Work Visa Spain
Spain is a European country which boasts a thriving economy and numerous professional opportunities. What is more, it offers easy access to the rest of the EU market. As such, it is a popular choice amongst many professionals looking to relocate.
If you are not an EU citizen, you are likely to require a Work visa in order to work in Spain. However, the process of applying for a Spanish Work visa can often be confusing. At Total Law, our legal experts have many years of experience advising clients on cases exactly like this. Contact us online today, or on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to learn more about the range of services which we provide
Spanish Work Visas: Overview
If you are a non-EU citizen looking to live and work in Spain, it is likely that you will require a Work visa.
Spain offers a wide variety of Work visas and the route which is the right fit for you will depend largely on the type of work which you will be performing.
The main Spanish Work visas are as follows:
- Highly Qualified Work visa
- Intra-Company Transfer visa
- Seasonal Work visa
- Self-Employed Work visa
- Entrepreneur visa
- Working Holiday visa
- Au Pair visa
- Student visa (whilst this is not technically a Work visa, it does often allow the holder to work for up to 30 hours a week)
Note that, if you are a citizen of an EU country, you will not require a Work visa in order to live, work, or study in Spain.
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Spain Work Visa: Key facts
| Field | Summary |
|---|---|
| Who needs a work visa | Non-EU / non-EEA / non-Swiss nationals who want to live and work in Spain. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need a work visa. (Applies to most routes.) |
| Main routes (quick list) | Highly Qualified (UGE), EU Blue Card, Intra-Company Transfer, Seasonal, Self-Employed, Entrepreneur, Digital Nomad, Working Holiday, Au Pair, Student (restricted work). |
| Who usually applies first | For employment routes the employer usually applies for the work permit (except Self-Employed, Entrepreneur, Digital Nomad where the applicant applies). |
| Typical permission on arrival | National (long-stay) visa from a Spanish consulate + residence permit/TIE after arrival if staying >6 months. |
| Typical residency rights | Allows legal work and residence in Spain for the period of the permit; some routes allow family reunification and travel within Schengen (national visa required to enter). |
| Key practical note | Different routes have different eligibility rules (education/experience, salary thresholds, quotas, strategic company fast-track). Check route details before applying. |
Employment-Based Work Visas
If you are a business or company looking to hire an overseas worker, it is likely that you will first need to apply for a Work permit. The main routes to hiring an overseas worker are as follows:
Highly Qualified Work Visa
This visa allows highly qualified professionals to work in Spain.
If you are looking to hire a highly qualified professional for a role at your business or company, this visa might be the best route. In order for your prospective employee to be eligible for this visa, you will need to have already made them a job offer.
Next, you will need to apply for a Work permit at the Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit. In order to be eligible, your company will generally need to fall into one of the following categories:
- A large company or strategic SME company
- A company which is involved in the development of projects which are considered of strategic interest to Spain’s economy
- A company within a large group of companies
If your permit application is successful, the prospective employee will then be sent a letter of approval and can proceed with their own visa application.
Note that, in order to be eligible for this type of Work visa, the prospective employee must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:
- Have an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate degree (including PhDs)
- Have significant work experience in the field (e.g. working as a manager or executive)
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue card allows highly qualified workers from outside of the EU to live and work in Spain. As such, it is not limited to Spain; a number of other EU countries also offer the EU Blue Card.
If you wish to hire an employee via this route, you must first submit an application for an EU Blue Card. You can submit this to the Spanish Foreign Office, the UGE (Large Companies Unit), or the General Directorate of Immigration, depending on the nature of your company.
In order to be eligible, the prospective employee will need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Prove that they have earned an eligible higher education qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate degree. Alternatively, they may be eligible if they can demonstrate that they have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience
Documents required — consolidated checklist
| Document | Typical required by | Who provides | Common extra requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Applicant | Applicant | Usually valid for 3+ months beyond planned stay; photocopy of identity pages |
| Passport photos | Applicant | Applicant | Meet consular photo specs |
| Criminal record certificate | Applicant | Applicant / home country authority | Usually apostille/legalisation + translation into Spanish if issued abroad |
| Medical certificate / health insurance | Applicant | Applicant | Insurance may need to cover Spain; some consulates ask for specific wording |
| Offer of employment / contract | Employer | Employer | Contract or job offer outlining salary and duration |
| Work permit / authorisation (if employer route) | Employer | Employer / Spanish Labour Dept or UGE | Original approval letter if required by consulate |
| Evidence of sufficient funds / bank statements | Applicant | Applicant | May be required for some self-employed / au pair / student visas |
| Degree / professional qualifications | Applicant | Applicant | Legalisation (Apostille) + certified Spanish translation often required |
| Power of attorney / representation docs | Applicant/rep | Applicant and representative | If submitted by authorised representative (must show originals at application). |
- They must have a formal job offer or employment contract from you for a role which will last for at least 1 year
- The proposed salary must meet the minimum eligibility threshold
- The role in question must be eligible for the EU Blue Card scheme (e.g., working as a manager, director, or scientific professional)
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
This visa type allows you to transfer an employee from an overseas branch of your company to the Spanish office.
If you are looking to hire an employee via this visa route, they must already work for the overseas branch of the company. This route allows the visa applicant to transfer to your company’s Spanish office.
As with the previous Work visa, you will first need to apply for a Work permit on behalf of the prospective employee. In order to be eligible, the employee will need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Prove that they will be engaging in genuine business activity when in Spain
- Prove that they are transferring within the same business group
- Prove that they have a university degree (or, in the absence of a university degree, at least 3 years of professional experience)
- Prove that they have been working for the overseas branch of the company for at least 3 months
Seasonal Work Visa
This visa allows you to hire employees on a temporary seasonal basis, for example during peak tourist season.
However, note that this visa is granted according to a quota and certain countries are allocated a greater number of visas.
In order to hire employees via this route, you must first make them a formal offer of employment. You will then need to apply for a Work Authorisation visa on their behalf, via the Provincial Alien Affairs Office or the Department of Labour for Different Autonomous Communities.
If your application is successful, the prospective employee will then be granted a residence permit.
Note that you will be responsible for providing reasonable accommodation for any employees hired via this route.
Employment-Based Work Visas — Comparison table
| Visa type | Who initiates application | Main eligibility criteria (applicant) | Typical employer requirements | Typical length / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Qualified (UGE route) | Employer (Large Business & Strategic Groups Unit — UGE) | Degree (undergrad/postgrad/PhD) or significant relevant senior experience | Company must be large, strategic SME, part of large group, or project of strategic interest — UGE handles permit | Permit often gives fast-track/residence; initial periods can be favourable (example: initial residence for up to 2 years under UGE). |
| EU Blue Card | Employer or applicant (follow national procedure) | Higher education degree or 5 years relevant experience; job offer for ≥1 year; salary meets national Blue Card threshold | Employer submits/backs contract; role must be qualified | Residence + work permit for highly qualified workers; some processing timelines fast (see processing table). Max processing in some sources: 20 days (national law note for Blue Card) though practice varies. |
| Intra-Company Transfer | Employer | Employee already works for company group abroad; degree or ≥3 years’ experience; transferring within same group; evidence of business activity | Employer must prove group structure and genuine transfer | Shorter-term transfer or longer depending on contract; must have worked for overseas branch ≥3 months. |
| Seasonal Work | Employer (Provincial Alien Affairs Office / Autonomous Community labour dept) | Formal job offer for seasonal role; granted by quota | Employer must offer accommodation and meet quota allocation, follow quota rules per origin countries | Temporary; limited durations (seasonal) and quotas apply; employer responsible for accommodation. |
Other Types of Work Visas
If you are looking to work in Spain but none of the previous visas were a good fit for your circumstances (for example, if you intend to work in a self-employed capacity whilst in Spain), Spain also offers a range of further Work visas:
Self-Employed Work Visa
This visa type allows you to work on a self-employed basis in Spain. For example, this may be a good fit if you intend to work as an independent contractor.
In order to be eligible, you will need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Be a non-EU citizen
- Be over 16 years of age
- If you are already in Spain, you must have entered legally and retained legal status since entering
- Have a clean criminal record
This visa is distinct from the Entrepreneur visa in that your business does not need to be innovative and original: you will be permitted to start a business which is similar to other businesses which already exist in the Spanish market.
Entrepreneur Visa
This visa allows applicants with innovative business ideas to start a business in Spain. In order to be eligible, you must have an original and innovative business idea; that is, your proposed business must offer something new, rather than offering something which already exists in the Spanish market. Additionally, you will be expected to demonstrate that your business is viable and would benefit the Spanish economy.
Working Holiday Visa
Spain’s Working Holiday visa allows young people to work in Spain in order to support their Spanish travels.
As such, tourism must be your primary reason for visiting the country, and you cannot work for the same employer for more than 3 months.
Generally, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, although Canadians are eligible until the age of 35.
Digital Nomad Visa
The Digital Nomad visa allows you to live in Spain whilst working for a company which is based outside of the country. In order to be eligible, you will need to satisfy the minimum salary threshold and prove that the country for which you work is based outside of Spain.
Au Pair Visa
The Spanish Au Pair visa allows you to visit Spain in order to live with a local Spanish family and perform domestic work such as cleaning or childcare. You will need to be between 18 to 30 years of age and have received an offer from a host family.
You will also need to be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and that you can speak Spanish, English, French, or German. Additionally, you will need to live at the same address as your host family during your stay.
Student Visa
Whilst this is not technically a Work visa, Long-Stay Student visas generally allow the holder to work legally in Spain for up to 30 hours a week. However, there are a number of limitations on the type of work which you can complete, and your primary reason for being in the country must be study. You are also able to work during the holidays, but you are not authorised to procure full-time employment.
How to Apply for a Spanish Work Visa?
The exact steps of applying for a Spanish visa vary depending on the type of visa in question. In some cases, you will need to begin the process with a formal offer of employment from a Spanish employer, who will then need to submit a Work permit application on your behalf.
In either case, visa applications will generally need to be submitted to your local Spanish embassy or consulate. These are available in numerous global locations. In order to apply, you will need to ensure that you have all of the necessary documentation.
Once your application has been submitted, it will then be processed. If your application is successful, you will be granted a Spanish visa, which can be used to legally enter Spain.
In some cases, you will also need to apply for a Residence permit upon arrival in Spain. This is generally necessary if you plan on staying in the country for longer than 6 months.
For more information on the exact application steps for your own visa application, contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Spanish work visa Application — step-by-step
| Step | Who is usually responsible | What to prepare | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employer or applicant depending on route | Job offer or business plan; check which visa suits you | Employer applies for permit if required (employment routes) |
| 2 | Employer / applicant | Apply for work authorisation / work permit at the relevant Spanish authority (e.g., Provincial Aliens Office, Labour Dept, UGE for large companies) | Wait for permit/approval letter (if required) |
| 3 | Applicant | Apply for national (long-stay) visa at Spanish consulate/embassy in country of residence with required documents | Consular decision; legal decision periods vary (often 1 month for standard work visas; Blue Card one timeframe noted separately). (Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores) |
| 4 | Applicant (upon arrival in Spain) | Register (empadronamiento), apply for TIE/residence card and NIE where required; social security registration | Once residence permit/TIE issued you may commence employment legally |
| 5 | Employer / employee (ongoing) | Comply with labour, tax and social security rules; renew permit before expiry | Family inclusion / reunification if eligible (some routes permit joint family applications under UGE). |
Which Documents Will I Require?
The exact documents which you will require for your application will depend on the visa in question.
You will generally require a combination of the following documents:
- Valid passport
- 2 passport photos
- Proof of a clean criminal record
- An offer of employment (if applicable)
- A Work permit, via your prospective place of employment (if applicable
- Evidence of sufficient financial means (if applicable)
- Medical certificate and Spanish health insurance
Spain Work Visa Cost & Processing Time
The exact processing time for a Spanish Work visa depends on a range of factors. In order to ensure that your application is processed as quickly as possible, make sure to submit all of the necessary documents and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested.
Application fees also vary based on the type of visa in question. In the case of the EU Blue Card, for example, the application fee is €418. In the case of the Intra-Company Transfer visa and the Self-Employed visa, the cost is generally €73.26. However, note that costs often vary based on your country of nationality.
There may also be additional costs associated with your application, such as the cost of applying for a Residence permit, consular fee (depending on your country) or paying for Spanish health insurance.
How Can Total Law Help?
Spain is a popular destination for many professionals looking to relocate overseas. It offers numerous advantages, such as many areas of natural beauty, a vibrant culture, and numerous professional opportunities.
However, for non-EU citizens, moving to Spain for work often requires a visa. As applying for a Spanish visa can be complicated and confusing, many applicants choose to seek legal assistance.
At Total Law, our Spain immigration lawyers are experts in advising on cases exactly like this. We provide a full range of services, whether you are a company looking to hire an overseas worker or an applicant looking for advice on which route is right for you. Contact us online today, or on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to learn more about how we can help.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a citizen of the EU, you will not require a Work visa in order to live and work in Spain. Your EU citizenship means that you are eligible to live, work, and study in any EU country.
Note that, post-Brexit, UK citizens now require a Work visa in order to work in Spain.
How easy it is to get a Spanish Work visa will largely depend on whether or not you satisfy the eligibility criteria. In order to make your application as smooth as possible, make sure to select the visa route which is the best fit for you. You will need to ensure that you satisfy all of the eligibility criteria of your chosen route.
Note that, if you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria or provide all of the necessary documentation, your application will be unsuccessful.
It is not generally possible to switch a Tourist (Schengen) visa to a Work visa. If you wish to obtain a Work visa, it is likely that you will need to return to your home country and apply via your local Spanish embassy or consulate.
Note that, in many cases, you will require an offer of employment in order to apply for a Spanish Work visa. However, this is not always that case, as with the Entrepreneur visa or the Self-Employed visa, for instance.
