Visa Types, Requirements, and How to Apply
Dreaming of moving to Spain? With its sunny climate, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and relaxed lifestyle, it’s easy to see why Spain remains one of the world’s most popular destinations for expats and international travelers.
If you’re planning to live and work in the country, it’s important to understand your legal requirements before relocating. Learn whether you need a permit to work in Spain and explore the different Spanish work visa options available to expats.
Who Needs a Work Visa in Spain?
In short, anyone who is not from an EU country needs to obtain a Spanish work visa to live and work in Spain. Without a work visa, a company cannot legally employ non-EU citizens, nor can a freelancer remain in Spain to work.
Work permits, which may be limited to specific activities, are generally valid for a year and are renewable if you still fulfill the conditions. After five years, you can apply for a long-term residence permit in Spain.
Types of Spanish Work Visa
There are various types of work visas for Spain for different jobs and different lengths of employment. In most cases, you must arrange a job before applying for a work visa to move to Spain.
Also note that the Spanish work visa is linked to your residence status in Spain. The most common Spanish work visas are:
Highly-skilled Employee Work Visa
To work in Spain as a highly-skilled employee, non-EU citizens need to find a job listed as a ‘Shortage Occupation’.
This is a list of occupations for which there is a lack of suitable candidates within the EU, and gives you the chance to apply for that job.
Some of the fields on the “in-demand” list include doctors, marketers, engineers, and business consultants. Once you get a job, but before moving to Spain, your new employer requests a work visa from the Ministry of Labour.
From there, your employer will guide you in the process of getting the work visa and residency permit, which can take up to eight months.
Once your visa is approved, the embassy or consulate will issue you a work visa and a residency permit. You will need to pick it up before entering Spain. The Spanish work permit is valid for 1 year and is renewable as long as you meet the conditions.
Seasonal Work Visa
The process of obtaining a seasonal work visa is very similar to that for a highly skilled employee work permit. Also, in this case, the employer has to apply for a visa for you.
However, you need to show some additional documents to support the application, such as:
- proof of suitable accommodation while in Spain
- proof that your travel costs to and from Spain are covered (by yourself or the employer)
- proof that you will return to your home country after the seasonal contract ends
The seasonal work visa length depends on the length of your contract.
Au Pair Work Visa
A Spanish au pair work visa is actually a type of student visa. It is intended for a person from a foreign country to live with a local family while performing household work in the family’s home and improving their linguistic or professional knowledge.
This type of visa is granted for one year but can be renewed. To apply, you must fulfill certain criteria, such as:
- Your age must be between 17 and 30.
- Obtain an au pair agreement with the host family that includes all details regarding the job scope and salary.
- Provide proof that you can support yourself and have medical cover.
If you are interested in the au pair type of visa, you must apply in person for this permit at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country before coming to Spain.
American citizens (or any other nationality that doesn’t require a visa to enter Spain) visiting for less than 90 days for study purposes do not need to apply for an Au Pair visa.
Freelance/Entrepreneur Visa
The Freelance/Entrepreneur visa is a specific type of residence permit that allows you to reside in Spain for a year and run your own business.
To successfully apply and obtain this type of visa, you need to demonstrate that your business idea is considered innovative and will enrich the Spanish economy; for example, it will create more jobs.
You also must present proof that you can support yourself or the business for one year. You can apply for this visa while in Spain on a tourist visa, or from your home country by filling out the forms and applying in person at the Spanish consulate or embassy near you.
EU Blue Card Visa
The EU Blue Card is Europe’s answer to the US Green Card, and it is valid for 1 year but can be renewed as long as the conditions for issuance are met. The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals.
People who have completed at least 3 years of higher education, which qualifies them to work as a skilled professional, or who have at least 5 years of high-level professional experience in a field, can apply for the Blue card visa.
Another requirement for the EU Blue visa is that your contract must include a salary at least 50% higher than the average salary in Spain, or at least 20% higher if the skills are in demand. In 2020, Spain set the minimum salary threshold at 33908 €.
As with a highly skilled worker visa, the employer applies on behalf of the applicant. Once the EU Blue card visa is approved, you must apply in person for a visa from a Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country within 1 month of your employer’s initial EU Blue card approval.
Once you receive the permit from your embassy or consulate in your home country, you have 3 months to move to Spain.
Exemptions for Employee Work Permits in Spain
There are a few exceptions where people won’t need a work permit to work in Spain; however, they may still need a different visa to enter Spain (for example, a tourist visa).
These exceptions from Spanish work visas include:
- university professors
- scientists
- foreign journalists
- artists coming for specific performances
- clergy
- volunteer workers
Keen to know more? Read about living in Spain as an expat, the cost of living in Spain, and the best jobs in Spain for expats.
International Citizens Insurance has an experienced team of authors, including expatriates and world travelers, providing curated guidance for our clients.
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