“Spanish work visa” is an informal name. Legally it is an authorisation for temporary residence and employment (autorización de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena) — a residence permit issued to a foreigner for a specific employment contract with a Spanish employer — together with the national visa used to enter the country with that authorisation. The procedure is set by the regulation RD 1155/2024, Articles 72–81. Below: how this residence permit differs from others, the requirements for the worker and the employer, how the application works and what changes after a year.
What kind of residence permit it is and how it differs from others
The residence and employment authorisation is issued for more than 90 days and less than five years to someone hired by a Spanish employer (Article 72). The main difference from other grounds is the link to the employer and the contract: the application is filed not by the foreigner but by the company or private individual hiring them.
| Ground | Who the employer is | Who applies |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit for employment — the “work visa” | a Spanish company or private individual | the employer, while the worker is abroad |
| EU Blue Card and the authorisation for highly skilled professionals | a Spanish company, high salary and qualifications | the employer, under a simplified procedure |
| digital nomad visa in Spain | a foreign company or foreign clients | the applicant themselves |
| Seasonal work | a Spanish employer, up to 9 months a year | the employer |
Requirements for the worker and the employer
Article 74 of the regulation lists the conditions, and most of them concern the employer:
- The labour market situation allows a foreigner to be hired. No check is needed if the occupation is on the catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations, drawn up quarterly by the state employment service SEPE (Article 75). The 2025–2026 editions are broken down by province: the occupation must be listed for the province where the job is located. Which occupations are on the catalogue now is covered in the catalogue section of our article on working in Spain. In other cases the employer must show that no suitable candidate was found on the local market.
- An employment contract has been signed for the full term of the authorisation, with terms that comply with the law and the collective agreement. For part-time work, annual pay must be no lower than the minimum wage for full-time work — in 2026 that is €1,221 a month over 14 payments.
- The employer has no debts to the tax authority or social security and has sufficient means to pay the salary. If a private individual is hiring, they also need means to support themselves and their family (Article 76).
- The worker has the qualifications the occupation requires — for regulated professions the diploma will have to be recognised in Spain.
- No criminal record and no threat to public order; the processing fee has been paid.
How to get a Spanish work visa: step by step
- The employer files the application with the immigration office of the province where the job is located, with the contract and documents on its financial means (Article 77).
- A decision within three months. If there is no answer within this period, the application is deemed rejected.
- The worker applies for a visa at the Spanish consulate in their country of residence within a month of the day the employer was notified of approval; the consulate issues the visa no later than a month after the application (Article 40).
- Entry and social security registration. The authorisation takes effect when the worker is registered with social security — this must be done within three months of lawful entry (Article 73).
- The TIE foreigner’s card. Within a month of social security registration, the worker applies in person for the card at the police.
Finding the job is up to the worker. Relotus does not recruit staff for companies and does not search for jobs for candidates. A work visa is started by an employer who is already prepared to hire you, so you can come to us with it once you have a job offer. Where to look for work and which occupations are in short supply is covered in our article on working in Spain.
Duration and first-year restrictions
The initial authorisation is issued for the duration of the job, but for no more than a year, and is limited to an autonomous community and an occupation, except where no labour market check was required (Article 73). You can change employer within the same occupation three months after the authorisation takes effect (Article 79). A renewed authorisation is issued for four years at once and allows you to work anywhere and in any job, including self-employment (Article 81).
Years on this residence permit count towards the five years of legal residence after which you can apply for permanent residence in Spain.
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Why applications are refused
Besides failure to meet the requirements, the regulation names reasons related to the employer (Article 78): in the past year it unlawfully dismissed workers from the same positions, was fined for serious breaches of immigration or work permit rules, submitted forged documents, or currently has employment contracts suspended in those positions.
Work visa for Russians
There are no separate rules for Russian citizens. The national visa is applied for at the Spanish consulate general for your consular district by appointment. Order the criminal record certificate in advance and have it apostilled; documents in Russian are translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). Where to apply and what to consider regarding money and taxes is covered in the section moving to Spain from Russia, and the job market, vacancies and salaries in the article working in Spain.
Already living in Spain: switching to employment without a visa
A work visa is for people coming from abroad. If you already hold a Spanish residence permit — as a nomad, a start-up founder, a non-lucrative resident or a family member — you do not need a visa: the switch to employment is a modification. After a year in Spain the permit is issued for four years with no labour market test. More in modifying a Spanish residence permit to employment.
Frequently asked questions
What residence permit does a Spanish work visa give?
An authorisation for temporary residence and employment — autorización de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena. The first authorisation is issued for the duration of the job, but for no more than a year; a renewed one is issued for four years.
Who applies for a Spanish work visa?
The employer: it files the application with the immigration office of the province where the job is located. After approval, the worker applies for a visa at the consulate in their country of residence within a month.
Does Relotus help find a job or staff in Spain?
No. We do not recruit staff for companies and do not search for jobs for candidates. A work visa is started by an employer who is already prepared to hire a foreigner; you can come to us once you have a job offer.
How long does a Spanish work visa take?
A decision on the employer’s application takes up to three months, and silence means refusal. The consulate then issues the visa within a month of the application.
Can you change employer on a work visa?
In the first year, three months after the authorisation takes effect and within the same occupation. After renewal there are no restrictions on employer or occupation.
Does the employer have to prove there are no Spanish candidates?
Yes, if the occupation is not on the catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations that the SEPE employment service publishes quarterly for each region. For occupations on the catalogue this check is not needed.
Sources
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 — Articles 40, 72–81. BOE-A-2024-24099.
- What kind of residence permit it is and how it differs from others
- Requirements for the worker and the employer
- How to get a Spanish work visa: step by step
- Duration and first-year restrictions
- Why applications are refused
- Work visa for Russians
- Already living in Spain: switching to employment without a visa
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
