Residence for professionals holding an EU Blue Card: permit

What do you need to know?

Highly qualified professionals with non-EU nationality can apply for the Blue Card to live and work in the European Union (EU). This entry route was established to attract foreign talent and facilitate internal mobility between EU Member States. It may be of interest to individuals whose occupation requires them to move around Europe, such as researchers or specialists in the ICT (information and communication technologies) sector.

The main advantages for individuals holding an EU Blue Card include:

• The option to enter, re-enter and remain in the territory of the EU country that issued the card.
• Access to highly qualified employment in the Member State that issued the card.
• Receiving the same treatment as nationals in terms of working conditions, education, training, Social Security and access to services.
• Applying for family reunification permits, which will have the same validity period as the holder's EU Blue Card.
• Accumulating residence periods in different Member States in order to qualify for an EU long-term residence permit.

The EU Blue Card is very similar to the Residence permit for highly qualified professionals that exists in Spain, as both procedures were created to attract international talent. 

Who does it apply to?

It is aimed at highly qualified professionals with non-EU nationality who already hold an EU Blue Card issued by a Member State other than Spain and who:

• Have a highly qualified job offer in Spain for a period of at least six months. In this case, a residence permit as holder of an EU Blue Card must be applied for.
• Will be carrying out a professional activity in Spain. If the professional activity lasts for up to 90 days, no additional procedures are required; the EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State will be sufficient. However, if the professional activity lasts for more than 90 days, a residence permit for highly qualified professionals with an EU Blue Card must be applied for.

What is your current status?

It is important to consider your location when processing the permit:

• If you are residing in the territory of the Member State where your card was issued, you can submit the permit application before you move.
• If you are already in Spain, the permit application must be processed within one month of your entry into Spain.

What requirements must be met?

To apply for the permit, EU Blue Card holders must meet certain requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EU BLUE CARD HOLDERS

• Not being in an irregular status in Spanish territory (within 30 days of your entry into Spain).
• Being at least 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 prohibited from entering Spain or listed as liable to be refused entry in the territorial area of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement to that effect.
• Having lived for 12 months as an EU Blue Card holder in another EU Member State, or six months if they have resided in more than one Member State as a holder of an EU Blue Card.

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPANIES

• Have a certificate of cover (agreement with the Social Security system) or health insurance for the employee, taken out with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain.
• Pay the fee for processing the permit.
• Show an offer of employment and description of the position offered to the worker, justifying the reason why the company requires someone with that profile and qualifications. The gross annual salary specified in the employment contract must be at least 1.0 times (€40,077) and at most 1.6 times the average gross annual salary set by current regulations and the applicable collective agreement. However, provided the contract complies with current regulations and the applicable collective agreement, the lower salary threshold will be 80% of the established amount, as long as it is not less than 1.0 times the average gross salary, in any of the following cases:
  • For professions where there is a specific need for third-country national workers, such as technicians, specialists, or directors and managers.
  • For third-country nationals who have obtained a degree-level qualification no more than three years prior to the submission of the EU Blue Card application.

How long is it valid for?

The validity will be the same as the duration of the contract, which must be at least six months, with a maximum of 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 partner.

What do you need to do?

If you hold an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State, have a job offer of at least six months or are coming to carry out a professional activity in Spain for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence and work permit. Normally it is the company or entity that hires you that submits the application. 

What steps must you take to obtain the permit?

Step 1. The company applies for the permit

• The company or entity that wishes to hire you must apply online for a residence permit for EU Blue Card holders. This application is processed at the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE-CE).
• To make it easier for the company to obtain the permit, consult the documentation required to have it prepared in case it is requested.

Step 2. Receive notification of the decision

• A decision will be made on your residence permit for EU Blue Card holders within the established maximum period.
• The company will be notified of the status of the application at the email address given at the time of submission of the application.

Step 3. Entry into Spain

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

Who can make applications?

The application must be submitted by the employee, the company or entity that wishes to hire the foreign national or the duly accredited representative of the company.

What documentation is needed?

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

Remember that the documentation required may vary depending on your country of residence, but below is the general documentation you will need to provide:

EMPLOYEE DOCUMENTATION

The submitted application must be accompanied by the EU Blue Card issued by the first Member State.

• Permit application form.
• Full copy of passport with minimum validity of six months and at least two blank pages.
• Criminal record certificate from the country/countries where you have lived in the last two years.
• Moreover, you must submit a declaration of compliance that you have not had a criminal record in the last five years.
• Updated curriculum vitae.
• Documentation providing evidence of the citizen’s degree-level or equivalent qualification (legalised, translated and officially recognised, depending on the type of profession) or certification of at least five years of professional experience (or three in the exceptional cases indicated).

COMPANY DOCUMENTATION

• Documentation identifying the company applying for the permit:
• In the case of an individual entrepreneur: copy of the NIF (Tax ID number) or NIE (Foreigner ID number), or consent to check the identity data through the Identity and Residence Data Verification System.
• In the case of a legal entity (SA, SL, cooperative, etc.):
• Copy of the company's NIF (Tax ID number) and a copy of the deed of incorporation, duly registered with the relevant Registry.
• Copy of the public document certifying that the signatory of the contract is a legal representative of the company.
• Copy of the NIF (Tax ID number) or NIE (Foreigner ID number), or consent to check the identity data through the Identity and Residence Data Verification System of the person signing the application or contract.
• Signed employment contract with the minimum terms established for contracting the worker (salary, position).
• Proof of the necessary solvency of the company, through: income tax (IRPF) returns, VAT returns, corporate tax returns, or the company's employment history report (VILE) for the past three years. Additionally, a detailed description of the occupation to be carried out must be provided.
• Certificate from the Social Security and the Tax Agency confirming that the company is up to date with its obligations.
• Certificate of Social Security or private health insurance.
• Detailed description of the job position and the responsibilities of the future employee. Main document of the dossier. A report must be submitted detailing (1) a brief history of the company, including its beginnings, activities, sales figures, departments, etc., and (2) a justification for the need to hire the employee (specifically, the need to have this particular individual in the offered position).

What is the deadline?

Within a maximum of 20 working days, a decision will be made regarding your residence permit for EU Blue Card holders. 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.

The holder of an EU Blue Card issued by an EU Member State will be authorised to begin working in Spain from the moment the EU Blue Card application in Spain is completed, regardless of the outcome of the decision, which will be made after analysing the specific circumstances and in accordance with the principle of proportionality.

What is the cost?

The fee is €73.26.

Want to know more?

Body responsible for the procedure

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

More information

You can consult the Invest in Spain website (available in English and Spanish).

Important linked procedures

Below are some examples of procedures that you need to complete subsequently:

• Obtaining the Social Security number (NUSS) 
• Registering with the Social Security
• Identity card for foreign nationals (TIE)