Residence for training or research: visa and permit

What do you need to know?

If you want to carry out a training, research or innovation activity at a university, business, scientific research or technology development and innovation centre, or at a research body in Spain and you have an offer, the host entity must request a research residence permit.

Who does it apply to?

It applies to non-EU individuals who travel to Spain to carry out training, research, development and innovation activities in public or private entities.

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 has been granted.

If you are legally in Spain, the university, business, R&D+i centre or research body is responsible for completing the procedure for obtaining the residence permit.

What requirements must be met to apply for the visa?

In order to apply for a national (long-stay) visa, certain general and specific requirements must be met, depending on the reason for travel.

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.
• Proving with a medical certificate you do not suffer from any diseases that may have serious public health implications, in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 International Health Regulations.
• 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 training and research permit, the requirements for which are detailed below.

What requirements must be met to apply for the permit?

To apply for the permit, both the researcher and the host entity must meet the following requirements:

RESEARCHER 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.
• 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 in the last five years for crimes provided for in the Spanish legal system.
• Not 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 documentation to prove the professional qualification required for the job.
• Having public or private health insurance taken out with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain.
• Having sufficient financial resources for yourself and your family members, if applicable, during your period of residence in Spain.
• Having one of the following profiles:
  • Research staff provided for in article 13 and in the first additional provision of Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on science, technology and innovation.
  • Scientific and technical staff who carry out scientific research, development and technological innovation in business entities or R+D+i centres established in Spain.
  • Researchers hosted as part of an agreement by public or private research organisations, under the conditions laid down in the regulations.
  • Teaching staff hired by universities, higher education and research bodies or institutions or business schools established in Spain, in accordance with the criteria laid down in the regulations.

NECESSARY FEATURES OF THE ENTITY:

• Being a body referred to in the Spanish Science Act (public universities, public research bodies, both state and regional, as well as universities and private bodies in accordance with the first additional provision of the Act, etc.).
• Being a business or R&D+i centre established in Spain.
• Being a public or private research body that has signed an agreement.
• Being a higher education and research body or centre.
• Being a business school established in Spain.
• Paying the fee for processing the permit or visa.

Can I bring my family with me?

Yes.

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.

Your relatives' permit is linked to your permit for training or research, and they will be able to remain in Spanish territory for the same period and in the same situation as you.

How long is it valid for?

The permit is valid throughout the contract or hosting agreement if less than three years, with a maximum of three years, and may be renewed for subsequent periods of two years provided the same conditions are met.

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. Only exceptionally, and for justified reasons, may the consulate allow the application to be submitted by a duly accredited representative. Check with the relevant diplomatic mission or consular office about the specific procedure before starting the application.

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

What steps must you take?

FOR THE PERMIT:

Step 1: Choose an entity (university, business, R&D+i centre or research body).

Step 2: Gather the necessary documentation.

Step 3: The entity must apply for the residence permit for research and pay the relevant fee.

Step 4: If you are outside Spain, once the permit has been approved, apply for your entry visa.

FOR THE VISA:

Step 1: You must obtain the permit

• In order to apply for the national visa you should obtain in advance the residence for research permit.
• 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 visa entry 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 (except the Schengen 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. You may receive it at home or you may have to travel to pick it up in person at the diplomatic mission or consular office of 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).

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 entity (university, business, R&D+i centre or research body), or duly accredited company representative.

What documentation is needed?

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

The documentation listed below is for information purposes only, by way of minimum requirements, as the documentation required may vary depending on your country of residence. Each diplomatic mission or consular office may require any additional documentation it deems necessary for the purposes of the decision regarding initial permit. 

However, the general and specific basic documentation that you will have to provide is the following:

• Passport with minimum validity of six (6) months and at least two (2) blank pages.
• Health insurance taken out with a company operating in Spain.
• 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.
• Medical certificate (if applying for a visa).
• Proof of sufficient financial resources for you and your family members during your period of residence in Spain.
• Accreditation from the entity (university or contracting body) where your will conduct the research activity.
• Contract with the entity.

How long does it take?

• Permit: Within a maximum of twenty working days, a decision will be made regarding your residence permit for training or research. To notify you, the applicant entity 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 training or research 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 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 Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) page.

Important linked procedures

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

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