To work in Spain, foreign nationals require a Work and Residence Visa. Applications for a work permit are not permitted if the foreign national has not regularised his or her situation in Spain.
Visas may be obtained at Spanish diplomatic missions in the country of origin and, in exceptional circumstances, in other foreign countries. The visa must be applied for personally.
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Applicants must request authorisation in their country of origin. The validity periods are similar to permits issued to those working for third parties.
Foreign nationals must apply for the Work and Residence Permit at the Spanish diplomatic mission in their country.
There are two ways of acquiring this permit and both can be done in the country of origin. The first is through a Named Offer made by an employer for a job which is difficult to fill in Spain. It would not be necessary that the job is one that is diffcult to fill in Spain if the application is one of preference (ie. The applicant has a spouse, mother or father with a renewed permit, a child of Spanish nationality…).
También se puede obtener a través de la gestión colectiva de contrataciones en origen, un número máximo de autorizaciones de empleo para personas trabajadoras extranjeras que se fija anualmente y se distribuye por sectores y zonas geográficas, para dar cobertura a aquellos puestos de trabajo que el mercado nacional no es capaz de atender. Las ofertas en este procedimiento son genéricas y se dirigen a países con los que España tiene algún acuerdo al respecto. Además también existe en este apartado una modalidad que son los Visados para la búsqueda de empleo de tres meses de duración. Estos visados específicos para la búsqueda de empleo también están dirigidos a los hijos/as y nietos/as de españoles.
There are three types of third party work permits:
- Initial. This is valid for one year, and is restricted to a single province and sector.
- Renovada. La primera renovación es de dos años. La segunda es de cuatro años, y permite trabajar en cualquier actividad en cualquier parte del territorio nacional por cuenta ajena y propia. Tras ella, se puede obtener una Autorización de residencia de larga duración.
The application for renewal extends the permit until resolution takes place. If the Administration does not resolve the issue in a period of three months, the permit is valid and the foreign national has the right to apply for renewal on the basis of of the failure of the Administration to apply within the stipulated time limit.
Job offers should be presented to the Office for Foreign Nationals in Bilbao.
Foreign nationals who do not reside in Spain should apply for the Residence and Work Visa at the Spanish diplomatic mission in their country of origin.