Work Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals

As we discussed in this other post, there are quite a few types of work permits in Spain depending on the situation of the foreign worker.

For now we will focus on a special type of permit, the one for “Highly Qualified Professionals“.

This migratory legal figure is included in Law 14/2013, of 27 September, for supporting entrepreneurs and their internationalization, a law that seeks to attract foreign (non-European) talent and improve the Spanish economy.

 

Find out which permit to apply for

What is the Highly Qualified Professional Permit?

It is a residence permit that is granted to foreigners from outside the European Union who want to start working in a technical position that requires previous work experience in the same sector. It allows them to live and work legally in Spain.

The initial residence authorization is for two years, but it can be renewed successively until obtaining permanent residence or a long-term residence permit.

One of the keys to this authorization for highly qualified workers is that the work activity to be carried out in Spain requires higher education or, alternatively, extensive comparable professional experience. For this reason, it is usually the most suitable permit for positions that require very specific training.

The application for this highly qualified professionals visa must be carried out by the contracting company.

Various scenarios will have to be taken into account regarding the general requirements:

• The studies that the worker has. When approving this permit, whether or not the person has a degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate is taken into account.
• The tasks that are carried out on a daily basis: in general, they will have to be in accordance with the training and similar to those that were done previously.
• The annual salary that the worker will have.
• The type of company they will be working for.

Here we explain these requirements in more detail: Work Permit Requirements for Highly Qualified Professionals.

Who Can Apply for This Permit?

According to the law, the application may be submitted either by the employer needing to hire the professional or by the foreign professional themselves. This dual pathway offers procedural flexibility and allows applications to be filed even from within Spain.

Permit Duration and Renewal

• Initial validity: 3 years. If the employment contract is shorter than 3 years, the permit will match its duration plus an additional 3 months, not exceeding 3 years in total.

• Renewal: Renewable in two-year increments, as long as the original eligibility conditions remain valid.

• Long-term residence: After 5 years of continuous and legal residence meeting all requirements, long-term residency may be granted.

Key Requirements for Approval

The central element is the high level of qualification of both the professional and the job role:

• Education & Experience: Higher education credentials or equivalent, relevant work experience depending on the type of authorization (see section “Types of Authorization”).

• Employment Relationship: The job contract or formal offer must clearly describe a highly qualified role.

• Other considerations: Though not explicitly listed in Article 71, in practice, factors such as salary (commensurate with the role and qualifications) and employer profile are evaluated.

Highly Skilled Jobs | Examples

In general, the job profiles required to successfully apply for the highly qualified professional work permit are:

• Directors or managers who have staff under them.
• Workers who carry out their tasks in technical and specialized positions. They usually require very advanced knowledge of their subject.

* This permit is for people from outside the European Union. Nationals of an EU country cannot apply for this authorization.

Procedure and Timelines

The Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE) is responsible for processing these applications—not the local immigration offices.

• Applications must be submitted online.

• Maximum resolution time: 20 working days.

• If no resolution is issued within the timeframe, the application is considered approved by positive administrative silence.

✅ Why Choose Adlanter to Handle This Process?

Is your organization looking to hire highly qualified professionals? Explore our immigration services and find out how we help you attract international talent with legal certainty and operational agility.