Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain (HQP Visa)

Who needs a Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa?

With a Highly Qualified Professional Work Permit (Permiso de Trabajo como Profesional Altamente Cualificado), foreign workers get to live and work in Spain for 2 years, and they will be permitted to renew their visa at the end of this period.

As of 2021, over 530,000 individuals are migrating to Spain on a yearly basis. To be able to recruit one of them to your business or organisation, you will need to initiate the procedure for an applicant to be granted a permit.

Highly qualified professional Visa — key facts

What is a Highly Skilled Work Permit in Spain?

The Highly Qualified Professional permit is designed to allow for highly skilled workers outside the European Union to live and work in Spain.

Workers with job offers for large companies and strategic small or medium businesses (SMBs) in skilled work activity roles could be eligible to apply for a residence permit from outside the European Union.

The program is designed to facilitate the import of workers in manager and executive positions. It is aimed at professionals in industries that require special knowledge, training, and skills.

The worker scheme is supported by the regulations in law 14/2013 regarding support for the highly skilled professional and their internationalisation.

Eligibility Requirements for the Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain?

Below is a list of the type of companies to be eligible for the highly skilled professional work permit:

• Large companies and strategic SME companies.
• Companies within a large group of companies.
• Companies developing projects of strategic interest to the Spanish economy.

Not all companies are eligible for the visa, and you should verify your company’s eligibility to apply for the visa.

Note that if you wish to hire graduates or postgraduates from universities or prestigious business schools, you can hire them with a HQP permit regardless of the size of your company, your area of operation or type of activity your company deals in.

Applicants must also meet one of the skilled worker eligibility requirements, which are structured as follows:

They must be a highly qualified worker, meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• The worker must have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree or a PhD from a prestigious university or business school.
• The worker must be a highly qualified professional or a manager or executive.

Eligibility checklist — Highly Qualified Professional

How to Apply for a Highly Qualified Professional Visa in Spain?

To begin the application process for the permit for highly qualified professionals, the employer must begin the application process with a formal offer of employment.

The employer must then submit the application for the permit at the Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit (Unidad Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos). They will submit the prospective employee’s resume and job description.

After the permit is approved and granted, the prospective employee will receive an approval letter, which will include a Foreigner Identity Number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or NIE). The employee will then apply for their residence visa at the Spanish consulate at their place of residence.

After this, the employee can apply for a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) once in Spain.

Note that it is entirely possible for a HQP permit to be applied for on behalf of a foreign national who is already in Spain. The employee must be in a ‘regular situation’ in Spain – that is, there legally on a valid visa/permit.

Application process & timeline — step by step

Documents Requirements for a Highly Qualified Work Permit in Spain?

To apply for this permit, businesses must gather various documents and fill out application forms. Below is a list of the required documents to be provided for a Highly Qualified Work Permit application:

• Certification indicating that the company is one of the following:
  • A large business or corporate group
  • An SME in a strategic sector
  • Developing a business project of general interest
• A copy of the contract or professional relationship
• The job description for the role
• The applicant’s professional resume
• The applicant’s passport.
• Relevant background checks for applicant
• If the applicant is a graduate or postgraduate, then their university degree or qualification from a prestigious business school.

Required document checklist

Highly Qualified Professional Visa Cost

​To obtain a Highly Qualified Professionals (HQP) visa in Spain, applicants should anticipate the following fees:​

• Residence Permit Application Fee: €73.26​

• Consular Visa Fee: Approximately €80, though this may vary depending on the applicant’s nationality and the specific consulate.​

• Residence Card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, TIE) Fee: €16.

Processing Times for Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain

Once the business submits the application on behalf of the applicant, a decision should normally be made within. 10 days of submission. However this period could be longer if the parties involved are asked to provide more information.

Once the applicant has received approval for their residence permit application, they will need to collect their visa within 1 month of receiving the approval notification. Upon their visit, one of the consulate officers will discuss the procedure for returning their passport and documents.

Salary Requirements for a Highly Qualified Professional Visa in Spain

The salary requirements for highly qualified workers will differ depending on the nature of the job offer.

In the case of those receiving a job offer for a managerial or directorial position at the company, applicants need to earn 54 000€ per year or more.

If they receive a job offer for an academic or scientific position, they need to earn a salary of 40,000€ per year or more.

However, they will be granted an exception for some positions, allowing you to apply with a 25% reduction coefficient. Eligibility for the reduction is as follows:

• Applicants must be working for an SME in the strategic sector.
• Applicants must be under 30 years of age.

If your employer pays the salary in kind, this income can only account for 30% of the yearly salary figure towards the permit.

Why Might a Highly Qualified Worker Visa Application Be Refused?

The Spanish consulate or embassy might refuse a highly qualified worker application for the following reasons:

• Insufficient information and documentation.
• Incomplete application forms.
• Lack of funds.
• Selecting the incorrect visa type.
• History of immigration violations.
• Criminal history.
• Invalid travel insurance.
• Intention of returning to home country is unclear.

If the application for this visa is refused, the applicant retains the right to appeal to the consulate and resubmit your documentation. If the appeal is successful, the applicant can obtain a residence permit and begin work activity. Follow these guidelines during the appeal process to be successful:

• Appeal within 1 month of receiving notice of the refusal.
• To submit the appeal, post it to the Visa Department of the consulate via mail or courier service.
• If judicial review is applied for, the appeal will be submitted to the High Court of Justice of Madrid within 2 months of your receipt of refusal. If judicial review is requested following the dismissal of the appeal, it will be submitted within 2 months of receiving the notice of dismissal.

What Is the Difference between the Highly Qualified Worker Visa and the EU Blue Card?

The visa for qualified professionals is different from the EU-wide work permit. The highly qualified work visa is valid for 2 years, allowing applicants to work for the company sponsoring their visa and to live in Spain. The EU card is valid for 3 years, and it also allows applicants to live and work anywhere in the European Union, migrating from outside the European Union.

Additionally, the blue card allows applicants to work anywhere in the European Union. Applicants can only apply for either visa if registering from outside the European Union. Both visas also have requirements regarding professions. To be able to apply for an EU blue card, applicants must be able to meet the requirements:

• Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the same field as the job offer. Applicants should be in active employment for these 5 years.
• Have at least 3 years’ worth of higher education qualifications. These qualifications must provide sufficient evidence that applicants have the knowledge necessary for research and high-level training positions.

If applicants meet these requirements, they could be eligible for the EU card work permit for the ability to work anywhere in the European Union.

Quick comparison — HQP permit vs EU Blue Card vs standard work permit

How to Renew a Highly Qualified Professional Work Permit

Professionals who have lived and worked in Spain for the duration of their contract with the company need to decide whether to reapply for the same work permit by the company or whether to pursue another option.

To renew a work permit in Spain, applicants should be working with the company still, and you plan to continue to work for the company.

Once the highly qualified professional card expires, applicants need to submit the application for renewal within 90 days. They can apply for the renewal 60 days before the card’s expiry date. The validity of the renewal of residence and work authorization for Highly Qualified Professional is for two years.

To qualify for renewal of this residence authorisation type, there are a number of requirements for applicants:

• Comply with the highly qualified professional requirements that the consulate set out in the application for the Spain work permit
• Have received the required salary during their time working in Spain
• Provide documents proving that their employment with the company is ongoing and that the company intends to continue their contract working in Spain.

The visa for highly qualified professionals reapplication will allow applicants to continue your work with the company in Spain under the same conditions as their first visa card.

Residence Authorisation for Family Members of HQP Permit

It is permitted for applicants to bring family members with them, who must be one of the following:

• Spouse or unmarried partner.
• Unmarried children that are financially dependent on the applicant.
• Parents that are dependent on the applicant’s care.

These family members will also obtain the visa and residence permit as joint applicants, allowing them to live and work in Spain. The permit is valid for two years or the same period the permit is granted, so long as it is under one year.

Rights, conditions & renewal — at a glance

What Happens If the Employer Associated with the HQP Permit is Changed?

If the holder of a HQP permit wants to change the company they work for, or the company becomes a new one as a result of a merger or acquisition, the Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit (Unidad Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) must be notified.

A new application for a HQP permit must also be submitted.

If a new permit is granted, this will be for a new 2 year period. New permits are only granted if the applicant still continues to meet all of the requirements.

Applicants will also need a new authorisation if they switch to a different company that is within the same corporate group as the previous company. In this case, the new permit will have the same validity of time as the previous.

Student Visa to Highly Qualified Professional Work Visa

To switch to a HPQ permit as a student, you first must have been in Spain for at least one year with your student visa.

You must also then obtain a job offer from an eligible company in Spain and adhere to all other regular requirements for the HQP permit.

How Can IAS Help

At IAS, we employ a team of highly skilled immigration lawyers that can help businesses and organisations apply for a visa as a highly qualified worker.

Our team of experienced lawyers will be able to advise you on the most suitable residence permit for highly qualified professionals and will help you to understand the scope of your requirements and benefits for your employees.

We can help you to weigh up the benefits of a blue card against the benefits of a visa for highly qualified professionals. We can help your company to understand the processes involved with obtaining residence authorisation and work permits.

If your employees’ residence permit is running out, and they wish to resume life in Spain, we can help them to reapply for a residence permit based on their current situation and needs.

If you’re ready to learn more about your options and gain assistance with the visa application form, reach out to our friendly team on +44 (0)333 414 9244.