What is the Spain General Work Visa?
The General Work Visa (Cuenta Ajena) is Spain's standard route for non-EU nationals to work as employees. The employer applies for a work authorisation on your behalf at the Provincial Labour Office, and once approved, you apply for an entry visa at the Spanish consulate. The permit is initially valid for 1 year, renewable, and leads to permanent residence after 5 years. The employer must demonstrate the role could not be filled by a local or EU candidate, unless the role is on the Shortage Occupations List.
Do you qualify?
You must meet one requirement for the Spain General Work Visa: a qualifying job offer. If an employer offers a role and confirms they will sponsor the work authorisation, the job already satisfies the occupation eligibility and employer requirements. The employer handles the labour market test. No specific salary threshold exists beyond Spain's national minimum wage.
Note: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
You cannot apply without a job offer from a Spanish employer registered with the Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) and Spanish Social Security (Seguridad Social). The role must not be in a restricted category. The employer must either demonstrate through a labour market test (situación nacional de empleo) that no suitable local or EU candidate is available, or the role must appear on Spain's Shortage Occupations List (Catálogo de Ocupaciones de Difícil Cobertura).
2026 salary requirements
The General Work Visa has no visa-specific salary threshold. The contract must meet Spain's national minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional, or SMI) and be appropriate for the role and region. The SMI has been extended at its 2025 level through 2026.
How Spanish salaries work: Spain uses a 14-payment system — 12 monthly payments plus two extra payments (pagas extraordinarias), typically in June and December. The SMI of €15,876 is divided across 14 payments at €1,134 each. Some contracts prorate the extras into 12 monthly payments instead.
What you need to apply
The employer initiates the work authorisation at the Provincial Labour Office (Oficina de Extranjería or Delegación/Subdelegación del Gobierno). Once approved, you apply for the entry visa (D visa) at the Spanish consulate. The items below cover both stages.
If you do not have any of the documents below, you can read the FAQs section below for further guidance.
What to expect, step by step
From the employer deciding to hire to the candidate starting work in Spain typically takes 3–6 months. The process has two stages: the employer obtains work authorisation from the Provincial Labour Office, then the candidate applies for a D visa at the Spanish consulate.
Most common delay: The labour market test and work authorisation processing. Provincial Labour Offices vary significantly in processing speed — Madrid and Barcelona are typically the slowest. Starting the labour market test early and ensuring all employer documentation is complete before filing reduces delays.
The employer advertises the vacancy through the Public Employment Service (Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal, or SEPE). If no suitable local or EU candidate is found, the employer can proceed with the work authorisation application. If the role is on the Shortage Occupations List, this step is skipped.
The employer submits the work authorisation application at the Provincial Labour Office (Oficina de Extranjería), including the signed contract, company documentation, and labour market test results. The application fee is €203.84 (salary up to €25,147) or €407.71 (salary above €25,147).
The Provincial Labour Office reviews the application. Processing takes 1–3 months. If additional documentation is requested, the timeline extends. Silence after 3 months is considered a negative resolution (silencio administrativo negativo).
Once the work authorisation is granted, apply for a D visa at the Spanish consulate in your country. Submit the authorisation, passport, criminal record certificate, medical certificate, and any additional documents the consulate requires. Processing takes 4–8 weeks.
Travel to Spain within the visa validity period. Within 1 month of arrival, apply for the Foreign National Identity Card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, or TIE) at the local immigration office. Register with the municipal census (empadronamiento) and enrol in Social Security. Work can only begin at the employer, role, and location stated on the permit.
Frequently asked questions
Not freely. The permit is tied to the specific employer, role, and geographic location stated on the authorisation. Any change requires a new work authorisation (modificación) from the Provincial Labour Office, which must be approved before starting the new role. After the first renewal, mobility rules become more flexible — the renewed permit may allow work in any occupation and province.
Not immediately in most cases. Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) typically requires the permit holder to have renewed their permit at least once (after 1 year) and to demonstrate adequate income and housing. The spouse and minor children can then apply for a family residence permit. The spouse can apply for their own work authorisation once resident. Processing times for family reunification vary by province but typically take 2–6 months.
There is no Spanish language requirement for the visa. However, Spain is fundamentally different from the Netherlands, Germany, or Ireland in this regard — outside multinational companies and tourism, the working language is Spanish. Government offices, legal processes, and most employers operate exclusively in Spanish. Basic Spanish is a practical necessity for daily life, and intermediate Spanish significantly improves job prospects. English-only roles exist mainly in tech, tourism, and international business in Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga.
Budget €500–€1,000 for one applicant. That covers the work authorisation fee (€203.84 or €407.71 depending on salary level), the D visa fee (~€80), the TIE card (~€16), sworn translations, apostilles, and medical certificate. Costs are modest compared to UK or US work visas. The employer cannot legally pass the authorisation fee to the candidate.
The Catálogo de Ocupaciones de Difícil Cobertura is a quarterly list published by SEPE identifying roles that are difficult to fill locally. Roles on this list bypass the labour market test entirely, which saves 3–4 weeks. The list varies by province — a role may be in shortage in one region but not another. Construction, hospitality, healthcare, and maritime roles are commonly listed, though the specific occupations change each quarter.
The initial permit is valid for 1 year. Renewal is for 2 years, then another 2 years, and after 5 total years you can apply for long-term residence. At the first renewal, the permit conditions typically become more flexible — you may be allowed to work in any occupation and any province, rather than being tied to the original employer and location. Renewal must be applied for within 60 days before or 90 days after the expiry date.
Three main differences. First, processing speed: the HQP is processed through the Large Companies Unit (Unidad de Grandes Empresas, or UGE) with a 20-business-day target — the General Work Visa takes 1–3 months at the Provincial Labour Office. Second, no labour market test for the HQP. Third, salary: the HQP requires at least €40,077 for technical roles or €54,142 for managers — the General Work Visa has no visa-specific salary threshold beyond the national minimum wage. If the role and salary qualify for the HQP route, it is almost always faster and simpler.
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