What You Need to Know About Spain Work Visas
Types of Spain Work Visas
- Long-Term Work Visa — For those hired by a Spanish company under a full employment contract.
- Seasonal Work Visa — For short periods, often tied to sectors like hospitality or agriculture.
- Au Pair Visa — For young people who live with a host family and care for children.
- EU Blue Card Visa — For highly skilled employees; allows mobility within EU member states.
- Self-Employment / Freelancer Visa — For those who intend to start or run their own business in Spain.
- Digital Nomad / Remote Work Visa — For remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies but living in Spain.
Common Requirements
- A valid job offer or contract (for most visa types).
- Employer must secure the corresponding labor authorization from the Spanish labor authority.
- Clean criminal record.
- Medical certificate to show no diseases threatening public health.
- Proof of qualifications or experience.
- Proof of housing in Spain (a lease or address).
- Valid passport (with enough blank pages and validity).
- After arriving in Spain, registration steps including obtaining NIE and TIE (foreigner identification / residence card).
Costs & Timing
- Visa fees vary by type: e.g. ~ €167 for standard long-term work visa.
- Other costs include document translation, apostille / legalization, criminal record checks, medical exams, and services.
- Processing time can take up to three months depending on the consulate and visa category.
Post-Arrival Steps
- Enroll in Spanish social security (by employer).
- Obtain NIE (foreigner tax ID) and TIE (residence card).
- Familiarize yourself with Spanish tax, employment law, and social security rules.
- If visa is renewable and conditions are met over time, you might eventually qualify for permanent residence.
How Dogpay Supports Your Spain Work Visa Journey
When going through the Spain work visa process—especially if transferring from abroad or paying fees in foreign currency—Dogpay can reduce friction and make the financial side smoother. Here’s how:
- Transparent Currency Conversion for Fees Visa fees, translation/apostille costs, medical exams, and consular payments often require cross-border payments in foreign currencies. Dogpay lets you see the conversion rate and any fees ahead of time so you know exactly what you’re paying.
- Large Upfront Payments (Deposit, Relocation, Deposits) When relocating, you may need to pay deposits for housing, move your belongings, or pay for interim stays. Dogpay helps you transfer these large amounts more reliably and traceably from foreign accounts.
- Document & Legal Service Payments Professional services (legal counsel, document legalization, translation, courier) often require foreign payments. Dogpay helps you make these payments cleanly and track them for submission or reimbursement.
- Income / Compensation Cross-Currency Transfers If part of your compensation or bonus comes from abroad or a foreign parent company, Dogpay helps you convert and receive those amounts efficiently and with fewer hidden costs.
- Recurring & Renewal Fees When renewing the work visa or paying associated administrative fees over the years, you’ll benefit from Dogpay’s capability to schedule or execute payments with transparency and fewer delays.
- Proof & Receipts for Compliance Immigration authorities, employer audits, tax filings may demand clear proof of payments (relocation, legal, fee payments). Dogpay provides detailed transaction logs and exportable receipts to support compliance.
