Work legally in Spain — the right permit for your situation
Getting a work permit in Spain involves multiple authorities and strict timelines. BMC guides non-EU nationals and their employers through every permit type and application step.
- REAF
- ICAM
- 5 Offices in Spain
- 25+ Years
- 30+ Jurisdictions
The problem
Spain's work permit system is one of the most procedurally demanding in the EU. Applications require coordination between the employer, the employee, the Immigration Office, the Employment Service, the Spanish Consulate, and sometimes Social Security — often simultaneously. Documents are rejected for technical reasons. Timelines are tight. And working in Spain without the correct authorisation exposes both the employee to deportation and the employer to substantial fines. Many employers and employees start the process without understanding what type of permit applies to their situation, causing costly delays or applications for the wrong permit type.
Our solution
BMC advises both employers and employees on Spain's work authorisation system. We identify the correct permit type for each situation, prepare complete application dossiers, liaise with all relevant authorities, and manage the full application from initial instruction to card collection. We also advise employers on their obligations when hiring non-EU workers and ensure payroll compliance from day one.
How we do it
Permit type assessment
We identify the most suitable permit based on the employment situation: initial work authorisation, intra-company transfer, EU Blue Card, seasonal permit, self-employment authorisation, or Digital Nomad Visa. We assess the employer's obligations and the employee's eligibility.
Employer-side preparation
We advise the employing company on registering as a sponsor employer, preparing the job offer in the required format, confirming the position is not fillable by a national or EU worker (or qualifying for an exemption), and gathering company documentation.
Application filing and authority liaison
We file the combined application with the Immigration Office (or the UGE-CE for large companies), manage the visa application at the Spanish Consulate in the employee's country, and respond to any requests for additional documentation.
Arrival and activation
Once the visa is granted, we guide the employee through the arrival steps: registering with Social Security, obtaining the TIE residence and work card, completing empadronamiento, and ensuring payroll is correctly structured.
We needed to bring in a specialist from Brazil and had no idea where to start with the work permit. BMC handled everything — from the job offer documentation to the Consulate appointment in Sao Paulo. Our employee started work on the agreed date with no last-minute complications.
Spain’s work authorisation system: the key permit types
Spain distinguishes between several categories of work authorisation, and selecting the wrong type wastes months. The main categories are:
Initial work authorisation (Autorizacion Inicial de Residencia y Trabajo por Cuenta Ajena): The standard permit for employees hired by Spanish companies. Requires a job offer, proof the position cannot be filled locally (with some high-demand sector exemptions), and satisfies minimum salary requirements.
Self-employment authorisation (Autorizacion por Cuenta Propia): For those who want to work as an autonomo or run their own business in Spain. Requires a viable business plan and proof of sufficient economic resources.
EU Blue Card: For highly qualified workers, offering a faster route to long-term residency and portability across EU member states after 12 months.
Intra-company transfer (ICT permit): For multinational groups rotating managers and specialists between Spain and other group entities.
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit: For executives and professionals meeting salary and qualification thresholds.
The employer’s role in the application
Spanish work permits are employer-sponsored, which means the employing company is an active party in the application — not just a background reference. The employer must demonstrate that the position has been advertised (or qualifies for a shortage occupation or exemption), provide detailed company financial documentation, sign a specific job offer in the prescribed format, and commit to Social Security registration from the employee’s first day.
BMC works with both the employer’s HR team and the employee simultaneously, ensuring both sides of the application are properly coordinated and that no one is waiting on the other.
Timelines and planning ahead
Work permit applications in Spain typically take between three and four months from the initial employer application to the employee receiving their visa. During peak periods or for applications in certain provinces, timelines can stretch further. Planning is everything: a company that identifies the need for a foreign worker in January and engages BMC immediately has a good chance of having the employee in place by mid-year. A company that starts the process in March is unlikely to have the worker before autumn.
Renewal and the path to permanence
Initial work permits are granted for one year. The first renewal extends the permit for two years; subsequent renewals extend for further two-year periods. After five years of continuous legal residence and work in Spain, the worker qualifies for long-term EU resident status, which provides significantly greater freedom and security. BMC tracks permit renewal deadlines proactively and files renewals well in advance to avoid any gaps in authorisation.
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