Residence for intra-company transfer: visa and permit

What do you need to know?

If your company transfers you to another Spanish company of the same business group or a Spanish company with a proven close business relationship (even if they do not belong to the same group), a permit must be requested.

Who does it apply to?

To non-EU individuals who come to reside in Spain for intra-company transfer.

What is your current status?

 If you are outside Spain, you must request a national visa in order to enter Spain once your residence permit for intra-company transfer has been granted.

If you are outside Spain, the host company in Spain must request the intra-company transfer permit.

What requirements must be met to apply for the visa?

Once you have obtained the permit, some general and specific requirements must be met to apply for the national (long-stay) visa.

General requirements

• Not being a citizen of an EU or EEA state or Switzerland, or a family member of individuals from those countries to whom the rules for EU citizens apply.
• Having no criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you have resided during the last five years.
• Not being forbidden to enter Spain or being listed as liable to be refused entry in the territorial area of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement to that effect.
• Having public or private health insurance taken out with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain.
• Paying the application fee for the national (long-stay) visa.

Specific requirements

You must have the intra-company transfer permit detailed below.

What requirements must be met to apply for the permit?

Employee requirements

• Not being in an irregular situation in Spanish territory.
• Being over 18 years of age.
• Having no criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you have resided during the last five years.
• Not being forbidden to enter Spain or being listed as liable to be refused entry in the territorial area of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement to that effect.
• Having a university degree or equivalent or, where appropriate, at least three years' professional experience.
• Having a prior and continuous three-month employment or professional relationship with one or more of the companies in the group.

Company requirements

• That the company or business group can prove the existence of a real business activity.
• Proof that the transfer is between two companies of the same group or between two companies that have signed an agreement for the provision of services. 
• Documenting the social security cover, including health cover, of the worker, by means of a certificate of cover (if there is a social security agreement between Spain and the issuing country) or by appointing a representative who is responsible for the worker's contributions (if there is no agreement).  
• ​Documentation from the company confirming the conditions of the transfer.  
• Paying the fee for processing the permit.

How long is it valid for?

The duration of the permit will be the same as the duration of the transfer and, as a general rule, will not exceed three years, renewable for further periods of two years if the conditions which gave rise to the transfer are maintained.

However, there is a maximum transfer period for certain categories that restricts the permit validity or possibility of renewal: 

• In the case of workers in training, the duration is one year.
• In the case of managers and specialists, the maximum duration of the transfer is three years. 

Can I bring my family with me

Yes.

Your family members may accompany you on your trip and they may jointly or at a later stage apply for a permit or visa. This condition applies to:

• Spouse or unmarried partner

• Children of the permit holder, or of their legal partner who are below legal age, or who are of legal age and depend on the holder or their partner financially and have not yet formed a family unit.

• First-degree dependent relatives of the holder or their legal partner.

What do you need to do?

• Visa: You can only complete the formality in person, going in person to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Spain in your country of residence. Check with the relevant diplomatic mission or consular office about the specific procedure before starting the application.

• Permit: The company or entity hosting the worker in Spain must process the formality online at the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE).

What steps must you take to obtain a visa?

Step 1: You must obtain the permit

• In order to apply for the national visa, the host company in Spain must first process the residence and work permit for intra-company transfer. Once this permit has been accepted and granted, you must apply for the visa, proving that you meet the stipulated requirements.

Step 2: Fill in the application form and gather the required documentation

• You must download, fill in and sign the national visa application form, specifying your reason for travel.
• The form is available in Spanish and sometimes the relevant consulate provides a version in the language of the country where the application is submitted. The application form is the same for all types of visa.
• Before making the application, consult and prepare the documentation you will be required to provide.

Step 3: Request an appointment

• The visa must be applied for in person or through a duly accredited representative.
• In general, in order to apply for a visa at the diplomatic mission or consular office of your country of residence, you must make an appointment in advance, through their website or by e-mail.

Step 4: Pay the fee associated with the visa application

• In order to apply for a visa, the established fee must be paid.

Step 5: Go to the place indicated and hand over the documentation

• Go to the diplomatic mission or consular office of your country of residence to hand in the documents and to be able to apply for the relevant visa.

Step 6: Receive or collect your visa

• Once the documentation, fee payment and requirements have been validated, you will be notified if the visa is approved. It may be delivered to your home along with your passport or you may have to go in person to the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country. You only have one month to collect the visa after notification; otherwise, your visa will be cancelled.
• If the visa has been refused, you will receive a notification to that effect.
• Once you have picked up your visa, remember that you must enter Spain in the following three months.

Step 7: Entry into Spain

Remember that once you are in Spain, depending on your profile, you may have to complete other related formalities (see at the end of this file).

What steps must you take to obtain the permit?

The host company or entity is responsible for completing the formality to obtain the permit, which must be done online.

Step 1: The company applies for the residence permit.

• The host company or entity must apply for a residence permit for intra-company transfer. This application is processed at the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit in Spain.

Step 2: If you are outside Spain, apply for your visa

• If you are outside Spain at the time of submitting the application, once the permit has been approved you must apply for a visa in order to be able to enter Spain.
• In order to find out about the procedure for obtaining the visa, consult the information on the formality, which contains all the details on how to obtain it.

Step 3: Receive notification of the decision

• Within a maximum of twenty (20) days, a decision will be made regarding your residence permit for intra-company transfer. 
• You will be notified of the status of the application at the email address given at the time of submission of the application. 

Step 4: Entry into Spain

Remember that once you are in Spain, depending on your profile, you may have to complete other related formalities (see at the end of this file).

Who can apply?

• Visa: Applications for the national entry visa must be made by the foreign national himself or herself. Only exceptionally, and for justified reasons, may the consulate allow the application to be submitted by a duly accredited representative.
• Permit: The application must be made by the company or entity that wishes to host the foreign national.

What documentation is needed?

In general, you must provide the original and a copy of the documents.

Employee documentation

• Full copy of his or her passport with minimum validity of one year and at least two blank pages.
• Criminal record certificate from the country or countries where you have lived for the last 2 years, for crimes under the Spanish legal system. Additionally, a responsible declaration of the absence of criminal records of the last five years will be presented.
• Documentation providing evidence of the citizen’s degree-level or equivalent qualification (legalised, translated and recognised) or certification of at least three years’ professional experience.
• Proof of a prior and continuous employment or professional relationship of at least three months preceding the application, with one or more companies in the group.

Company documentation

• Documentation providing evidence of the transfer.
• Documentation providing evidence of the relationship with the social security system and health insurance, if the employee will not have public healthcare cover.
• Evidence of a real business activity and, where appropriate, the business group.

How long does it take?

• Permit: Within a maximum of twenty working days, a decision will be made regarding your residence permit for intra-company transfer. To notify you, the applicant company will receive the status of the application at the email address indicated at the time of submission of the application.
• Visa: Once the permit has been obtained, the fee paid and the requirements met, your residence visa for intra-company transfer will be issued in a period of ten working days according to the law.

How much does it cost?

• Visa: The fee is €60 (in general, but the amount is generally €60, but may vary depending on the country, applicant’s nationality and type of visa). If your application is refused, there is no refund of the fee.
• Permit: The fee is €73.26.

Want to know more?

Body responsible for the formality

• Visa: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Government of Spain).
• Permit: Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) (Government of Spain).

Further information

You can consult the Invest in Spain website (available in English and Spanish)and the information sheet on intra-company worker transfers within the same company or business group (non EU citizens) available in different languages:

• Information sheet on intra-company transfer in Spanish
• Information sheet on intra-company transfer in English
• Information sheet on intra-company transfer in Russian
• Information sheet on intra-company transfer in Chinese
• Information sheet on intra-company transfer in Portuguese

Important linked procedures

Below are some examples of formalities that, depending on your profile, you need to complete subsequently:

• Obtaining a social security number
• Registration with the social security system
• Identity card for foreign nationals (TIE)