Spain Work Visa: Complete 2026 Guide

Spain's standard Work Visa lets non-EU nationals live and work in Spain for a specific Spanish employer. It is employer-initiated — your employer files the work-and-residence permit in Spain BEFORE you apply for the visa at the consulate.

Initial duration: 1 year Renewal: +2 years → +2 years → permanent residence (after 5 cumulative legal years) Family: spouse + minor children can join after 1 year of legal residence in Spain Salary floor: at minimum the Spanish minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional, €1,323/month in 2026) for the relevant occupation

You qualify if:

• ✓ A Spanish-based employer offers you a job
• ✓ The offered job is on the "Catálogo de Ocupaciones de Difícil Cobertura" (shortage list) OR the employer can prove no EU/EEA national was suitable (labour-market test)
• ✓ You hold the required professional qualifications (university degree or equivalent vocational training)
• ✓ Salary equals or exceeds the SMI and the going rate
• ✓ Clean criminal record from every country of residence in the last 5 years
• ✓ You haven't been refused entry to any Schengen state in the last 5 years

1. Job posting + labour-market test (skip if on shortage list). 2. Employer submits the work-and-residence permit ("autorización de residencia y trabajo") to the Oficina de Extranjeros in the province where you'll work. Pay €204 fee. 3. Resolution within 3 months (silence = denial). 4. Employer sends you the approval letter ("resolución favorable") to use at the consulate.

1. Apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate in your country within 1 month of receiving the approval letter. Bring:

• Passport (≥1 year validity, 2 blank pages)
• Visa application form (Mod. EX-00)
• Recent biometric photo
• Employer's resolución favorable
• Signed work contract
• Original university diploma + apostilled + sworn translation into Spanish
• Criminal record certificate, apostilled + sworn translation
• Medical certificate stating no public-health-impacting diseases
• Visa fee (€80, plus €204 work permit fee if not paid by employer)

2. Decision time: typically 4–8 weeks. 3. Enter Spain within 3 months of visa issue. 4. Register at the Police station (Comisaría) for your TIE (foreigner ID card) within 30 days of arrival. 5. Empadronamiento at the local town hall (Ayuntamiento) — free, takes 1 visit. 6. Apply for a Spanish Social Security number at the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social.

Spanish government fees:

• Work-and-residence permit (employer pays): €204
• Visa application: €80
• TIE card: €16
• Empadronamiento: free

Translations + apostilles: €200–€500 total Medical certificate: €30–€80 Workium service: €1,500 — includes employer-side filing coordination, apostille/translation logistics, consulate appointment booking, post-arrival TIE registration support

First renewal ("renovación") after 12 months — file at the Extranjería office in your province. Submit:

• Last 6 payslips
• Employer certificate confirming current employment
• Empadronamiento (≤3 months old)
• Tax return (IRPF declaration)
• Social Security contributions report (vida laboral)
• €81 fee

Renewal is for 2 years, then another 2 years, then permanent residence.

Family reunion ("reagrupación familiar") — eligible after 1 year of legal residence with the next renewal due. You'll need to prove income ≥ 150% of IPREM (€1,134/month in 2026) for 1 family member + 50% more per additional member, and adequate housing certified by the town hall.