Work Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals

As we mentioned in another post, there are several types of work permits in Spain depending on the situation of the foreign worker.

The incorporation of specialized international talent is key for multinational companies, scale-ups, and innovative organizations to grow and compete globally. For this purpose, Spain offers an agile and strategic immigration permit: the Highly Qualified Professional Work Permit (HQP), regulated by Law 14/2013, designed to attract talent and promote business internationalization.

This permit allows foreign nationals to reside and work legally in Spain in a position that requires high technical, managerial, or specialized qualifications.

 

Find out which permit you need

What exactly is the HQP permit?

It is an authorization that allows nationals of third countries to reside and work legally throughout Spanish territory. It is granted when a company requires the incorporation of a foreign professional for the development of a highly qualified employment or professional relationship, as established in the Article 71 of the Law on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalization. This authorization has two modalities.

HQP Permit Modalities

 EU Blue Card

• Requires a minimum of three years of university education or
• Five years of relevant and equivalent professional experience.
• For ICT and technical directors: at least three years of experience within the last seven years.
• Check here to learn in detail how to obtain the EU Blue Card  or here to learn how to renew it.

 National HQP Authorization

• Requires higher education equivalent to level 1 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework or
• Three years of comparable and relevant professional experience for the position.

Who can apply for this permit?

The application may be submitted either by the company that requires the professional’s incorporation or by the foreign professional themselves, as indicated by the law. This mixed approach provides procedural flexibility and allows the permit to be managed even from within Spain.

Main requirements to apply for the HQP permit

Requirements for the professional

• University degree or accredited experience.
• CV aligned with a highly qualified position.
• No criminal record.
• Health insurance and sufficient financial means during the stay.

More information about profiles and requirements can be found here

Requirements for the company

The company must demonstrate solvency and capacity to incorporate talent:

• • Workforce > 250 employees
  • Annual turnover > €50M
  • Equity > €43M
  • Relevant foreign investment

Validity and renewal of the permit

• Initial validity: The initial authorization is valid for three years. If the contract duration is shorter than three years, the validity will match the contract duration plus an additional three months, without exceeding three years.
• Renewal: Renewal may be requested for periods of two years, provided the initial requirements are still met.
• Long-term residence: After five years of legal and continuous residence meeting the requirements, long-term residence may be requested.

 

HQP permit application process (step by step)

1. Gather documentation

Includes:

• Contract or offer letter
• Job description
• Company financial documentation
• Passport, degree, CV, experience
• Criminal record certificate

You can check in this post the documentation for the Highly Qualified Professional permit.

2. Electronic submission to the UGE‑CE

The application is submitted online.
The UGE‑CE reviews:

• Suitability of the profile for the position
• Company solvency
• Complete and coherent documentation

3. Resolution

If everything is correct, the authorization is granted.
Afterwards:

•  If the professional is outside Spain: they must apply for a visa at their consulate.
•  If already in Spain: they can apply directly for the TIE.

Minimum salary required for the HQP permit

The UGE‑CE requires meeting a specific salary threshold:

Main requirements for approval

The key factor is the high qualification of the professional and the position:

• Education and Experience: Higher education or equivalent professional experience must be accredited, depending on the modality (see “Permit Modalities”).
• Employment or Professional Relationship: The contract or firm job offer must specify highly qualified duties.
• Other factors: Although not explicitly detailed in Article 71, aspects such as salary (which must match qualification and sector) and company characteristics are assessed in practice.

Check in this post the Minimum salary for highly qualified professionals

Common professional profiles

Although there is no closed list, the most frequent profiles include:

• Executives or managers with teams under their responsibility.
• Highly specialized technicians in areas such as engineering, biotechnology, ICT, cybersecurity, or renewable energies.
• Strategic consultants or experts in sectors with high talent demand.

❌ It is essential that the professional is not a citizen of the EU or EEA.

Procedures and timelines

The institution responsible for managing applications for these permits is the Large Companies Unit (UGE), and not the immigration office of each province. The UGE will assess whether the job position is indeed considered highly qualified.

Applications are submitted electronically and the maximum resolution period is twenty days. If no resolution is issued within this period, the authorization is considered approved by positive administrative silence.

You may also be interested in the 10 Key Points of the HQP Permit

Frequently asked questions about the Highly Qualified Professionals Permit (HQP)

How long does it take to process the Highly Qualified Professionals permit?

The processing time is 20 working days from the submission of the application. If no response is received within this period, the application is deemed approved by positive administrative silence, which significantly speeds up the process.

Can a professional already in Spain apply for the HQP permit?

Yes. The permit can be applied for either from the country of origin or from within Spain, provided the professional is in a legal situation at the time of application.

Is a university degree mandatory to apply for the HQP permit?

Not necessarily. It is also possible to qualify by proving equivalent professional experience (a minimum of 3 or 5 years, depending on the case), as long as it aligns with the highly qualified position.

Does the HQP permit allow family members to move to Spain?

Yes. This permit allows for family reunification, either simultaneously or at a later stage, enabling the professional to relocate with their spouse and children, who will also be able to live and work in Spain.

✅ Why choose Adlanter to manage this process?

The HQP permit is one of the most efficient mechanisms to attract international talent. Its speed, flexibility, and legal security make it an ideal option for global companies and highly qualified professionals.

Does your organization want to incorporate highly qualified professionals? Explore our immigration services and discover how to attract international talent with legal guarantees and agility.