🇪🇸 Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa
Spain's way of saying 'fine, we need tech workers too'
The Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) visa is Spain's work permit for senior or specialized roles. Unlike the Digital Nomad Visa, you work for a Spanish company (or Spanish branch). Unlike the Non-Lucrative, you actually get to earn money. The employer handles most of the process, and you get the Beckham Law tax break — a flat 24% on Spanish income up to €600k for 6 years. It's basically Spain admitting that their €25k average salary isn't attracting international talent, and offering a tax discount to fix it.
Who actually qualifies
- ✓Job offer from a company registered in Spain, for a role classified as highly qualified
- ✓University degree (or equivalent professional experience for senior positions)
- ✓Minimum salary: generally 1.5× the average gross annual salary in Spain (~€42,000+ in 2026)
- ✓The hiring company must be registered with the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) or qualify under the general scheme
- ✓Role must require specialized qualifications not readily available in the Spanish labor market
- ✓Clean criminal record
The paperwork pile
- 📄Job contract or binding offer letter from Spanish employer
- 📄Company's proof of UGE registration or labor market test
- 📄University degree (apostilled + officially translated to Spanish)
- 📄Valid passport
- 📄Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
- 📄Medical certificate
- 📄Proof of qualifications relevant to the role
- 📄Company's financial statements showing capacity to pay the salary
What it'll cost you
The waiting game
Processing time
20 business days (UGE fast-track) to 3 months (general scheme). Among the fastest EU work visas.
Path to permanent residency
5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain.
Path to citizenship
10 years of legal residence (2 years for nationals of former Spanish colonies).
The tax situation
Beckham Law eligible: opt for 24% flat tax on Spanish-source income up to €600,000/year for 6 years (income above €600k taxed at 47%). Foreign-source income is exempt (except employment income). Must not have been a Spanish tax resident in the 5 years prior. This is one of Europe's most competitive tax regimes for high earners.
Bringing your person
Spouse receives TIE residence card with unrestricted work rights — can work for any employer or self-employ.
Cities where this visa works
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa take to process?▼
20 business days (UGE fast-track) to 3 months (general scheme). Among the fastest EU work visas.
Can the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa lead to permanent residency?▼
5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain.
How long until citizenship in Spain?▼
10 years of legal residence (2 years for nationals of former Spanish colonies).
What are the tax implications of the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa?▼
Beckham Law eligible: opt for 24% flat tax on Spanish-source income up to €600,000/year for 6 years (income above €600k taxed at 47%). Foreign-source income is exempt (except employment income). Must not have been a Spanish tax resident in the 5 years prior. This is one of Europe's most competitive tax regimes for high earners.
Can my spouse work on the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa?▼
Spouse receives TIE residence card with unrestricted work rights — can work for any employer or self-employ.
Immigration rules change frequently. Always verify with official government sources.