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Everything you need to know about applying for a Spanish Work Visa
Anyone from outside the EU, including UK citizens, will need a permit to work legally in Spain
Each year, Spain attracts millions of visitors from across the globe, drawn by its seemingly perpetual sunshine, pristine sandy beaches and relaxed pace of life. Of course, a whole host of expats also now call Spain home, and for many wanting to make the move more permanent, a job will be necessary.
The situation is pretty straight-forward for EU citizens, but anyone from a third country hoping to work in Spain will have to apply for an appropriate visa. As a result of Brexit, travellers from the UK who want to get a job in Spain will need to obtain a Work Visa, but thankfully there are plenty of options available, as WorkinSpain explains.
Who needs a Spanish Work Visa?
Any citizen from a non-EU country including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
How to get a Visa
There are lots of visa options and the process will vary slightly with each. However, generally speaking, applicants’ first port of call is the Spanish embassy or consulate in their home country. In certain cases, the prospective employer in Spain will have to apply for the visa on the staff member’s behalf.
5 main types of Spanish Work Visa
1. Highly-skilled employee visa
If your profession is on the ‘Shortage Occupation’ list, you may qualify for a work visa as a highly-skilled employee, as this means that there is a lack of suitable candidates within the EU who can do your job.
This is one of the situations where the employer must complete the initial stage of the application process, which they will do at the Spanish Ministry of Labour.
There is usually a backlog of visa requests so it could take as long as 8 months to process your work permit. Once it’s approved, the embassy or consulate will issue the visa along with residency.
2. Seasonal jobs
Once again, prospective employers will need to apply on the individual’s behalf at the Ministry for a Visa for Seasonal Work.
The permit is issued for the duration of the work contract, and applicants must be able to prove that they have somewhere to stay, have enough money to cover their travel costs and intend to return home once the season is over.
3. Self-employed and Freelance workers
Here’s where the process gets a little more tricky. In order to work for yourself in Spain, you will need to apply for a Work Visa that will only be valid for a maximum of one year.
To qualify, you need to satisfy several conditions, including:
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself
- Proof of relevant skills and experience
- A business plan (in certain cases)
- Any current contracts from companies you do work for
- Any licences or registrations required in your field
Once the visa is granted, it can be extended by another year provided you still meet the above requirements at the end of the first period.
4. EU Blue Card
Anyone who has a higher education qualification (obtained over a minimum of 3 years) or skilled professionals with 5 years’ high-level work experience, can apply for the EU Blue Card.
When the prospective employer applies for this permit, they must provide a work contract that offers a salary that is at least 50% higher than the Spanish average, or 20% if there is a skills shortage in that particular profession.
Once the Blue Card has been issued, the employee then has to apply for a complimentary work visa.
Like the self-employed visa, Blue Cards are initially valid for a year but can be renewed.
5. Au Pair Visa
The Visa for Au Pairs must be applied for in the worker’s home country and again, it has a one-year validity period which can be extended once the conditions are met.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be aged between 17 and 30
- Have a written work contract with the host family that includes salary and working conditions
- Display the financial means to support themselves while living in Spain
- Have health insurance
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