01What it is and who it is for
Spain's Entrepreneurs Act (Law 14/2013) set up a separate international mobility scheme to attract talent and investment. Its permits are not handled by the ordinary immigration offices but by the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos), a unit of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration that works entirely online and decides applications within short legal deadlines. There is no resident labour market test: the employer does not have to show that it could not find a candidate in Spain.
Since the 2023 reform (Law 11/2023, which implemented the revised EU Blue Card Directive), the highly qualified professional permit has two versions: the EU Blue Card and a national permit, which is the one covered on this page. The national permit (autorización de residencia nacional para profesionales altamente cualificados) is for management positions and for employment or professional roles that require higher education or, failing that, at least three years of comparable experience.
Before 2022 the employer had to fall into set categories, such as a large company or a project of general interest, and there was a separate route for graduates of prestigious universities and business schools. Today the focus is on the role, the professional's qualifications and the salary. An MBA or master's degree from a well-known business school is still useful evidence of qualifications.
It is the usual route for executives, engineers, tech specialists, finance professionals and other skilled staff joining a company established in Spain, including those relocating from the UK or the United States, who have been treated as non-EU nationals since Brexit.
02Requirements
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03Documents
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04How we handle it online
- Role and profile review
We look at the contract, salary, qualifications or experience and the employer's position, and confirm whether the national permit fits or whether the EU Blue Card would serve you better.
- Employer registration with the UGE
If the company is not yet registered, we prepare the documents proving its activity. Registration lasts three years and speeds up later hires.
- Online filing with the UGE-CE
We file through the Ministry's online portal, for you and your family at the same time, together with the fee.
- Follow-up
We monitor the application and answer any request for further documents within the deadline.
- Visa or TIE
If you are abroad, we prepare your file for the visa at the Spanish consulate. If you are already in Spain, we guide you through the fingerprint appointment for your TIE.
- Renewal
Before your permit expires, we file the renewal online as well.
05Timescales and validity
The UGE-CE must decide within 20 days of electronic filing. If it has not answered by then, the permit is deemed granted (positive administrative silence). While the application is pending, your existing legal stay or residence is extended.
Residence visas under this scheme are decided within 10 working days, unless the consulate has to carry out the prior consultations allowed by the EU Visa Code.
The permit lasts three years or, if the contract is shorter, the length of the contract plus three months, never more than three years in total. In the 60 days before expiry you can apply to renew it for two years if you still meet the conditions. After five years of legal residence you can apply for long-term residence.
06Do I need to attend anything in person?
Filing with the UGE-CE is entirely online: neither the employer nor the professional needs to visit any office. If you live outside Spain, you will need to apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate or its visa centre, normally in person. Once in Spain, fingerprints for your TIE (foreigner identity card) are taken at a police station.
07Common mistakes and reasons for refusal
- Salary below the threshold, especially where part of the package is a bonus that the contract does not guarantee.
- A vague job description that does not explain why the role needs high qualifications.
- Experience letters with no dates, duties or company signature.
- Foreign degrees without an apostille or a Spanish translation.
- Applying from Spain after your visitor stay has run out.
- Failing to tell the UGE, within 30 days, about relevant changes such as a new role or a new employer.
08Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the EU Blue Card?
Both are permits for highly qualified professionals. The Blue Card requires a degree of at least three years or five years of experience, and a contract of at least six months; in return it lets you move to other EU countries and allows a reduced salary threshold in some cases. The national permit has a slightly lower qualification bar, or three years of experience, and is valid only in Spain.
Can I apply myself or does my employer have to?
Either can apply. If you file it yourself, the UGE-CE notifies the company that it has received the application. In practice it works best when the employer is involved from the start, since it provides the contract and the corporate documents.
Can I apply while visiting Spain?
Yes, as long as you are legally in Spain when we file. The application extends your stay until a decision is made, so you do not have to fly home for a visa.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or partner, children under 18, adult children who depend on you financially and dependent parents can apply with you or later. If they apply at the same time as you, the applications are decided together.
Does my employer need to advertise the job in Spain first?
No. Permits under Law 14/2013 are exempt from the resident labour market test.
What happens if I change employer?
The permit is tied to the conditions you proved when applying. Any change affecting them must be reported to the UGE-CE within 30 days, and a new employer usually means a new application. Talk to us before you sign.
Does this count towards permanent residence and citizenship?
Yes. It is legal residence for all purposes, so it counts towards long-term residence after five years and towards Spanish nationality by residence.
How much do I need to earn in 2026?
Your gross annual salary must meet the threshold published by the UGE: €41,356.36 under the June 2026 update. Unlike the EU Blue Card, the national permit has no reduced threshold. Only pay guaranteed in the contract counts, not bonuses that depend on targets. The figure changes whenever the INE publishes a new salary survey, so we always check it before filing.
What happens if I lose my job?
The permit was granted for a specific role, and the law requires you to keep meeting the conditions that gave you access to it. Any change affecting them, including the end of your contract, must be reported to the UGE-CE within 30 days, and the authorities may then withdraw the permit, giving reasons and after hearing you. Unlike the EU Blue Card, Law 14/2013 sets no specific period of unemployment that is tolerated under the national permit. If you lose your job, talk to us straight away so we can look at a new offer or a switch to another permit.
Which jobs qualify?
The national permit covers management positions and employed or self-employed professional roles that require higher education at least at level 1 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (MECES) or, failing that, at least three years of comparable experience. The law does not set a closed list of occupations: what matters is that the role genuinely needs that level of qualification and pays at least the UGE salary threshold. Since the 2023 reform the employer no longer has to fall into categories such as large company or strategic sector. A clear job description is therefore key, and we help the employer explain why the role needs a highly qualified profile.
09Legal basis
- Law 14/2013, article 71 (highly qualified professionals)
- Law 14/2013, article 62 (general requirements and family members)
- Law 14/2013, articles 75 and 76 (visas and UGE-CE procedure)
- Law 14/2013, fifth and seventh additional provisions
- Law 11/2023, article 32 (amendments to Law 14/2013)
- Management Criterion 2/2025 of the Directorate-General for Migration Management (permit duration)
Information reviewed on 03.10.2026 against the law in force. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for advice on your own case.