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Employment · SpainSpainEUSchengen
From €1,30010–30 working days
Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.
For non-EU workers with a job offer from a Spanish employer.
Check your eligibilityThe first permit for a non-EU employee lasts as long as the job, up to 1 year, and is limited to one region and one occupation. Unless an exemption applies, the job must fit the national employment situation, in practice the shortage occupations catalogue. The rules come from the Immigration Regulation in force since 20 May 2025.
Updated
How it works
The limits of the first year matter more than the application itself.
Article 73 of RD 1155/2024 limits the initial permit to the length of the job, at most 1 year, in one region and one occupation. Changing either during the first permit needs an authorisation.
The employer applies; unless the job is exempt, it must fit the shortage occupations catalogue.
Five years of continuous legal residence lead to long-term residence, which allows living and working in Spain on the same terms as Spaniards.
We check the occupation against the catalogue and the exemptions, give the employer the file list and prepare the worker’s visa application.
What you getEUSchengen
Requirements
Three conditions; the second is where most files stop.
Legal basis:Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (Immigration Regulation, in force 20.05.2025)Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España (consolidated)
Some workers are exempt from the employment situation test; we check whether you are.
Occupations outside the catalogue filed without an exemption.
Cost
Our fee from the package; Spanish state fees are not in our reference.
| Who applies | Our fee from | Government fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €1,300 | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
| Couple | €1,300 | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
| Couple with two children | €1,300 | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
| Who applies | Our fee from | Government fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | Not published | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
| Couple | Not published | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
| Couple with two children | Not published | Not published | Not publishedSpanish state fees for this permit are not published in our reference. |
Renewal after the first year:1 year
Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.
State fees are paid to the Spanish authorities.
No investment is required.Conditions
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case. We usually reply within one business day.
From €1,30010–30 working days
Process
Four steps.
We check the occupation and exemptions.
Route note
The employer files the authorisation with our file list.
Filed authorisation
We prepare the worker’s visa application for the consulate.
Filed visa application
Refusals
Two grounds our reference supports.
Checked on
| Reason for refusal | What closes it | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation not on the shortage catalogue and no exemption | We check before the employer files. | Not published |
| Work outside the region or occupation of the permit | We explain the first-year limits before you accept other work.1 year | Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (Immigration Regulation, in force 20.05.2025) |
Long term
Nationality by residence usually needs 10 years; 2 for Ibero-American nationals.
Changes
Updated
Initial temporary residence and work permit for employees (cuenta ajena)Open
| Date | What changed | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReformSupreme Court partially annulled RD 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation): provisions on family members of Spaniards, automatic refusal for criminal records, and a ban on temp agencies holding seasonal-work permits. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| TransitionEnd of Spain's 18-month MiCA transitional period for crypto-asset service providers; CNMV authorisation (or EU passport) now required. | Whole country | Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores | |
| ClosureRD 316/2026 amended the Immigration Regulation and opened an extraordinary arraigo for foreigners present in Spain before 01.01.2026 (applications until 30.06.2026). | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformMinimum wage for 2026 set at EUR 1,221/month x 14 (EUR 17,094/year), raising the digital nomad income threshold to EUR 34,188/year. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformReduced CIT for micro-entities fell to 19%/21% and for small entities to 23% for periods starting in 2026 (phase-in by Ley 7/2024). | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformNew Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024) entered into force: five arraigo types with 2-year stay requirement, changes to family reunification and renewals. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ClosureGolden Visa (residence for investors) abolished: Law 14/2013 arts. 63-67 left without content by LO 1/2025; applications filed earlier and existing permits (including renewals) protected by transitional rules. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformLey 11/2023 enabled fully online SL incorporation via notarial videoconference and reformed the EU Blue Card rules. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformStartups Law (Ley 28/2022, in force 23.12.2022) introduced the international telework (digital nomad) visa, 15% CIT for certified startups and broader 'Beckham' regime eligibility. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado |
Documents
Four documents on the worker’s side.
Checked on
| Document | Who issues it | Apostille | Translation | Who prepares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker | ||||
| Valid passport | Country of citizenship | No | No | You provide |
| Criminal record certificate | Countries of residence | Yes | Yes | You provide |
| Qualification evidence | University or employers | Yes | Yes | You provide |
| Visa application | Spanish consulate forms | No | No | We prepare |
Send us the offer; we reply with the route.Get a quote
Request
Occupation and region are enough for a first answer.
The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Legal disclaimerQuestions
From RD 1155/2024 as in force on our check date.
As long as the job, up to 1 year, in one region and one occupation.
Only within the region and occupation of the permit, unless authorised.
After 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Sources
Spanish law and government pages behind this page.
| Source | Publisher | Type | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laws and regulations | |||
| Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (Immigration Regulation, in force 20.05.2025) | Boletín Oficial del Estado | Laws and regulations | Checked on |
| Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España (consolidated) | Boletín Oficial del Estado | Laws and regulations | Checked on |