How to Get a Visa and Work Permit in Spain (2025)

Accessing Spain’s deep talent pool or tapping into its vibrant market can supercharge your business—if you can cut through the red tape. Spain’s growing tech scene, robust digital infrastructure, and EU location make it a destination for ambitious companies. But entering Spain’s market means more than finding the right candidates; you need a solid path to working in Spain legally with the right Spain work visa or Spanish work permit.

Yet, navigating how to get a work visa in Spain can be daunting. Multiple types of Spanish visas, evolving salary thresholds, strict documentation, and a maze of compliance steps can overwhelm even experienced global teams. Sponsorship requirements and local labor market tests slow down hiring, causing missed opportunities and business delays.

These barriers can drain resources, detour expansion plans, and expose you to hefty penalties for non-compliance. It’s easy to lose momentum while wrangling paperwork, translations, and status updates—especially if you don’t operate a Spanish legal entity.

That’s where Deel Immigration steps in: automation streamlines every step, from eligibility checks to in-country onboarding, while compliance experts cover the fine print. Deel’s platform keeps you on track, in control, and lets you ship talent into Spain—without the guesswork. With Deel, you unlock Spanish hiring agility and can scale fearlessly, knowing every hire is fully compliant and supported from Day 1.

How easy is it to get a work visa in Spain?

Obtaining a work permit in Spain is moderately challenging for foreign nationals. The difficulty often depends on factors such as the applicant’s skills and education level, and whether there is high local demand for the applicant’s potential job title and scope.

See also: Moving to Spain: A Guide for Expats and Digital Nomads

Are there different types of entry visas and work permits in Spain?

Spain offers various visa options, including highly skilled professional work visas, general work visas, seasonal work visas, EU Blue Card, intra-company transfer visas, entrepreneur visas, and a digital nomad visa for remote workers. Each category targets specific talent pools—from corporate transferees and entrepreneurs to family members and digital nomads—ensuring flexible pathways for diverse applicant profiles.

• Highly Qualified Worker Permit: The Highly Qualified Worker Permit suits professionals with advanced university degrees or niche skill sets, granting priority processing and a streamlined labor market test waiver. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a directly related field and present an employment contract meeting the Spain work visa minimum salary threshold of 1.5 times Spain’s average gross salary. This permit is valid for one year initially and renewable for two-year increments thereafter. Permit holders gain full social security coverage and can bring eligible dependents under family reunification rules

• EU Blue Card: The EU Blue Card is designed for non-EU professionals with high qualifications and a job offer in Spain. Applicants need a higher-education diploma and a binding work contract that offers at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary. The card is issued for up to four years and offers accelerated routes to permanent residency and intra-EU mobility. Blue Card holders benefit from favorable social security coordination and the right to bring family members under EU family reunification standards

• Family Member of a Resident Visa: The Family Member of a Resident Visa enables spouses, minor children, and dependent relatives of legal Spanish residents to join them in Spain. Eligibility requires proof of the family relationship, health insurance valid in Spain, and evidence of financial means to support dependents. This visa is valid for one year and renewable if the sponsor’s permit remains active. Dependents receive the right to work or study without additional permits

• Digital Nomad Visa: The Digital Nomad Visa caters to remote workers employed by foreign companies or running their own online business. Applicants must demonstrate an income of at least €2,000 per month for the six months preceding application, health insurance, and proof of remote employment. The visa grants an initial one-year stay, renewable for up to five years, and offers favorable tax treatment under the “Beckham Law.” Holders can freely live and work in Spain anywhere while enjoying a robust digital nomad community

See also: Digital Nomad Visas for Remote Work: The Complete 2025 List

Spain visa and work permit eligibility requirements for candidates

The table below compares Spain’s main work, residence, and digital nomad visa options, highlighting eligibility, validity, and processing times to help you choose the right path for your needs:

Spain visa comparison table

Get a fast, expert visa assessment—including detailed eligibility and cost breakdown—in just 48 hours with Deel Immigration.

Get a fast, expert visa assessment with a detailed cost breakdown delivered within 48 hours via Deel Immigration.

See also: Self-Verify Global Employee Visa Eligibility in Minutes

Spain visa and work-permit sponsorship criteria for employers

Sponsors must be registered Spanish entities demonstrating economic solvency and legitimate business operations. Companies need proof of legal incorporation, up-to-date tax filings, and financial statements showing the ability to pay contracted salaries. Authorities will also verify that the sponsor’s business activity aligns with the job offer’s nature and that the role cannot be filled by a local candidate in the general permit route.

Using an Employer of Record (EOR) offers a turnkey solution for companies without a Spanish entity or for scaling operations rapidly. The EOR assumes full employer responsibilities, such as issuing contracts, registering with Social Security, withholding taxes, and serving as the official point of contact for immigration authorities.

Deel Immigration, a G2-recognized Employer of Record across 150+ countries, handles over 200 visa and permit categories in 40 countries. We accelerate Spain sponsorships by automating documentation, providing real-time in-app tracking, and offering partner discounts on relocation services and dependent support. With Deel, you can swiftly and compliantly sponsor high volumes of hires.

See also: Easy Visa Sponsorship for Exploring New International Markets

Spain’s work-permit application process

Follow this five-step roadmap to secure your work permit and work visa.

Step one: Prepare documentation

Prepare and gather all required documentation, including a valid passport, proof of qualifications, and an employment contract. Applicants should collect certified translations and apostilles where necessary, and sponsors should review contract terms for compliance.

Tip: Use Deel’s document checklist to ensure no document is overlooked before submission.

Step two: Obtain sponsorship license

The employer submits a sponsorship application to the relevant Spanish authorities, proving economic solvency and business legitimacy. Companies upload incorporation documents, solvency certificates, and tax returns via the Deel portal.

Tip: With Deel EOR, you can skip the lengthy sponsorship license application process and accelerate global hiring and visa approvals, enabling you to hire in days, not months.

Step three: Apply for work permit

Submit the work permit application to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration or the designated immigration office. Sponsors and applicants coordinate submission dates to align with document validity periods.

Tip: Deel’s immigration experts guide you through application forms, and the platform reminds you of crucial deadlines.

Step four: Undergo labor market test

Undergo labor market test unless exempted, to prioritize local employment opportunities. Sponsors must post job listings on national recruitment sites and document recruitment outcomes.

Tip: Store all labor market test records on the Deel platform for at least one year in case of audits.

Step five: Await processing

Processing typically takes between 4 and 12 weeks, depending on permit type and workload.

Tip: Use the Deel visa tracker to see real-time status updates.

See also: Application Guide for Enterprise Employee Visas

What is the cost of a visa and work permit in Spain?

Fees for Spanish visas and work permits depend on permit class, applicant nationality, and number of dependents. Premium processing or apostille services may incur additional charges. Applicants should budget for government filing fees, translation/apostille costs, and service fees.

Deel offers transparent, flat-fee service pricing with no hidden charges. You’ll receive a detailed breakdown of government and service fees upfront.

Is Deel Immigration the best choice for hiring in Spain?

Absolutely. Deel Immigration offers a seamless, end-to-end solution tailored to Spain’s complex immigration landscape, ensuring your hires get work visas in Spain faster and with less hassle. With expert guidance and automated tools, Deel takes the stress out of sponsoring employees in Spain.

• End-to-end immigration management from document preparation to permit issuance
• Fast, free visa assessments providing detailed eligibility and cost breakdowns within 48 hours
• Personalized expert support to navigate Spain’s labor market tests and sponsorship requirements
• Real-time application tracking and instant alerts to keep you informed every step of the way
• Dependent visa support and exclusive relocation discounts for a smooth employee transition

With Deel Immigration, your Spain hiring process becomes efficient and compliant—read on to learn how to accelerate your workforce growth.

Hire talent in Spain faster with Deel Immigration

Deel Immigration streamlines every stage of Spain’s work permit and work visa process so you can onboard talent quickly and compliantly. Benefit from accelerated processing options and automated document uploads that reduce delays and errors. Our platform’s real-time tracking means you’ll never miss a deadline or request from immigration authorities.

With Deel’s end-to-end immigration management and rapid visa assessments, you can confidently scale your business in Spain—while we take care of the legal complexities and compliance every step of the way. Book a free consultation today.