A Guide to Visa Types and Work Permits in Spain

Jump right in:

• Work permits and employment-based visas
• Self-employment visas
• Visas for non-labor activities
• Administrative steps after arrival in Spain
• Temporary and permanent residence permits
• Family Visas

Work permits and employment-based visas

As Spain belongs to the European Union, whether or not you need a work permit or employment visa depends on where you come from.

For EU/EEA nationals

If you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss national, living and working in Spain is relatively straightforward. You’re only required to hold a valid national ID card or passport, which you’ll need to present to the authorities whenever requested.

As a national of one of these countries, you don’t need a visa or work permit to stay, work, or study in Spain. However, after three months of residence, you’re required to obtain a certificate confirming your legal residence status in Spain (see more under: “Certificate of registration as an EU resident”).

For Non-EU/EEA nationals

If you’re not from an EU country, you’ll need permission from the Spanish government to live and work in Spain. This means you need to apply for a work visa. In general, you must apply for a residence and work visa from the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.

However, under the Entrepreneur Law, if you’re already legally in Spain, you may apply for a residence permit for entrepreneurs or for highly qualified professionals (such as the European Blue Card). For regular work permits, no matter if you want to be a freelancer (autónomo) or work for an employer (por cuenta ajena), you’ll need to start the application process from your country of origin.

Work visa requirements and application forms for Spain

To apply for a work permit, you’ll have to fill out the corresponding application form for the type of work permit visa you’ll need. You can find the correct form on the website of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, or request it at the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) corresponding to your place of residence. After filling out the application, you’ll need to bring the form including the following documents to the Foreigner’s Office, or Oficina de Extranjería:

• copy of your passport
• criminal record
• medical certificate
• three passport-sized photographs
• your NIE (if you’re already in the country)
• your employer’s social security number
• job offer with the labor conditions
• full description of the job and the company’s activity
• proof of your employer’s financial assets (if needed)
• the corresponding  Spain work permit visa application form

Work permit types

• Type A work permit is for seasonal and limited work, with a maximum duration of nine months, including renewals.
• Type B  initial work permit allows you to work in Spain, in a specific occupation and geographical area, for a maximum period of one year.
• Type B renewed work permit is a renewal of the initial work permit, extending it to a maximum of two years. You can also carry out various professional activities with this permit.
• Type C work permit is a renewal of the type B permit and allows you to carry out any activity in the country.
• Permanent work permits authorize you to carry out any activity for an indefinite period, but the card documenting it must be renewed every five years. This type of permit is granted to foreign workers with permanent residence.
• Other types of permits include the extraordinary permit (when a non-EU citizen has helped the Spanish economic and cultural progress) or the type F permit (for working at the Spanish borders, provided the worker returns daily to their own country).

Highly skilled worker visa (European Blue Card)

If you’re a highly skilled worker, you can apply for a European Blue Card, a residence and work permit aimed at non-EU citizens who hold higher education qualifications or equivalent professional experience. This work and residence visa allows highly skilled non-EU workers to live and work in the issuing EU country and facilitates mobility within other EU member states that participate in the Blue Card system, with the exception of Denmark and Ireland.

Requirements for the European Blue Card

The eligibility for this type of work permit depends fully on your professional qualifications. According to the Spanish Ministry for immigration, a high-skilled worker is:

• the manager of highly qualified staff of large businesses, corporate groups, or small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strategic sectors
• a manager overseeing highly qualified personnel in projects considered of general interest in Spain
• a graduate or postgraduate with a higher education degree or equivalent, or with at least three to five years of relevant professional experience

The process to apply for a highly skilled visa and work permit is handled by the employer through the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), and follows specific procedures distinct from standard work permits.

Business visas

Dependent on your country of origin, you may be able to enter Spain without a visa for business purposes. That is, only if you’re from any of the countries that fall under the Schengen visa-free regime. Otherwise, you’ll have to go to your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate. Once there, you’ll complete the corresponding visa application form, which may differ depending on whether it’s a Schengen short-stay visa or a national business visa. You’ll need to bring the following documents with you:

• Spain visa application form
• two standard passport photos no older than three months
• your passport (must be valid for three months after the day you leave Spain) and copies of your passport including pages with visas and stamps
• flight booking confirming the in- and outbound date, as well as the booking of your accommodation
• a certificate from your employer or organization indicating your role, salary, and reason for the trip (instead of a work contract, unless required)
• letter of invitation from the company you will be doing business with, justifying your travels
• travel health insurance for Spain
• proof of sufficient financial means
• proof of civil status

Costs for Spain work permits and visas

As stated by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these are the long-term work permit types and work visa costs for expats who seek to settle in Spain. You won’t be refunded if your application is denied. Also, consult with the Spanish diplomatic missions or consular posts to see if you’re eligible for a reduction or waiver of this fee.

Self-employment visas

If you plan to be self-employed or an entrepreneur in Spain, the procedure to apply for a self-employment visa is similar to the process for an employed work visa. There are, however, some differences to the requirements and application forms you will need.

Application process and forms

If you plan to embark on an entrepreneurial journey in Spain, then your chosen activity needs to be innovative and of special interest to the country. If that is the case, then the first step to getting a self-employment visa for Spain is to put in a request (autorizacion) for a visa at the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country of residence.

You can’t be in Spain when requesting this authorization or visa. You need to bring the form EX07 and pay two different fees in advance. You can download these from the Spanish general secretary.

• Modelo 790 código 052, epígrafe 2.1, autorización inicial de residencia temporal (initial temporary residency authorization)
• Modelo 790 Código 062, epígrafe 1.5, autorizaciones de trabajo por cuenta proprio (self-employed authorizations)

You’ll also need:

• A list of authorizations or licenses required for the professional activity
• proof of training or qualification for professional activity
• accreditation of sufficient economic investment
• a defined business plan, indicating planned investments, expected profits, and job creation (when applicable)

These organizations can certify your qualifications, investment, and business plan:

• Federación Nacional de Asociaciones de Empresarios y Trabajadores Autónomos (ATA)
• Unión de Profesionales y Trabajadores Autónomos (UPTA)
• Confederación Intersectorial de Autónomos del Estado Español (CIAE)
• Organización de Profesionales y Autónomos (OPA)
• Unión de Asociaciones de Trabajadores Autónomos y Emprendedores (UATAE)

This should be processed within three months. Once your autorización is granted, you can apply for the visa.

Requirements for Spanish self-employment visas

Once you obtain the authorization, you have one month to apply for the visa. You have to do this in person at the diplomatic mission or consular office. You’ll need to bring the following documents:

• passport
• criminal record from your country of origin or the country you have been living in the past five years
• medical certificate
• proof of payment of the corresponding fees

The consular office then has one month to approve or deny your application. Once your visa is approved, you have one month to collect it in person. This visa will allow you to stay in Spain for three months. In this period, you’ll have to apply for a work permit and carry out all other formalities after you enter the country.

Types of work permits for self–employed workers

• Type D initial work permit allows you to carry out a specific activity for a maximum of one year, which could be limited to a geographical area.
• Type D renewed work permit allows you to extend your initial work permit for two years, and work in various activities. The Spanish government permit could also limit this permit to a geographical area.
• Type E work permit is issued after the renewed work permit expires. It allows you to work in any professional activity for a maximum of three years.

A permanent work permit can be granted after the type E permit expires. Even though it’s permanent, you still have to renew the permit every five years.

Visas for non-labor activities

Study visa (research work)

If you wish to study, research, or do other non-labor activity in Spain, you’ll need to follow the same procedures to obtain an authorization for a visa, and then apply for the visa. At the government’s Portal de Inmigración site, you can find all the information on the formalities for studying, student exchange, voluntary work, or other non-labor activity in Spain.

Alternatively, you can also apply for a visa for residence only, which won’t allow you to carry out any professional activity. You can find all the information on residence visas and permits on the official immigration website.

Residence without work

Living in Spain without working is possible. For this, you need to apply for a non-lucrative residence visa (residence without a work permit) before moving to Spain. One of the requirements is proof of sufficient financial means for you and your family members for the period of time you wish to stay, as well as full healthcare coverage.

Requirement for a non–lucrative residence visa

Before you can complete the application for a temporary non-lucrative resident permit, you must apply directly for the visa at the Spanish diplomatic mission or consular office in your country of legal residence, providing the required documents and application forms.

You’ll need to bring a printed application form corresponding to your situation, which you can get for free either at the official website for foreign affairs or at Spain’s diplomatic missions or consular posts abroad.

In general, all official documents need to be in Spanish and previously legalized by Spanish authorities. Be sure to check all the necessary procedures for the legalization and translation of your documents.

You’ll need to bring:

• your passport
• criminal record from the country where you have lived in the past five years
• two standard passport photographs
• medical certificate
• copy of your work contract, stamped by the Immigration Office
• proof of payment of the visa application fee

The diplomatic mission then has one month to respond to your application. After it’s approved, you’ll have one month to collect your visa in person. Once you have your visa, you have three months to enter Spain. From there, you have one month to apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE). At this point, you will then be issued a temporary residence permit which is initially valid for one year.

The non-lucrative residence visa costs 120 USD (approx. 140 USD).

Administrative steps after arrival in Spain

As a non-EU national, within 30 days of arriving in Spain, you’ll need to:

• register your address (empadronamiento) at the town hall
• apply for a Foreigner’s Identity Card (TIE, Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the foreigner’s office (Oficina de Extranjería)
• register with the corresponding social security scheme

EU nationals need to:

• register at the local municipal office where they reside
• obtain a Certificate of Registration as an EU resident (green NIE)
• get a tax number and a social security number (if required)

The sections below go into more detail about each of these required steps.

Registering your residence: Empadronamiento

Every foreigner must register at their local municipal registry, Padrón Municipal.

You’ll need to provide:

• personal information: name and surname, gender, place of residence, nationality, date -and place of birth
• residency or ID card
• NIE
• qualifications

Some requirements may vary by autonomous region. Moreover, some may allow you to register online and deliver your papers through the mail, while others may require an appointment, or cita previa, and for you to hand-deliver the application forms. Always check with your municipal registry office for the correct procedure.

NIE — Foreigner’s identity number

NIE is the equivalent of a tax number in Spain. It is mandatory for all foreigners who will carry out formalities in Spain, such as opening bank accounts or signing utility contracts. You can apply for an NIE at the Consular Post or at the police station (Comisaría de Policía) or the corresponding foreigner’s office (Oficina de Extranjería), of the district you’re moving to. You’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Form EX-15 (with instructions in English to complete the form)
• a copy of your identity card or passport
• proof of your interest in applying for a NIE — economic, professional, or social

TIE — Foreigner’s identity card

All non-EU nationals who wish to stay in Spain for longer than six months need to apply for a TIE at the Foreigner’s Office. Aside from your personal information and residence status, this physical card also holds the NIE. Therefore, non-EU nationals only need to apply for the TIE. It must be renewed according to the validity of your residence permit (usually one or two years, depending on the type of permit. You must always carry it with you and be able to present it to the authorities whenever requested.

To apply for a TIE, you’ll need to bring:

• two copies of the form EX-17, filled out and signed
• your passport with your date of entry stamp into Spain
• three recent standard passport photographs
• visa, when applicable
• proof of payment of the fee (16 EUR / 19 USD)

If you’re a family member of an EU citizen, you’ll be given a specific type of TIE, tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión (form EX-19).

Certificate of registration as an EU resident

After living in Spain for three months, you’ll need to register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and obtain a certificate confirming your legal residence status in Spain (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión).

You’ll need to bring these documents:

• valid passport or ID
• two copies of the official form ex-18, filled out and signed
• Empadronamiento (local municipal registry): in most provinces, you will be asked to provide proof of registration in the Padrón Municipal where you are residing before applying for the certificate

Depending on your status, there may be other requirements:

• salaried workers: a contract from the employer or other proof of employment
• self-employed workers: proof of registration with the registry of economic activities, or censo de actividades económicas, or other proof of professional status
• students: registration with your education establishment, proof of a private or public healthcare coverage valid in Spain, and a formal declaration that you have means to support yourself
• pensioners: proof of healthcare coverage that is valid in Spain

If you don’t fit any of these categories, you need to at least show proof of healthcare coverage that is valid in Spain and that you have sufficient means to support yourself and your family.

Social security number

Generally speaking, if you’re doing any kind of paid work or internship, you need a social security number, whether you’re an EU national or not. Check our guide on working in Spain to see how you can apply.

Temporary and permanent residence permits

Are you wondering how to apply for a temporary residence permit and how to become a permanent resident in Spain? The main requirement to obtain the latter is to have resided legally in Spain for five uninterrupted years, although there are specific cases where this period can be shorter.

Temporary residence in Spain means you’re planning on staying longer than 90 days, but less than five years. Even if you do want to stay for five years or longer, you’ll only be able to get permanent residence after five years of continuous legal residence.

How to apply for a Spanish temporary residence permit

There are many different types of temporary resident permits for Spain. In this section, we’ll explore the most common ones in detail, explain how to apply for them, and which documents you’ll need to have at hand.

A temporary residency permit is a continuation of the process of getting your long-term visa. Once you enter the country and apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE), you’ll be issued a temporary resident permit.

How to obtain permanent residency in Spain

The application process is fairly easy, and the benefits are many. For both EU and non-EU nationals, you must live in Spain for five years before applying. Read on for more details.

For EU/EEA nationals

In general, you can become a permanent resident in Spain after legally residing in the country for five consecutive years. This duration is not affected by temporary absence (under six months per year), compulsory military service, or a one-year absence for exceptional reasons (e.g. serious illness, pregnancy, childbirth, study, vocational training, or work assignment in another country). You will lose the right to permanent residence if you leave the country for more than two consecutive years.

You may obtain permanent residency in under five years if you:

• retire after having worked in Spain for the last year, or have lived there continuously for three years
• stop working after no longer being able to work, and have lived in the country for two consecutive years
• stop working due to a work-related injury or illness, regardless of how long you have lived in the country
• start working in another EU country as a cross-border worker, but have worked for three consecutive years in Spain

For non-EU/EEA nationals

As a non-EU national, the requirements to obtain permanent residence in Spain are straightforward. You must live in Spain for at least five consecutive years. After that, you can start the application process for permanent residency, or residencia de larga duración.

Just like EU nationals, this will allow you to work and reside in Spain indefinitely, but maintain your nationality and passport. Alternatively, you could also apply for a long-term residence for the EU, which would allow you to live and work in Spain, as well as in other EU member states, in the same condition as other European citizens.

Required documents, application process, and costs for permanent residency in Spain

To apply for the standard long-term residence, you need:

• two copies of the application form EX-11, filled out and signed
• your passport, travel title, or registration card
• TIE (foreigner’s identity card)
• payment of the long-term residence fee (22 EUR / 25 USD)
• if applicable, proof that any minors in your care attend a school, such as a report issued by the authorities or school
• a copy your marriage certificate, if applicable
• a criminal record certificate from your country of origin or from countries where you have resided before entering Spain, issued within the last three months and duly legalized or apostilled and translated if necessary
• an employment contract and/or proof of financial means
• proof of accommodation, proof of address (local registry)

To obtain your permanent resident permit, you have to apply at the corresponding Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) or authorized police station and take along the required documents. To apply for long-term residence in Spain and the EU, the same requirements apply.

Permanent resident benefits in Spain

One major benefit of being a permanent resident in Spain is that you can live and work in the country under the same rights and conditions as Spanish citizens (although you won’t be able to vote in national elections or hold some public offices).

This means that you can stay in the country indefinitely, change jobs, and move to other regions like any other Spanish national. As a permanent resident, you get to keep your original nationality and passport, while enjoying the benefits of living and working freely in Spain.

Family visas

For EU/EEA nationals

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national, and your family is too, then you are allowed to bring them immediately with you when you move to the country. They do not need visas or residence permits, as they are themselves EU/EEA or Swiss nationals.

For non-EU/EEA nationals

Are you wondering if you can bring your family with you? In most cases, family reunification can be requested after one year of legal residence in Spain and upon renewal of your initial residence authorization. There are, however, some exceptions that allow it from the beginning. Holders of certain residence permits may apply for family reunification immediately upon arrival in Spain, including:

• an EU long-term residence permit from another EU member state
• an EU Blue Card
• entrepreneur visa
• study/research visa

Which family members can you bring?

According to the Spanish immigration law, you are allowed to reunite with your spouse or any person with whom you have a similar relationship. Promised marriages or fiancés/fiancées are not eligible unless the marriage has taken place or the partnership is formally registered. You can also reunite with your children, if they’re under the age of 18, or, with adult children who have a disability and are unable to support themselves, regardless of age. This can also apply to parents and parents-in-law if they need assistance.

Application process for family reunification visas

If you’re one of the lucky ones who can take your family with you immediately, then you’ll need to apply for your family’s residence visa at the Spanish Consulate corresponding to their place of legal residence.

Are you already in Spain and want to reunite your family? Then you must go to the local foreigner’s office with the following documents:

• original and copy of your own passport
• copies of the passports of your family members
• copy of your own residence permit
• proof of the family relationships (marriage certificate, birth certificates)
• copy of employment contract
• proof of financial means to support your family
• proof of health insurance
• proof of accommodation for you and your family (rental contract, certificate of property purchase)

Once the application for family reunification is approved, your family has to go in person to the Spanish consulate corresponding to their place of legal residence to apply for a residence visa. This has to be done within two months of receiving the family reunification certificate. The documents they’ll need to bring with them are the same as for regular visa applications. A family reunion visa costs around 80 EUR (approx. 90 USD).