Working in Spain is a remarkable opportunity to experience Mediterranean culture. You can learn one of the most spoken languages in the world while enjoying Spain’s well-known climate. The country also has extensive transport links to the rest of Europe, so you can spend your free days traveling.
Spain’s labor market is strongly service-oriented. Work-permit exemptions based on labor shortages depend on SEPE’s quarterly Catalogue of Hard-to-Fill Occupations or the employer showing that the role cannot be filled from Spain’s internal labor market. Graduates may find opportunities in tourism, energy, banking, technology, health care, education, and other professional services, depending on their qualifications and authorization route.
Spain is one of the 27 countries in the European Union (EU). The European Economic Area (EEA) includes the EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals generally do not need a Spanish work visa to work and live in Spain, although stays of more than three months may require residence registration or other administrative steps.
On the other hand, citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally need a work and residence authorization and a Spanish work visa to work in Spain. If you are drawn to this charming European country, this article will guide you through how to get a work visa in Spain.
Steps to Apply for a Spanish Work Visa
You can generally apply for a Spanish national visa up to six months before the starting date of your work or activity. However, for an employee work visa, your employer must first obtain the initial residence and work authorization in Spain. After that authorization is granted, you normally have one month from the employer’s notification to request the visa at the relevant Spanish diplomatic mission.
Step 1. Secure a Job in Spain
To obtain an employee work visa in Spain, you must usually have a job offer or employment contract from a Spanish employer. The employer normally applies for the initial residence and work authorization in Spain, and the worker then applies for the visa at the Spanish embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
Most occupations require a work authorization before applying for a work and residence visa in Spain. However, some specific activities may be exempt from work authorization, such as certain technical, scientific, teaching, cultural, artistic, journalistic, trade-union, or religious activities. Even where a work authorization exemption applies, the worker may still need the appropriate visa or residence permit.
Step 2. Get a Work Permit from Your Employer
Your employer will usually apply for your initial residence and employee work authorization using form EX-03 through the competent Foreign Nationals’ Office in Spain. Approval depends on several conditions, including the employer’s compliance with Spanish requirements, the employment contract, the worker’s qualifications, and Spain’s national employment situation. A role may qualify more easily if it appears in SEPE’s Catalogue of Hard-to-Fill Occupations or if the employer passes the labor market test.
The official decision period for the work authorization is three months from the day after the application is registered. If the authorization is granted, your employer will be notified and should forward the decision to you. You then have one month from the employer’s notification to apply for the visa at the Spanish diplomatic mission in your country of residence.
Step 3. Collect the Required Documents
Together with the work authorization sent by your employer, gather the documents required by the Spanish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence. Requirements can vary by consular office, and foreign documents may need to be legalized or apostilled and translated into Spanish by an authorized translator.
You can complete the national visa application form electronically, then print and sign it before submission if the consular office allows this format.
Step 4. Schedule an Appointment
Book an appointment with the Spanish embassy, consulate, visa center, or other responsible diplomatic mission in your country of residence. You can find the full list of Spanish embassies and consulates on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
You usually have to attend the appointment in person and submit your documents. A consular officer may ask about the purpose of your application or request additional documents, depending on your case and the rules of the consular office.
Step 5. Settle the Fees
You need to pay the applicable visa fee when you apply. Spanish national visa fees are generally equivalent to 80 EUR, but the exact amount, payment method, and any reciprocity fee can vary by nationality and consular office. Separate work authorization fees may also apply in Spain through the official Modelo 790 fee forms.
Step 6. Travel to Spain
The diplomatic mission generally has one month to decide on the visa application. If the visa is approved, you must usually collect it in person within one month of the notification. The visa is normally valid for three months, during which you must enter Spain. After arrival, your employer must complete the required Social Security registration before the work authorization becomes fully effective.
Step 7. Request a Foreigner Identity Card
Once in Spain, if your residence and work authorization is valid for more than six months, you must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, known as a TIE, within one month after Social Security registration. This is done at the Foreign Nationals’ Office or police station and serves as proof of your authorized residence and work status in Spain.
Documents Needed for a Spanish Work Visa
There are several types of work-related visas and authorizations in Spain, depending on the nature and length of employment. In general, an employee work visa starts with a job offer. After this, the employer is responsible for initiating the work authorization application in Spain on the worker’s behalf.
The following documents are commonly required from the applicant for an employee work visa, although the exact checklist should always be confirmed with the relevant Spanish consulate:
Employee Visa for employer-sponsored residence and work authorization
- Completed national visa application form
- Recent passport-sized photograph
- Valid, unexpired passport, usually with at least one year of validity and two blank pages
- Approved initial residence and employee work authorization
- Employment contract stamped by the competent Foreign Nationals’ Office or authority in Spain
- Criminal record certificate or certificates for the country or countries where you have lived during the previous five years
- Medical certificate
- Proof of residence in the relevant consular district and, where required, proof of legal residence there
- Proof of payment of the visa fee
- Any additional documents requested by the specific Spanish consulate, including legalized or apostilled documents and official translations where applicable
Additional requirements for other visa types:
Seasonal Work Visa for fixed-term seasonal work, valid for a maximum of nine months per calendar year
- Proof that the employer will provide adequate accommodation
- Proof that the employer will cover travel costs
- Undertaking to return at the end of the contract or seasonal activity
Au Pair Visa for individuals who will work with a host family
- Proof of age between 17 and 30
- Signed au pair agreement with the host family
- Any additional student or au pair visa documents required by the relevant Spanish consulate
Self-Employed Visa for freelancing, entrepreneurship, and autonomous work
- Viable business plan and proof of sufficient financial resources
- Proof of professional skills, experience, or qualifications for the planned activity
- Registrations, permits, or licenses required for the planned activity
- Contracts, commissions, or evidence of potential clients, if applicable
EU Blue Card or Highly Qualified Worker Authorization for highly qualified non-EU workers
- Valid employment contract or binding job offer, generally for at least six months for the EU Blue Card
- Proof of higher education qualifications or equivalent high-level professional skills
- Salary that meets the official Spanish threshold for the applicable authorization route
Initial authorization periods vary by route. Employee and self-employed authorizations are generally granted for the duration of the activity, with limits set by Spanish regulations. Seasonal authorizations are limited to a maximum of nine months per calendar year. Highly qualified professional authorizations under Spain’s entrepreneur and mobility rules can be granted for up to two years or for the duration of the contract if shorter. Authorizations may be renewable if the required conditions continue to be met. In general, you can apply for long-term residence after five continuous years of legal residence in Spain.
Working in Spain can be one of your most memorable experiences. Acquiring a work visa does not have to be a stressful process if you follow this step-by-step guide and confirm the latest requirements with the Spanish consulate responsible for your country of residence.
We hope this article on how to get a work visa in Spain was helpful! If you are interested in studying in Europe, check out the Study in Spain and Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
