01What it is and who it is for
Article 72 of Law 14/2013 covers non-EU nationals who come to Spain to carry out training, research, development and innovation at public or private institutions. Applications are handled by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), online and with a 20-day decision period.
It covers four profiles: research staff under Spain's Science Act (universities, public research bodies and similar institutions), scientific and technical staff doing research at companies or R&D centres, researchers hosted under an agreement with a public or private research organisation, and lecturers hired by universities, higher education and research centres or business schools established in Spain.
There are two versions. The EU research permit is for people who hold a doctorate, or a degree giving access to doctoral programmes, and have been selected by a research institution; it also allows you to teach in connection with your research and to move to other EU countries for your project. The national research permit covers everyone else. Under Management Criterion 2/2026, issued in August 2026, international students coming to Spain for a PhD are also processed under the national research permit at the UGE, rather than as students. For researchers from the UK, the US and other non-EU countries, this is usually the most direct route into a Spanish post.
02Requirements
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03Documents
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04How we handle it online
- Case review and choice of permit
We look at your offer and qualifications and agree with you whether the EU or the national research permit applies, and whether an EU Blue Card would suit you better for a highly qualified salaried post.
- Working with your host institution
We tell the university, institute or company what it needs to sign and provide, and check that the hosting agreement or contract contains everything the law requires.
- Online filing with the UGE-CE
We file your application and your family's together. If you are outside Spain, once the permit is granted you apply for the visa at the consulate.
- TIE, mobility and renewal
We guide you through the fingerprint appointment for your TIE (foreigner identity card), handle EU mobility notifications and prepare the renewal if your project continues.
- After your research
When the project ends, we notify the UGE that you wish to stay for up to 12 months to look for work or start a business, and then apply for the permit that fits your next step.
05Timescales and validity
The UGE must decide within 20 days of electronic filing; if it does not, the permit is deemed granted (positive administrative silence). If you are lawfully in Spain, your current status is extended while the application is pending.
The permit lasts three years, or the length of the agreement or contract if shorter. It can be renewed for two-year periods while the conditions are met, and after five years you can apply for long-term residence.
When your research ends you may stay for up to 12 months to look for a related job or to start a business. You must notify the UGE online between 60 days before and 90 days after your permit expires. The UGE decides within 20 days, with approval by default, and the notification keeps your permit valid in the meantime.
06Do I need to attend anything in person?
The UGE application is entirely online. The in-person steps are the TIE fingerprint appointment at a police station, where the permit lasts more than six months, and, if you live abroad, lodging the visa application at the consulate or its visa centre.
07Common mistakes and reasons for refusal
- A hosting agreement missing the legal minimum: no research topic, no dates or no commitments from either side.
- Applying for the EU permit without a doctorate or a qualification giving access to one.
- PhD candidates still applying for a student stay at an immigration office: since Criterion 2/2026 that route is refused and they are sent to the UGE.
- A host that does not fall within any of the article 72 categories.
- Missing the 90-day window after expiry to notify the post-research job search.
08Frequently asked questions
I am starting a PhD in Spain. Which permit do I need?
Under Management Criterion 2/2026 of the Directorate-General for Migration Management, PhD candidates are processed under the national research permit at the UGE. Either you or your university can file. If you are abroad, you apply for the visa at the consulate once the permit is granted.
Can I teach?
With the EU research permit you may teach in connection with your research, subject to each institution's own rules. If teaching is your main role, you can come as a lecturer hired by a university or business school under the same article 72.
Can I carry out part of my research in another EU country?
Yes. With an EU research permit issued by Spain you can work on your project in other member states, after notifying or obtaining authorisation from each one under its own rules. Researchers holding that permit in another EU country can come to Spain by notifying the UGE, which has 30 days to object.
What happens when my project ends?
You can stay for up to 12 months to find a job related to your research or to start a business. Once you do, you apply for the relevant permit, for example as a highly qualified professional or as an entrepreneur.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or partner, children under 18, adult children who depend on you and dependent parents can apply with you or later. If they apply at the same time, everything is decided together.
Would an EU Blue Card be better for me?
It depends. If you have a highly qualified employment contract paying above the 2026 threshold, the Blue Card may be an alternative. If your work is research under a hosting agreement, fellowship or predoctoral contract, this permit is the usual choice. We look at each case individually.
How long does it take?
The UGE-CE must decide within 20 days of electronic filing; if it does not, the permit is deemed granted (positive administrative silence). If you are outside Spain, once the permit is granted you apply for the visa, which the consulate must decide within 10 working days unless a consultation under the EU Visa Code is required. Requests for further documents can extend the process, which is why we check with your host institution that the contract or hosting agreement is complete before filing. In practice, overall timings vary from case to case and from one consulate to another.
Do I need a hosting agreement with the research centre?
Not always. The UGE asks for the contract or other document linking you to the institution, signed by both sides, and a hosting agreement is one way of providing it. For the EU research permit the law requires a hosting agreement or an employment contract setting out the research topic, the commitments of both sides, the dates or expected duration and, where relevant, any planned mobility; a letter of invitation you have accepted can serve if it contains these points. If the document does not describe the project, a short explanatory summary must be added.
09Legal basis
- Law 14/2013, articles 62 and 72 (training, research, development and innovation)
- Law 14/2013, articles 75 and 76 (visas and UGE-CE procedure)
- Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation, article 13
- Directive (EU) 2016/801 (research and intra-EU mobility)
- Management Criterion 2/2026 of the Directorate-General for Migration Management (PhD candidates)
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.