Work Visa in Spain

A work visa in Spain is not only a legitimate mechanism for official employment but also an effective legal way to help individuals integrate into the socio-economic and legal landscape of a prosperous EU member state.

Work visa holders enjoy official employment in Spain and are entitled to the public health insurance services and compulsory social insurance system with social guarantees and benefits.

Along with multiple social guarantees, the holder of a work visa in Spain acquires the right to legally extend the duration of his/her stay and labour activity under the procedure and under the conditions established by the migration legislation of the Kingdom.

In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of foreign nationals arriving in the Kingdom of Spain under various immigration regimes. The most representative demographic category among foreign residents involves the nationals from the Latin American countries. Their integration is greatly facilitated by the absence of language barriers and deep historical and cultural connections.

Reasons that encourage foreigners to obtain a work visa in Spain

Spain offers a favourable political and social environment for foreigners. Comparatively low crime rate, accessible health care system, and high standard of living make the country attractive for migrants.

An applicant who possesses the appropriate qualifications, supported by relevant educational documents, in-field experience, and an employment contract in Spain, acquires a legal basis to apply for a work permit in Spain.

The migration regime enables initial visa issuance for a year with follow-up extensions once a candidate submits relevant documents proving their employment status and adherence to the legal criteria.

Given the current macroeconomic situation in Spain, obtaining a work permit by foreign nationals is of legal and socio-economic importance. According to the current macroeconomic indicators, the Spanish economy is showing a steady positive trend: the GDP growth rate for the current year is approximately 3 percent.

Meanwhile, there is a tendency to reduce inflationary processes - the inflation rate has stabilised at around 2%, which indicates the effectiveness of monetary policy and favours the formation of a predictable business environment. There is also a steady decline in the unemployment rate to 10.7%, which entails the formation of additional demand for qualified labour resources.Considering these favourable preconditions, the Spanish economy is highly adaptable to changing external economic conditions and features high potential for long-term sustainable growth. In this vein, acquiring a work visa enabling official employment in Spain is a huge step towards integration into the sustainably developing EU economy.The current political situation in a number of CIS countries contributes to the intensification of cross-border migration flows towards jurisdictions characterised by stable and reliable functioning of social institutions and state support systems. In this context, the Kingdom of Spain is a priority destination for immigration due to the legislative guarantees of the legal status of foreign specialists and a high level of social protection.

My practical experience shows the demand for foreign specialists with the necessary qualifications and competencies to fill the labour shortage in strategically important sectors of the economy. This labour shortage affects such sectors as agricultural production, the construction industry, logistics and transport services, tourism, high-tech and innovative industries.

I always emphasise to my clients that national legislation regulating immigration and labour migration issues sets strict legal restrictions for employers to legally employ foreign workers. The current legal framework requires mandatory adherence to the Spanish working permit procedure, often involving administrative barriers and restrictions for quotas and candidates’ eligibility.

In 2024, the procedure for acquiring a labour visa in Spain eased. A differentiated system of new categories of working visas came in effect, structurally segmenting different types of employment according to qualifications, economic sector, and duration of validity. The shift signalled the transition towards a more flexible and specialised migration policy.

Legislative changes have affected quotas for the recruitment of foreign workers: differentiated limits have been established, taking into account the economic situation and the needs of the national labour market.

Meanwhile, the administrative procedures for processing applications for labour visas in Spain have been reorganised, resulting in shorter statutory processing times, which significantly increases the speed and efficiency of interdepartmental cooperation.Comprehensive measures have been introduced to strengthen control over the transparency and legality of the visa application process, including administrative oversight and reporting mechanisms. These measures have made it possible to increase access to labour immigration for a wide range of foreign entities interested in legalising their professional activities by obtaining a national work visa in Spain.

Foreigners who can apply for a work visa in Spain

The legal framework governing the process of obtaining a work permit in Spain is detailed in the provisions of the Act of 4/2000 on the legal status of foreign nationals and measures for their social integration. Persons who do not hold citizenship of the EU or the European Economic Area may apply for a visa in Spain to get legal employment, provided that the prescribed criteria are met.

Candidates should have a legally valid employment contract confirming their intention to employ a foreign worker. Secondly, this right is directly linked to the prior approval of the public authorities with competence in the field of migration regulation, like the Office of Foreigners and Immigration or authorised units of the Interior Ministry, through an administrative approval procedure for the permit issuance necessitates legal residence and official employment in Spain.

The Spanish work visa applies to foreign nationals who meet the statutory criteria and conditions set out in the migration and labour legislation of the Kingdom of Spain:

• Foreign nationals who possess an official labour offer from a legal entity included in the State Register of Enterprises
• Qualified specialists with professional education or significant work experience in priority sectors of the economy, the list of which is compiled and regularly updated by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy
• Highly skilled professionals who request a work visa as part of the Blue Card EU programme that (1) provides a simplified migration regime for workers with a high skill level, and (2) facilitates the free movement and the EU integration of skilled workers.
• Temporary employees who are subject to employment contracts approved by authorised institutions specialising in seasonal employment.

To get a work permit in Spain, there is a procedural requirement for self-employment or other independent legal status that the employer or the applicant must be directly involved in initiating the application for a work permit.

An employer eligible to employ foreign labour is obliged to apply to the competent territorial unit of the Migration Service with a full set of documents, including a notarised copy of the concluded employment contract, registration documents of the employer confirming its legal capacity and compliance with the requirements of the legislation, and confirmation of its compliance with all regulations governing labour relations with foreign workers.

Obtaining a work permit in Spain cannot be initiated without first obtaining official approval and authorisation from the country's authorised migration authority.

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Working Visa to Spain: Types and Specificities

The provisions of Law No. 4/2000 and Royal Decree No. 557/2011 regulate the list of legal grounds on which foreign citizens are entitled to initiate the issuance of a work visa to Spain.

These provisions regulate the applicant’s legal status, type of professional activity, and relationship with a potential employer. To ensure legitimate entry into Spain and subsequent fulfilment of professional duties, the foreign subject must decide on visa type.

The choice necessitates adherence to the visa regime, including the terms of the labour contract and either temporary or permanent employment status. Foreign applicants can obtain several kinds of Spanish work visas:

Permission to work as an employee is initiated by the Spanish employer. The employment contract signed by both parties confirms a mutual relationship between the employer and the employee. The contract must comply with the requirements of Spanish labour law and be registered with the competent public authorities.

Authorisation to carry out independent professional activities applies to individuals carrying out entrepreneurial activities or acting as freelancers, planning to realise their business projects in Spain. The key preconditions for obtaining such authorisation are official registration as a taxpayer, submitting a business plan, and proving the economic value and sustainability of the planned activity.

The European Blue Card applies to skilled workers holding a university diploma and proven professional experience and compliant with the requirements of Spanish and European legislation. Financial criteria are required, which stipulate that the applicant's annual income must exceed the minimum level established by EU and Spanish regulations. The purpose of this authorisation is to encourage the recruitment of highly qualified personnel to support strategic sectors of the economy.

Permits for highly qualified specialists are issued to professionals with unique competencies needed for strategically important sectors of the national economy. This authorisation is granted upon the assessment of qualifications, in-field experience, and value for the economic development of Spain.

The seasonal labour permit applies to temporary workers during periods of seasonal peak demand, mainly in the agricultural sector and the tourism industry. As per the particular nature of seasonal employment, the term seasonal labour permit matches the duration of the concluded labour contract and excludes renewal or switching to another visa type.

All of the above work visas are subject to a specialised legal regime providing for

• Individual application procedures
• Regulated deadlines for their consideration
• A strictly established list of mandatory documents.

I would like to draw the attention of potential applicants to the fact that even in the case of short-term professional activity without a formal employment contract, compliance with the procedure of approval with the authorised administrative authorities as provided by the legislation is mandatory.Foreigners who do not have the status of a citizen of an EU member state can initiate the work visa procedure in Spain only after a favourable decision has been taken by the competent body in charge of migration control and entry of foreign workers.

Based on the issued permit, the consular office of the Kingdom of Spain grants the national visa, including the legal right to cross the country’s territory and exercise professional activities in line with the applicable migration and labour legislation.

How to obtain a work visa in Spain

The working visa in Spain initiated by the employer is governed by the Royal Decree No. 557/2011. The employer hiring a foreign professional should prepare and submit a work permit request to the competent territorial office of the Ministry of Social Security and Migration located near the place of intended employment.

The application must be provided with a full set of documents confirming both the need to employ a foreign worker and adherence to all conditions stipulated by law, including, but not limited to, the justification of the lack of suitable candidates among residents and the appropriate conditions of the labour contract.

If the competent body refuses to grant a working permit, the employee's subsequent application to the consulate will not be considered. This is because prior administrative approval initiates a visa issuance process.

To obtain the Spanish working permit, you should:

1. Prepare a comprehensive documentation package that complies with the requirements set out in the current migration and labour legislation.
2. Apply to the competent territorial representation of the Office for Foreigners for a preliminary analysis and approval of meeting the current needs of the national labour market. The application is provided by the local employer.
3. Following the permit issuance, send the document to the consular mission of the Kingdom of Spain in the place of your permanent residence
4. To apply through a personal visit to the consular office, supply the required set of documents, including the issued permit and other supplementary papers.

Legal examination by the consular authorities, which usually does not exceed 30 days. Upon review, if there are no legal grounds for refusal, the applicant will be issued a national visa authorising entry to Spain and valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

A foreigner who has been granted a working visa in Spain should enter the country’s territory within 90 days of the date of the authorisation. Failure to comply with this deadline may result in the automatic visa cancellation and the prohibition to cross the state border.

After the actual entry, a foreigner passes through registration within territorial subdivision of the internal affairs office.

During 30 days after crossing the Spanish territory, the applicant receives a document affirming their legal status as a temporary resident.

It is also obligatory to appear in person at the competent internal affairs department at the place of intended residence. You will then receive a foreigner's identity document called “Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE).”

During the registration process, the identity number, abbreviated as NIE, is assigned, a mandatory requisite to perform a variety of legal actions:

• Concluding labour and other civil law contracts with employers
• Opening of accounts in financial institutions,
• Executing lease agreements
• Registering in the national taxation and social insurance system.

Documents to Acquire a Work Visa in Spain

Regardless of the employment type, the applicant submits all necessary documentation to the diplomatic mission (consular section) in line with migration legislation and domestic legislation of the Kingdom of Spain.

All documents submitted must be legally authenticated by notarisation or any other form of official certification required by the national legislation of the applicant’s country of origin.

All papers should be translated into Spanish and notarised. Some jurisdictions require an apostille in line with the Hague Convention.

The basic list of documentation to be submitted along with the visa application under the Spanish work contract:

• A prescribed application, drawn up per the authorisation of the requested document
• A document identifying the applicant's identity (passport of a foreign citizen), valid for at least 12 months at the time of submission
• Employment contract, containing the employer’s name, working terms, contract duration, remuneration amount, and signatures of the parties
• A business plan to confirm the applicant’s intent to carry out independent entrepreneurial activity, indicating assumed activity and financial calculations.
• Certification from the migration authority for a work or business permit to carry out labour or entrepreneurial activities in Spain
• Proof that the applicant has no criminal record in their country of origin
• A rental contract for a residential property in Spain with documentary evidence of the intended address of residence, including the owner’s consent to accommodate the applicant
• Insurance policy valid throughout Spain at the time of entry and stay, providing a minimum level of health care coverage equal to €30,000
• Confirmation of paid visa fees.

With extensive experience in visa support, I have witnessed numerous refusals to issue visas for legal labour activity in Spain. Mostly, rejections are due to formal or technical discrepancies in the submitted documents.

Absence of the mandatory apostille

Inconsistency of personal data in various documents

Submission of documents with an expired validity period.

I provide full support in acquiring a work visa to Spain with a preliminary legal examination of the document package and its adherence to the domestic migration legislation.

Obtaining a Work Visa in Spain in 2025: Financial and Tax Nuances

A foreign applicant for the work visa in Spain should provide documentary evidence of qualification background, a work contract with all the terms, and support for the candidate’s initial integration in Spain.

The total cost to apply for a work visa in Spain varies from €400 to €1,200. The amount includes both mandatory government fees and costs associated with the preparation and translation of documentation, legal support, and other administrative expenses.

The cost is calculated individually in each case, depending on the candidate’s assessment, considering the following criteria: (1) the legalisation procedure and (2) the country of application.

The standard work permit consular fee is 80 euros for the majority of international candidates.

Along with administrative costs, all applicants have financial obligations to prepare and submit all the required paperwork and proofs of legal residence and/or business activities in Spain. Such costs include

• Notarial, translation, and legalisation expenses: up to 150 euros per document set.
• Health insurance registration for a minimum of 6 months: up to 250 euros.
• A rental agreement from €300 a month in regional municipalities and from €600 a month in administrative centres.

Once you’ve obtained a work permit in Spain, you should pay personal income tax, varying from 19% to 47%, depending on the amount of the taxpayer's total annual income.

All officially employed individuals should contribute to the state social insurance system, with a significant share of mandatory contributions being borne by the employer due to the labour and social legislation.

If you run a business, you must obtain an individual tax identification number (NIF) and register as a member of the self-employed regime (RETA).

Entrepreneurs pay a fixed monthly social contribution from 230 euros and up. Favourable conditions for start-ups during the initial twelve months involve a reduced social monthly payment of 80 euros.

Conclusion

If you would like to apply for a Spanish working visa, take the process responsibly to avoid possible reactions.

This official document is issued by the competent state authorities and grants foreign nationals the legal right to employment and access to social benefits.

The process involves compliance with the domestic migration legislation, tax and labour requirements, as well as documentary support.

I facilitate clients with advisory and legal support. I am guided by the latest regulations and administrative procedures, ensuring legal protection of the applicant’s best interests and minimising the risks of procedural violations and bureaucratic delays.