Conditions
Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)
Nota bene: Further elements of definition of those activities/category and conditions/requirements can be found in the relevant FTAs.
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- Visa C
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- Your passport (must be valid at least three months beyond the expiry date of your visa issued for the relevant stay); adequate evidence justifying the purpose of your stay (e.g. invitation of a company or an authority to participate in meetings, conventions, etc., of a commercial or industrial nature, etc.
- Your documents must prove that you meet the general conditions for obtaining a visa (i.a. valid travel document, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, full medical insurance, adequate accommodation).
Where and how to file an application
- You have to submit your application for a visa at the competent Spanish embassy or consulate abroad.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- Not applicable as regards work permit requirements. You have to pay the applicable visa fee. The decision on the visa application usually does not take more than 15 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- Up to 90 days in any six-month period
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- We may point to the condition that, according to the Spanish commitments/reservations in relevant FTAs, a transfer of BVEPs to Spain for setting up the enterprise may take up to 90 days in any six-month period.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Within Spanish FTA commitments, no rules are stipulated for accompanying dependents of this category.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- If a visa has been refused, decisions can be challenged through an administrative appeal with the same diplomatic mission or consular office within one month of the date of notification of the refusal. And if you disagree, you can go to court within two months from the date of notification.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- The procedures and conditions for issuing these visas are set out in Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).
Short-term business visitors (STBV)
Nota bene: Further elements of definition of those activities/category and conditions/requirements can be found in the relevant FTAs
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- Visa C
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- Your passport (must be valid at least three months beyond the expiry date of your visa issued for the relevant stay); adequate evidence justifying the purpose of your stay (e.g. invitation of a company or an authority to participate in meetings, conventions, etc., of a commercial or industrial nature, etc.
- Your documents must prove that you meet the general conditions for obtaining a visa (i.a. valid travel document, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, full medical insurance, adequate accommodation).
Where and how to file an application
- You have to submit your application for a visa at the competent Spanish embassy or consulate abroad.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- Not applicable as regards work permit requirements. You have to pay the applicable visa fee. The decision on the visa application usually does not take more than 15 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- Up to 90 days in any six-month period
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- We may point to the condition that, according to the Spanish commitments/reservations in relevant FTAs, a transfer of BVEPs to Spain for setting up the enterprise may take up to 90 days in any six-month period.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Within Spanish FTA commitments, no rules are stipulated for accompanying dependents of this category.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- If a visa has been refused, decisions can be challenged through an administrative appeal with the same diplomatic mission or consular office within one month of the date of notification of the refusal. And if you disagree, you can go to court within two months from the date of notification.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- The procedures and conditions for issuing these visas are set out in Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).
Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)
Nota bene: Further elements of definition of those activities/category and conditions/requirements can be found in the relevant FTAs. The national permit related to CSS is regulated under Law 14/2013. Although the commitments made in the FTAs are limited to maximum stays of 12 months, national legislation (law 14/13) allows for longer stays.
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- The national permit related to CSS is regulated under Law 14/2013., under the name of National residence permit for intra-corporate transfers.
Work permit requirements
- The existence of an actual business activity and, where applicable, that of the business group.
- Higher education qualification or equivalent or, where applicable, a minimum professional experience of 3 years.
- The existence of a previous and continuous employment or professional relationship of 3 months with one or more of the companies of the group.
- Company documentation accrediting the posting (service provision contract).
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- Passport;
- health insurance documents;
- background checks;
- certification of the company;
- higher education qualification or equivalent or a minimum professional experience of 3 years;
- the existence of a previous and continuous employment or professional relationship of 3 months with one or more of the companies of the group;
- documentation proving the relationship with Social Security;
- documentation accrediting the worker's posting to Spain.
Where and how to file an application
- To the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit), online here.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- The applicable fee is 71, 81 euros.
- The indicative processing time: the law indicates that if in 20 days there is no formal answer, the application is considered to be positive.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The period of validity of the national-ICT permit is of at least two years or the duration of the transfer (whichever is shorter), and may be extended to 2 years more.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The residence permit can be renewed for an additional two-year period as long as the requirements have been fulfilled.
- The application for residence permits and renewals extends the validity of the stay or residence status of the applicant until the procedure is terminated.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Although the trade agreements do not usually include issues related to family members, the permits issued to CSS are within the framework of Law 14/13 and therefore:
- Family members who accompany the CSS may apply jointly and simultaneously or successively for their residence permit, and, where appropriate, their visa.
- This residence permit allows family members to work if they meet the expected age labour regulations (No labour market test).
- Family members are: the spouse or unmarried couple; children who are minors or those of legal age being financially dependent on the holder; parents in their charge.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- If an application for a permit has been rejected, decisions can be challenged by way of an administrative appeal. And if you disagree, you can go court.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
Independent professionals (IPs)
Nota bene: Further elements of definition of those activities/category and conditions/requirements can be found in the relevant FTAs. The national permit related to Ips is regulated under Law 14/2013. Although the commitments made in the FTAs are limited to maximum stays of 12 months, national legislation (law 14/13) allows for longer stays.
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- The national permit related to IPs is regulated under Law 14/2013, under the name of National residence permit for intra-corporate transfers.
Work permit requirements
- The existence of an actual business activity and, where applicable, that of the business group.
- Higher education qualification or equivalent or, where applicable, a minimum professional experience of 3 years.
- The existence of a previous and continuous employment or professional relationship of 3 months with one or more of the companies of the group.
- The commercial contract for the provision of services between the worker and the company that transfers him to Spain.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- Passport;
- health insurance documents;
- background checks;
- certification of the company;
- higher education qualification or equivalent or a minimum professional experience of 3 years;
- the existence of a previous and continuous employment or professional relationship of 3 months with one or more of the companies of the group;
- documentation proving the relationship with Social Security;
- the commercial contract for the provision of services between the worker and the company that transfers him to Spain.
Where and how to file an application
- To the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit), online here.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- The applicable fee is 71, 81 euros.
- The indicative processing time: the law indicates that if in 20 days there is no formal answer, the application is considered to be positive.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The period of validity of the national-ICT permit is of at least two years or the duration of the transfer (whichever is shorter), and may be extended to 2 years more.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The residence permit can be renewed for an additional two-year period as long as the requirements have been fulfilled.
- The application for residence permits and renewals extends the validity of the stay or residence status of the applicant until the procedure is terminated.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Although the trade agreements do not usually include issues related to family members, the permits issued to IPs are within the framework of Law 14/13 and therefore:
- Family members who accompany the IP may apply jointly and simultaneously or successively for their residence permit, and, where appropriate, their visa.
- This residence permit allows family members to work if they meet the expected age labour regulations (No labour market test).
- Family members are: the spouse or unmarried couple; children who are minors or those of legal age being financially dependent on the holder; parents in their charge.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- If an application for a permit has been rejected, decisions can be challenged by way of an administrative appeal. And if you disagree, you can go court.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons