 months). Probation is 2 months, or 6 for qualified technicians, unless an agreement says otherwise.

RuleWhat applies
Notice from the employeeNotice periodWhen an employee resigns, the notice is the one set by collective agreements or local custom. The Workers' Statute itself sets no fixed number of days for resignation. [1]
Notice from the employerNotice periodFor dismissal on objective grounds the employer must give 15 days' notice, counted from delivery of the written notice to the end of the contract. During the notice period the employee has 6 hours a week of paid leave to look for work. [1]
Longer notice for long serviceNotice period⚠ Not yet verified
Probation periodNotice periodUnless a collective agreement says otherwise, probation may not exceed 6 months for qualified technicians and 2 months for other workers (3 months in firms with fewer than 25 employees, for workers who are not qualified technicians). [1]
Severance payNotice periodDismissal on objective grounds carries compensation of 20 days' salary per year of service, up to 12 months' pay. If a dismissal is declared unfair, the employer may pay 33 days' salary per year of service, up to 24 months' pay, instead of reinstating the employee. [1]

Notes

  • This is the notice for dismissal on objective grounds (article 52). Disciplinary dismissal is not covered by this notice rule.
  • Not verified: The Workers' Statute sets no statutory scale of notice by length of service; collective agreements decide.
  • The 20-day compensation applies to dismissal on objective grounds. The 33-day figure applies when a dismissal is declared unfair.

Sources

  1. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2015, de 23 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley del Estatuto de los Trabajadores (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.