Work Visa for Spain

Hi all,
If you've been waiting for what seems like forever for your Spanish work permit, take heart (or if you have an impatient nature, be forewarned): My husband and I are Canadian and he has been offered a design job in Spain. His company applied for the work visa over a year ago (12.5 mos!)and we just received confirmation now that it has (finally!) been approved. Now to apply for our visas - hopefully it won't take as long but we're not holding our breath or trading in our parkas and snow shovels just yet. Have any of you had trouble getting visas for your spouses/young children? Do any of you know if Spanish immigration could possibly give a husband a visa but not his dependent wife and child?
I'll keep you posted...
Warmly from Montreal,
Cat

Hi Nate
You are right, to my disappointment no one answered so I have continued with my personal believes, rightly or wrongly, in tact.
I believe on a temporary residence visa you need to have a work permit to work. I got a 5 year temporary visa when I married a Spanish national. When I renewed this I got a permanent residence visa and now believe I can legally work without a work permit. I never declared any income in the first 5 years.
Goodluck and congratulations on your marriage. Spain is wonderful and although I'm in Australia trying to sell Spanish products at the moment I'm looking forward to getting back.
Cheers
Lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

You asked a question below that I never saw an answer for. Can you legaly work with your residency from getting married?

I'm in a similar situation. My girlfriend is Spanish and we are getting married this month in Seville. Once I'm married will I be able to apply for jobs and work without much hassel?

Thanks!
Nate

Hi,
Regarding The Expatriator's comment on 15/Jun/2006:

"...according to your tourist visa you can stay your 90 days while you wait for your work visa. You'll still have to return to your home country to pick it up though."

This is regarding filing for your work visa which will potentially take up to 3 months to process, but staying in Spain.

My question is, how would I return to my home country without my passport (which I have to turn in with my visa application)?

Thanks,

Evelyn

Hi tonaltek (tt)
You don't say what country you are a citizen of as that is where you would make your application from. If non-EU you need a job offer to get your residency and work permit (as I understand it).
Your application for residency includes needing a copy of any records held by the police department, but I presume of your country of citizenship(passport you have).
If you are an EU resident all this changes as you can get the residence visa straight off or not bother. To get a work permit I think you go through the normal process of having a job offer i.e. your future employer does most of the applications etc.
Goodluck
Lorraine
PS On the issue of lengthy times I now know I'm jinked as 4 months to renew my residency including the standard 45 day I'm now waiting for the actual card and with a total time of 12 hrs in queues (to date). On the bright side the renewal is as a permanent resident and for 10yrs!

Hello,
I am considering applying for a work visa in Spain. I was a resident in the U.S. for a while and had a run in with the law but don't live there now. Will this affect my chances of being accepted if i apply as a citizen of another country? Thanks for any advise.
tt

Hello, I'm very interested in Teaching English in Spain and I've only just started looking into the process - this website is very helpful - I'm serious about moving to Spain and teaching, is there any way you can provide me with a rough estimate of how long all the process of obtaining a work visa, etc will take me so I can plan accordingly? I know there are a several variables that affect the timeframe but all I am looking for is an estimate.

thanks
Eric

Hello, I'm an American teaching English in Prague. I currently have my work Visa here and was wondering if anybody knew if that would help at all in getting a Spanish work Visa.
thanks
Mark

Hi cmanio,
My husband and I had set up a company before moving to spain and were going to work as self-employed.
Good luck with the interview !

Hello Mak
What kind of residency visa did you apply for? Did you find a job who obtained a work permit for you? Or did you go on a student visa? Cuz I've got my interview soon and I want to know my avenues.
Thank you

Dear Tano,
Check this website for the correct info, as it depends on the nationality of your fiancee and your personal circumstances.

http://www.conspalon.org/indexeng.html
Here is what I had to do:-
1)Checked the above website
2)Wrote to the Consulate
3)Received a application form for a RESIDENCY VISA & visa information
4)Wrote to make an appointment, with loads of copies of required documents(you will be rejected without an appointment)
5)Got appointment date
6)Went to consulate with original and copies of required documents
7)Got my residency visa on the same day
The word of warning,
1)As far as I know, your fiancee CANNOT apply for a work permit WHILE IN SPAIN !!
2)In my case, it took me 4 months to obtain a residency visa, though due to my nationality and financial circumstances, it should have been very straightforward. So allow PLENTY OF TIME !
Does't his employer obtain a visa for him ?
Good luck.

I would appreciate some help. I am an EU citizen planning to relocate with my fiancee to Spain.Unfortunately, my fiancee is not an EU citizen and will need a visa. He was offered a job in Spain -however, we are unsure as to how to proceed.
Should he apply for a tourist visa (for 3 months) and later apply for a work visa, while in Spain? or should he apply for a work visa before travelling to Spain? I heard that applying for a work visa can be very difficult.
Can you please give me suggestions?

The Expatriator said:

Missy: Sure you can, according to your tourist visa you can stay your 90 days while you wait for your work visa. You'll still have to return to your home country to pick it up though

Lorraine: Your residencia MAY be good enough to work without a specific work permit, but it's a good question! Since you're here, why not ask an employer friend.

Does anyone know if I can be IN spain at the time that my visa is processing?

I hope I haven't missed the answer to my question while reading what I can find on visas and work permits. I am a Kiwi married to a Spanaird and living in Spain. I have a five year residence visa, NIE(which incidently took close to a year to obtain, not difficult just tediously slow at every step. Reading Joanna's comment she must be in a very different part of the country to me as our Comisaría wouldn't manage anything in 'a month or so'!) Anyway does this visa allow me to work legally or do I have to have a work permit as well?

As the UK is part of the European Union, all you need to do to get your N.I.E. (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is to present your passport, certificado de empadronamiento (a piece of paper the you get from your local disctrict that certifies where you are registered to live) & application form (you can download it from the legal/ID numbers page here) at your local comisaría. I think it´s usually processed within a month or so.

If you want to get a mortgage through a Spanish bank then you'll have to have an NIE, same as for working for taxation purposes.

Hiya all

As an englishman, do i need a work visa for spain or can i go out there buy a house and get a job with little to no worry about then?

The Expatriator said:

Hey Kac,
Well, I believe so. People get a work visa for one job, but are then free to quit and work elsewhere for the extent of their visa, so I would suppose you can also hold two jobs having one work visa. I'd check it out further with the Spanish embassy/consulate when you pick up your visa.

Can I hold multiple jobs with one work visa?