A Spain work visa is a long-stay visa, which enables you to engage in a paid activity. Applicants for this visa must be employed by a company, institution, or organization in Spain. Only nationals of EU/EEA countries can work in Spain without a visa. Everyone else must apply for a work visa.
Supporting Documents for a Spain Work Visa Application
The documents you need to apply for a Spain work visa are:
- A Spanish D visa application form.
- A valid passport. Your passport needs to be valid for at least three months and issued within ten years.
- Two recent photos.
- Copy of passport pages.
- Work authorization. Your employer should get your work authorization. When you submit the documents, this document should not be older than one month.
- Police record. A document no older than six months, that shows that you have committed no criminal activity in the last 5 years.
- Medical Certificate. A document issued by a legally known physician which states that you are not suffering from any disease or that you may have a serious public health impact.
- Proof of accommodation. You can have a hotel booking, rental agreement, or lease that contains your name, the duration of your stay, and the details of the accommodation place.
- Proof of professional qualification. You need to prove that you are qualified for your job in Spain.
- Work contract. A signed document that indicates your work conditions, including the monthly payment, and is signed by you and your employee.
- License or registration required to carry out the work in Spain.
You may need to submit additional documents based on your investment plan or your job offer. The documents you need to submit are also influenced by your nationality. The complete list of the documents required will be provided to you by the consulate in accordance with the circumstances of your case.
How to Apply for a Spain Work Visa?
To apply for a Spanish employment visa, you will need to get a job at a company, institution, or organization in Spain before you begin any applicatiton procedure. To prove this, the provincial office of the Ministry of Labor and Immigration (Delegación Provincial del Ministerio de Trabajo e Inmigración) should receive an application for a work permit on your behalf from your employer.
After the employer in Spain completes these procedures, the application can be initiated at a Spanish consulate or embassy in your country or at a third-party visa application center, depending on the country. You should apply at least three months before your trip to Spain.
Here are the steps the application will go through:
Step 1: Set up an appointment
You can make a visa interview appointment through the call center of the Spanish consulate, the third-party visa-processing center, or online through their websites. How you make a visa interview appointment depends on how the Spanish representation has regulated this issue in your country.
Step 2: Collect the Required Documents
Collect the required documents according to the criteria set by the Spanish authorities.
Note that depending on the job offer you will need to submit additional documents. Your nationality also plays a role in the list of the documents you need to submit. The consulate will provide you with a full list of the documents required according to your case.
Step 3: Attend the Interview
On the day of the interview, you will:
- Give your biometrics, your facial image, and fingerprints, if you have not traveled to Schengen countries in the last 5 years.
- Pay the visa fee. Depending on your country, you may have to pay in cash during the interview or at a bank before or after the interview.
- Attend the interview. The interview is a short meeting with a visa consular. You will submit your document to this person, as required. You will also need to respond to several questions regarding your trip.
Step 4: Wait for the Processing
Most countries process your visa application within one month. In some others, this process can be extended for up to 2 months. That is why you should make sure you apply well in advance, in order to avoid any possible delays.
After You Arrive in Spain with a Work Visa
As soon as you arrive in Spain, you need to apply for a residence card if you’re spending between 3 and 6 months in the country and for a Foreign Identity Card (TIE) if you’re spending more than 6 months in the country. Then, you have to apply for a foreigner’s identity number through the local Foreigner’s Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or the police.
If you have a visa with a six months validity, which indicates “exempt from work permits”, you can go on and work. You will not need to register or obtain work authorization.
Every foreigner in Spain must register at their local municipal registry, Padrón Municipal. You will need to provide:
- your personal information: name and surname, gender, place of residence, nationality, date, and place of birth;
- your residency or ID card;
- your NIE;
- your qualifications.
Finally, register with the General Social Security Fund (Dirección General de la Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social – TGSS). Whether they are a salaried employee or self-employed, everyone who works in Spain is required to register with the General Social Security Fund. If you work for someone else, they will take care of things for you, but if you work for yourself, you are responsible for it.
Spain Work Visa Fees
The Spanish Visa fees for those coming to the country for employment purposes are as follows:
| Work Visa type | USA citizens | Canadian Citizens | Other nationalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed Work Visa | €167 | €100 | €80 |
| Work Visa Except from Work Permit | €123 | €507 | €80 |
| Self Employed Work Visa | €238 | €674 | €80 |
| New Entrepreneurial Law 14/2013 | €167 | €100 | €80 |
Note that if you will be applying through a visa center you will pay an additional small fee to the visa-processing center.
How Long Can I Stay in Spain with a Work Visa?
Your visa will stipulate how long you can stay in Spain for work. If your visa sticker has a validity of six months, this is the longest you can stay in Spain.
If your visa indicates the validity of three months with the right to get work authorization, then you are entitled to apply for a residence permit that is valid for one year. You may also apply for the extension of your work residence permit before the expiration of your current permit.
Can I Bring My Family Members?
Yes, you can. You can bring your family members after one year of working and living there. Moreover, you need to have a residence permit that allows you to stay and work in Spain for another year in order to bring your family members.
Family members can also work in Spain without a work authorization. Family members of those who have an EU Blue Card do not need to wait for a year to pass in order to go to Spain.
Can I Change My Job While in Spain?
Spain issues work permits for specific sectors, so you are usually able to change jobs as long as they are in the same field.