What Is the Highly Skilled Professional Visa?
Spain’s Highly Skilled Professional Visa (residencia para profesionales altamente cualificados) allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Spain under the “Entrepreneurs Law.” This fast-track permit is ideal for:
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Qualified executives and managers
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STEM professionals (tech, science, finance)
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Key staff hired by multinational or Spanish companies
✅ It is managed through the UGE (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit) and is separate from Spain’s general work permit system.
📝 Visa Requirements
To qualify, the applicant must meet all of the following:
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✅ Be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
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✅ Hold a university degree or equivalent qualification
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✅ Have a job offer in Spain for a technical or management role
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✅ Earn a competitive salary (minimum thresholds apply)
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✅ Employer must be registered with Spanish social security and tax authorities
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✅ Clean criminal background check
📌 If the role is deemed of strategic interest to the Spanish economy, the process is even faster.
💼 Qualifying Jobs & Employers
Common qualifying profiles include:
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💻 Software engineers, IT specialists, cybersecurity experts
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🧪 Researchers, R&D engineers, biotechnologists
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📊 Data analysts, economists, financial managers
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🏗️ Architects and infrastructure experts
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🧑🏫 University professors or academic researchers
✅ The Spanish company must justify why the candidate is critical to the role and why local talent is unavailable.
📁 Required Documents
From the employer:
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Job offer or contract
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Justification of strategic role
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Company registration documents
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Proof of financial solvency
From the candidate:
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Passport
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CV and university degree
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Criminal record (past 5 years)
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Private health insurance
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NIE application
📎 Documents must be translated into Spanish and legalized or apostilled as needed.
⏱️ Processing Timeline
| Step | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| UGE application & resolution | 20–30 working days |
| Residence card (TIE) after approval | 1–2 weeks post-entry |
🎯 The process is faster than standard work permits and allows family reunification from day one.
👩💼 Real Case Example
A Canadian digital marketing director was offered a role by a Madrid-based tech company. We:
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Structured her employment contract to meet UGE thresholds
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Coordinated directly with the employer’s legal team
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Secured approval within 22 business days
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Assisted with her family’s dependent visas
She and her family now reside in Spain under a 2-year renewable permit.
🔍 Key Benefits of the Visa
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✅ Fast-track residence authorization (UGE)
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✅ Permission to work and live in Spain
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✅ Renewable 2-year residence card
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✅ Spouse and children can join immediately
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✅ Possible path to permanent residence and citizenship
🌍 Ideal for professionals relocating with family or for multinational internal transfers.
⚖️ How Borderless Lawyers Can Help
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📋 We manage your full application process
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📑 Translate and legalize all required documents
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🏢 Liaise directly with Spanish employers and UGE
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👨👩👧👦 Help with dependent family visa applications
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🔄 Handle renewals and NIE/TIE support
📞 Ready to Work in Spain as a Highly Skilled Professional?
Let Borderless Lawyers support your relocation with precise legal and immigration guidance.