🇪🇸 Spain · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Non-EU nationals need a work and residence authorisation to work in Spain; EU/EEA and Swiss citizens work freely. Common routes are employed work, the Highly Qualified Professional permit and self-employment, plus a digital-nomad visa for remote workers. Applications run through the immigration authorities and consulates.
Non-EU nationals need a work and residence authorisation to work in Spain; EU citizens work freely. Routes include employed work, highly-qualified professionals and self-employment.
- EU/EEA citizens work without a permit; non-EU nationals need a work authorisation.
- Employer-sponsored, highly-qualified and self-employed routes exist.
- Applications are handled by the immigration authorities and consulates.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose the work route
Choose the route — the Highly Qualified Professional permit (under the Startup Law) is fast, while general employment needs a work authorisation and often a labour-market test.
- 2
Employer applies for the authorisation
The employer (or you, for the Highly Qualified route) applies for the work-and-residence authorisation; general routes may require the employment office to confirm no suitable local candidate.
- 3
Apply for the visa at the consulate
After the authorisation is granted, apply for the work visa at the Spanish consulate in your country.
- 4
Enter Spain
Enter Spain within the visa validity.
- 5
Get your foreigner ID (TIE)
Apply for the foreigner identity card (TIE) and register with social security.
- 6
Renew and consider long-term residence
Renew before expiry; continuous legal residence can lead to long-term residence.
Checklist
- Work route chosen (Highly Qualified Professional or general employment)
- Work-and-residence authorisation
- Labour-market check where required
- Work visa at the consulate
- Entry within the visa validity
- Foreigner ID card (TIE)
- Social-security registration
- Long-term residence pathway considered
Official authorities
- Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
Work and residence permits for foreign nationals.
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need a work permit in Spain?
No — EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in Spain without a permit, registering as residents after a few months.
What is the Highly Qualified Professional visa?
A faster route for well-paid skilled roles, often processed under the Startups Law with benefits for the worker and family.
Is there a digital-nomad visa?
Yes — Spain offers a digital-nomad visa for non-EU remote workers with foreign income, allowing residence while working online.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- General Access Point (administracion.gob.es) — Central portal for Spanish public administration services
- Immigration e-Office (Extranjería) — Residence, foreigner ID (NIE/TIE) and immigration procedures
- Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) — Spanish income tax (IRPF) and VAT (IVA) filing
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visas) — Visa applications abroad and consular services