📄 VISADO

Employee work permit and residence authorization

Temporary residence and work authorization for employed workers. The Spanish employer initiates the process — not the worker.

Minimum salary As per applicable collective bargaining agreement

Initial duration 1 year (renewable)

Decision time 1–3 months

Work allowed? ✓ Yes

Family allowed? ✓ Yes

Fee 2026 Form 790, code 052 (check the current amount on the e-office when you apply)

💡 The employer initiates the application, not the worker. The employer must be up to date with tax and social security obligations.

Step by step

The employer in Spain applies for the work authorization. Once granted, the worker collects the visa at the Spanish consulate in their home country.

Employer submits the authorization application

The application is filed with the IMMIGRATION OFFICE (oficina de extranjería) of the province where the workplace is located — that is what art. 77.1 RD 1155/2024 says, not the Government Delegation or Sub-delegation. It is filed by the EMPLOYER, which may be a company or a natural person. It must address the national employment situation (catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations) or provide an alternative justification.

Decision on the authorization

The Government Delegation issues a decision. Administrative silence is NEGATIVE (no response is treated as a denial). The national employment situation is assessed as part of the process.

Notification to the worker

If approved, both the employer and the worker are notified. The worker has 1 month to apply for the visa at the consulate.

Visa application at the consulate

The worker attends the Spanish consulate in their country with the approval notice, passport, criminal record certificate, and medical certificate.

Entry into Spain, social security registration, and TIE application

There are TWO chained deadlines, and the second does not run from entry. Registration with the corresponding Social Security scheme must take place within three months of legal entry into Spain; and it is from THAT REGISTRATION — not from entry — that the one month to apply for the TIE runs, which must also be applied for IN PERSON (arts. 77.9 and 73.3, RD 1155/2024).

Mistakes that get applications refused

⚠️ The employer is not up to date with tax or social security payments

Consecuencia: Denial of the authorisation

Solución: Before starting the process, verify that the employer holds valid compliance certificates from the AEAT and TGSS

⚠️ The position is not listed in the catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations and no alternative justification is provided

Consecuencia: Denial because the post can be filled by workers already in the domestic labour market (art. 75.2), a broader concept than national or EU workers

Solución: Check the SEPE's quarterly catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations. If the position is not listed, the employer must submit the vacancy to the competent Public Employment Service, worded precisely and without requirements unrelated to the job. The service handles it for EIGHT DAYS, putting the employer in touch with matching jobseekers, and publicises it so that people anywhere in Spain can apply. After that period the employer MUST report the outcome of the selection to the service, stating which candidates were accepted, which were rejected and the reasons for rejection. The service then issues the certificate of insufficient applicants within a maximum of THREE DAYS (art. 75.2, RD 1155/2024). It is not 15–25 days.

⚠️ The employment contract does not meet the conditions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement

Consecuencia: Denial or request for correction

Solución: Review the sectoral collective bargaining agreement and ensure that the salary, working hours, and job classification are all correct

⚠️ The worker attempts to apply directly without employer involvement

Consecuencia: Application rejected as inadmissible

Solución: The employer must initiate the process. The worker only becomes involved at the visa application stage at the consulate.

⚠️ Failing to apply for the visa at the consulate within one month of receiving the approval notice

Consecuencia: The granted authorization lapses

Solución: Book a consulate appointment immediately upon receiving the approval notice

Renewal

Renewed for: FOUR years. Art. 81.1 RD 1155/2024 states that renewal is granted for a period of four years, unless long-term residence applies — not two, nor two plus two

When to apply: During the TWO MONTHS before expiry (art. 80.1). Filing within that window extends the validity of the previous permit until a decision is issued. It is also extended if filed within the THREE MONTHS afterwards, although that opens penalty proceedings. Not 60 and 90 days — in 31-day months that conversion makes you late

Requirements:

Keeping the employment relationship, or holding a new contract
Contributions — art. 80.2 says nothing about six months. Renewal is available to someone who continues the employment relationship that gave rise to the authorisation (80.2.a); who has had a period of work of at least THREE MONTHS PER YEAR and has signed a new contract while registered, or holds an offer guaranteeing activity at the start of the renewal (80.2.b); or who can evidence having worked and been registered for a minimum of NINE MONTHS WITHIN TWELVE (80.2.d.1)
The employer being up to date with the tax authority and Social Security matters, but with a caveat that works in your favour — art. 80.8 excludes as grounds for refusing renewal those situations that are NOT ATTRIBUTABLE to the worker. The article does not specify which ones, so it is worth raising rather than giving up
Having dependent minors of compulsory school age enrolled in school, evidenced by a report from the regional authorities (art. 80.3); if this is not evidenced, the office informs the education authorities and warns that the permit will not be renewed unless enrolment happens within one month (art. 80.4)

Four things that are almost never explained. One — renewal allows ANY activity ANYWHERE in Spain, both employed and self-employed (art. 81.1), unlike the initial permit, which is limited to one regional area and one occupation EXCEPT where the national employment situation does not apply (art. 73.1), and except as provided by law and by international agreements signed by Spain (art. 73.4). Two — silence on renewal is POSITIVE: once the three-month period passes with no express decision, it is deemed GRANTED (art. 80.9), the opposite of the initial application. Three — arrears in Social Security contributions do NOT prevent renewal provided the activity is shown to have been carried out regularly (art. 80.7). And four — integration effort is taken into account through a favourable report from your Autonomous Community, and if it is not issued within a month it can be evidenced by any means of proof admitted in law (art. 80.6). Once the favourable decision is notified, you have one month to apply in person for the TIE (art. 81.2). After five years of continuous legal residence you may apply for long-term residence.

Legal basis

LO 4/2000 (LOEX) arts. 36, 38 and 40; RD 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation), arts. 72-79.

Checked against the consolidated text on 2026-08-31.

Official sources

🔗 Ley Orgánica 4/2000 de derechos y libertades de los extranjeros → 🔗 Reglamento de Extranjería - RD 1155/2024 → 🔗 SEPE (publica el catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura) → 🔗 Ministerio de Inclusión, SS y Migraciones → 🔗 Sede electrónica Policía Nacional - Cita TIE →

Última actualización: 2026-07-08

📁 Documentos necesarios

📄 Valid passport Opcional

For the authorisation, art. 77.2.d asks for a copy of the complete passport or travel document IN FORCE. For the visa, art. 38.d additionally requires a minimum validity of ONE YEAR. Neither speaks of covering the whole requested period. Original and copy required.

📄 Employment contract Opcional

Signed by both employer and worker. Must comply with the applicable sectoral collective bargaining agreement, with full-time hours or the legal minimum. Must include job title, salary, and contract duration.

📄 Criminal record certificate Opcional

From the countries where you have resided over the last five years, and only for offences that exist under Spanish law; art. 38.e also limits this to applicants above the age of criminal responsibility. You do NOT provide the SPANISH certificate — the office obtains the Central Criminal Records report and the police report on its own initiative, both issued within seven days, and a record in the police report is not in itself and automatically grounds for refusal (art. 77.5). Apostilled and translated by a sworn translator.

📄 Medical certificate Opcional

Medical certificate confirming that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could have serious public health implications in accordance with the International Health Regulations.

📄 Recognized professional qualification (if applicable) Opcional

For regulated professions (doctors, engineers, etc.), recognition of qualifications by the Ministry of Education is mandatory.

📄 Company documentation Opcional

Tax identification number (CIF), articles of incorporation, and a job description justifying the need to hire. Clearance certificates from the tax authority and Social Security do NOT have to be provided — art. 77.5 states that the office checks that AEAT and TGSS information on its own initiative, and the closed list of documents in art. 77.2 does not include them. The employer does have to evidence sufficient financial, material or staffing resources for the business and to meet the obligations under the contract, including payment of the gross salary (arts. 74.1.e and 76.1).

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