Visa for Highly Qualified Workers in Spain
Spanish companies that hire skilled professionals from outside the EU can use the highly qualified worker route (including the EU Blue Card), with fast-track processing for the worker and their family. We handle the whole application with the company and the employee.
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Who is the highly qualified worker visa for?
The highly qualified professional visa is applied for by companies that need to hire non-EU workers with specific skills — often in technology, engineering, science or management.
Unlike other work permits under the general immigration law, it has preferential processing: the authorities decide within 20 working days, and family members' applications are processed with the same speed. It can be applied for from Spain or from the worker's country through the consulate.
Tech and engineering profiles
Developers, engineers and specialists hired by Spanish companies or startups.
Managers and executives
Directors and senior professionals joining a company in Spain.
Their families
Spouse or partner and children can apply together and move with the worker.
Get your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us about your case and, if we can help, we'll send you a link to book a free call with our lawyers.
Highly qualified worker visa requirements
- A job offer or contract in SpainWith a company that meets the conditions to use this route, for at least six months.
- Minimum salaryAt least 1.4 times the average gross salary in Spain — about €39,270 a year in 2026, or about €31,416 for hard-to-fill occupations and recent graduates.
- Higher qualificationsA university degree or equivalent higher education qualification or, in some sectors such as IT, at least three years of relevant professional experience.
- Clean criminal recordCertificates from the countries where you have lived in recent years.
- Health insuranceCoverage through Spanish Social Security once you start working, or private insurance where required.
The salary threshold is updated whenever the Spanish statistics institute (INE) publishes new salary data. We confirm the current figure and whether your case qualifies for the reduced threshold.
Check your eligibility — freeWhat our services include for the highly qualified worker visa
We work with both the company and the employee, so the application goes in complete and is decided as fast as possible.
- Analysis of whether the job and the candidate meet the requirements.
- Communication with the company to obtain the necessary documentation.
- Preparation of the company and job profile for the application.
- Advice on the employment contract and the salary conditions.
- Online submission of the application on behalf of the company.
- Follow-up and answers to any request for more documents.
- Applications for family members at the same time.
- Consulate appointment for the visa, if applying from abroad.
- Police appointment in Spain for the residence card (TIE).
How we work: four simple steps
Tell us about your case
We check the job offer, the company and the candidate's profile.
Proposal
We send a quote with the procedure, the documents and the timeline.
Submission
We prepare the full file and submit it online on behalf of the company.
Follow-up and arrival
We follow the application until approval and book the visa and TIE appointments.
Deadlines of the process
Preparing the documentation usually takes the longest — especially obtaining legalised degrees and criminal record certificates. Once you arrive in Spain, you must apply for your TIE within one month.
Choose how much help you need
Full service
We handle the whole highly qualified worker visa
Personal quote
From the analysis of the job offer to the employee's residence card in Spain. Tell us about the case and we'll send you a clear, fixed quote.
- Eligibility check of company and candidate
- Full application filed online
- Family applications included
- Visa and TIE appointments
Do it yourself
Document review
€250 + VAT
You prepare and submit the application yourself. Before you file, you upload your documents to our client platform and one of our lawyers reviews them and sends you a written report.
- Full review of your documents by a lawyer
- List of anything missing or incorrect
- Written feedback so you can fix it before filing
- Starts with an online consultation, where we confirm DIY suits your case. Its cost is deducted from your final fee.
Highly qualified worker visa: FAQ
Can't find your question? Ask us in a call — we'll look at your specific situation.
What is the minimum salary for a highly qualified worker in Spain?
Since 31 January 2026, the general threshold is 1.4 times the average gross annual salary in Spain — about €39,270 a year. A reduced threshold of about €31,416 applies to some hard-to-fill occupations and to people who obtained their qualification in the last three years.
How long does the process take?
The authorities decide within 20 working days of the application being submitted. Family members' applications are processed with the same speed.
Can I apply from Spain?
Yes. The application can be filed while you are legally in Spain, or from your country of residence, in which case you then collect the visa at the Spanish consulate.
Do I need a university degree?
Usually yes: a university degree or an equivalent higher education qualification. In some sectors, such as information technology, relevant professional experience can replace the degree.
Who applies, the company or the worker?
The application is normally filed by the company that hires you. We work with both of you to prepare the documentation.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or partner and children can apply at the same time and are processed with the same priority.
What is the EU Blue Card?
It is the EU-wide permit for highly qualified workers. In Spain it is processed through the same fast-track route, and it makes it easier to move to another EU country for work after a period of time.
Can I benefit from the Beckham Law?
Many highly qualified workers who move to Spain can opt for the Beckham Law and pay a flat 24% tax on their employment income. Our tax team can check your case.
