Many individuals who wish to become employed in the country will need to obtain a Spanish work permit. This document is issued by the appropriate labor authorities, and it applies to non-EU individuals who wish to work in the country.
Our Spain immigration experts can help you with all of the details about the process of obtaining this permit, which must be applied for not by the worker but by the employer who wishes to hire a foreign individual. We can assist him/her in applying for a residence permit in Spain.
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When is a work permit necessary?
The work permit in Spain is needed by individuals outside of the EU who wish to come and work in Madrid, Barcelona, as well as anywhere else in the country. EU-member state residents, as well as those individuals from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, are not required to apply for this permit.
The work and residence permit will be required by all other nationals who are interested in working in the country or in Spain immigration, and the employer applies for it. When the individual receives this document, he/she can apply for the work visa. The deadline for the visa application is one month from the receipt of the permit.
Our immigration lawyers in Spain can help answer any specific questions you might have about the conditions of working in the country. If necessary, we also offer support in Spanish citizenship applications.
Specific conditions to obtain a work visa in Spain
Compared to other means to obtain a residence permit for Spain, securing a work visa implies an additional step: having an employment contract before moving here. As such, one must first go through the personnel recruitment process and sign a labor agreement, which will serve as a reason for emigrating to Spain. The good part is that, alongside the work visa, the beneficiary will also be issued a resident card.
For many foreigners, having a residency permit in Spain is a fantastic opportunity. However, special attention must be paid to the fact that when linked to employment, it must be renewed every 2 years. Our immigration lawyers in Spain can offer details on the employment regulations here, so that you can improve your chances of gaining a job and thus obtaining a work permit.
Steps to apply for a work permit
The steps below are the main ones that need to be fulfilled in order to obtain a work permit in Spain:
- submission to the Immigration Office: this is handled by the employer, who must notify the intention to hire a foreign employee.
- fill in the application form: each individual must fill in the application form for a national visa, which must be signed in person by the applicant.
- provide identification details: a recent photograph, passport size, and with a white background will be needed.
- personal documents: passport copy, including photocopies if specified, must be valid for at least one year after the application.
Other documents, like a certificate of no criminal conviction and a medical certificate, may be needed. One of our agents who specializes in Spain immigration can help you with information about sector-specific requirements. The work permit can also lead to residency in Spain.
In order to qualify for residency in Spain, a person must live here for a determined period of time. After 5 years of consecutive living, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency. If you wish to move to Spain and need help applying for a residence permit, you can count on us. We are at your service, no matter the immigration pathway you decide on.
You can also obtain assistance from our immigration law firm, which can help you complete the steps required to get a nomad visa in Spain. You may count on us for information regarding the program if you want to work remotely from Spain. Do not hesitate to send us your enquiries via email for complete details of the requirements you need to meet in order to relocate here temporarily.
Types of work visas for Spain
If you are seeking employment in Spain, you can apply for various types of work visas, among which:
- the seasonal visa is obtained mainly by those who want to work temporarily here, usually for a few months;
- the long-term work visa, which can be obtained when a shortage on the labor market cannot be filled by Spanish or EU citizens;
- the highly skilled qualified professional visa which, as its name suggests, is available for foreign citizens who have exceptional skills in a specific domain;
- the EU Blue Card, which is another visa for highly skilled employment;
- the intra-company transfer visa, through which foreign companies with Spanish branches can detach managers and/or trainees to Spain.
Apart from these, it is also possible to obtain Spanish work permits for specific activities, such as research and development. Also, recent changes to the program allow those interested in the Spanish nomad visa to work with local companies.
Our immigration lawyers in Spain can offer detailed information on all the above-presented types of work permits.
Documents required to obtain a work permit in Spain
Here are the documents to prepare when filing for a Spanish work visa:
- the employment contract;
- the criminal record, which must be translated into Spanish;
- the medical certificate, which must be issued by a licensed practitioner;
- proof of accommodation in Spain (a rental agreement suffices when moving here);
- the diplomas attesting to the qualifications of the employee.
These are the papers the foreign employee must prepare. On the other hand, the employer must also obtain authorization from the Spanish Ministry for Labor.
How many foreigners work in Spain?
According to recent news, one the reasons for Spain’s good economic performance is the large number of foreign workers living here. Specifically:
- in 2023, 4.5% of the foreign workforce in Spain came from other EU states, while 17.7% came from non-EU ones;
- in 2024, there were around 3 million foreign workers in Spain;
- they accounted for 13% of the total Spanish workforce.
One of the easiest ways to relocate to Spain is the nomad visa, which was created in compliance with a recently introduced law. Remote employees will be able to move here with the help of this visa without having to apply for a regular residence permit. If you decide to apply for it, you can rely on our immigration specialists, who can help you. We can also assist you in applying for citizenship in Spain.
If you would like to know more about emigrating to Spain, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can count on us when applying for a residence permit in Spain.